Musical Notes
Music Notes
by Steve Finner
Singing the Journey is here. This just published companion (released at GA 2005 in June) to
Singing The Living Tradition contains seventy four hymns, responses, anthems and rounds. It
is a marvelous collection consisting mostly of contemporary music written by Unitarian-
Universalist composers and also contains a number of traditional pieces from African-American,
Buddhist, Native American and African sources. In the same vein as Singing The Living
Tradition, the selections are organized around the “six sources” making it easy to find specific
pieces for a service dealing with a particular topic or theme.
Of particular interest to Universalists are the selections under the rubric of “Jewish and
Christian Teachings”. I was particularly impressed with the inclusion of a very simple but
beautiful two part setting of “Ubi Caritas”, the Latin lyric of which is “Where charity and love
abound, God is there”. Also worth noting in this section is Robert Lowry’s “Shall We Gather By
The River”, which was a most popular staple in 19th century Universalist and Methodist
hymnals.
I am especially pleased to report that small congregations and small choirs will find most of the
selections are accessible and easy to learn, either as choir anthems and responses or as
congregational hymns. Many of the pieces can be accompanied by guitar or other instruments
and to that end, the musical notation includes chord symbols. These also allow the versatile
choir director to pen simple harmony lines or descants if desired (cautioning that those doing so
are bound by the rules of copyright). Many of the pieces can be taught orally or by “lining out”
which means that it can be introduced to your congregation while waiting for sufficient copies to
be ordered. A few of the accompaniments to the contemporary hymns are tricky and do call for
the skills of an accomplished pianist and some practice. I plan on making it the center piece of
my church music program for the coming church year.
The indices are well organized along the usual lines for a hymnal. They are a topical index, one
for titles and first lines, and one for composers, arrangers and lyricists. As there are few hymns
with a traditional metric structure, there is not a metrical index or a hymn tune index. However,
where appropriate, hymn names are given along with the metrical notation (number of syllables
per line and number of lines) at the end of the piece.
I also commend to your attention the forward by UUA President Bill Sinkford. It is a quick and
enjoyable read. It also gives the companion web site for Singing The Journey, (http://www.uua.
org/publications/music) which while incomplete at the time of this writing, promises to be a
valuable resource for church musicians and others responsible for worship.
Singing the Journey is a paperback publication available from the UUA Bookstore on line and
through mail and phone, and sells for $16 plus postage and shipping. I don’t think any UU
congregation should be without copies, at least enough for the choir and hopefully in time
enough for the entire congregation.
I have been asked about hymns that are specifically Universalist in tone and sentiment. Later I
will write an article discussing the Universalist selections in the STLT (the hymnbook). And I am
making suggestions to the newly appointed commission, Barbara Wagner, Chairwoman for
Universalist music to be included in the new companion volume which will be published in a
couple of years.
I would commend to your attention a wonderful arrangement by Leo Collins of Hosea Ballou's
text, From Heaven and Earth, set by Daniel Read to the hymn tune, Windham (1785). Leo is the
retired Director of Music at Boston's First and Second Parish and has granted permission for
this arrangement to be used in any UU congregation.
This arrangement is in the style of shape note singing. The first two verses are unison
alternating between all and women (other arrangements are possible). The third verse is in two
part harmony with a lot of open fifths and sixths, a major characteristic of shape note singing.
For a copy of From Heaven and Earth, you may contact me:
Stephen L. Finner, Ph.D. "Steve" Director of Music Universalist Unitarian Church of
St. Johnsbury, Vermont
Music Notes
by Steve Finner
"When I hear the word, I know God is dead. When I hear the song, I know God lives. So if you
would make of me a believer, Sing to me. (c-2003 S.L. Finner)
"Expect, watch for and embrace uncertainty. Dance with the madness of the cosmos and not
against it. Leave your door open and your heart ready for anything. " (Vanessa Rush Southern,
“This Piece of Eden", UUA 2003)
I'm pleased to report that her composition Marguerite Shaw's setting of John Murray's "Give
them hope, not hell" has been named the Unitarian Universalist Musicians Network "Hymn of
The Year" And I take pleasure that my congregation and choir had the privilege of being the
first to sing it. Congratulations, Marguerite!
Continuing my examination of hymnbooks for setting of texts by Universalists, this column
focuses on the 1937 publication, "Hymns of The Spirit" (Boston: The Beacon Press).
Interestingly, this volume was a joint effort by the Unitarian and Universalist Commissions on
Hymns and Services. The index is amazing, in that it gives along with the names of those
contributing texts, their years of birth and death and their denominational affiliation.
John Greenleaf’s "Heaven is Here" and Adin Ballou’s "Years Are Coming, Speed Them Onward"
have identical meters and the quite singable tunes to which each are set can be used for the
other. As far as I can ascertain, neither hymn tune appears in Singing The Living Tradition
(STLT), although here are at least two to which both these texts could be set (91 and 215).
"D.S.-1920 20th Cent American Universalist" is the somewhat cryptic identification given the
author of the
text, "Holy, Holy, Holy, 0 Thou Love Eternal", set to the familiar hymn tune Nicaea, which
appears three times in STLT (26,39,and 290).
A text by a 19th century English American Universalist minister, Thomas Lake Harris, "0 Earth,
Thy Path Is
Crowned and Consecrated", is set to the tune Donne Secours (STLT 369). It celebrates
"reformers", those who seek to create God's Kingdom on this earth.
A very familiar tune, old 124th from the 1551 Geneva Psalter (STLT 360), is used for the setting
of "Blow, Winds of God, and Send Us On Our Way". This text is by another 19th century
Universalist minister, Dwight Munson Hodge.
Another fairly common tune, "Lee" (STLT 45 and 302), is used to set a text by Adoniram Judson
Patterson, another 19th century Universalist. It begins ,"In Thee our Father, are we all at home;
Thou doest surround us like the ambient air". It is the first musical setting I've encountered of
the words "ambient" and in the 3rd verse, "vicissitudes."
Universalist minister Byron Russell, still alive at age 87 when the hymnal was published, set a
text which begins "Our Father, unto thee, we now on bended knee our voices raise". The tune
was by Lowell Mason, a hymn composer fairly well known in the first half of the 20th century.
Finally, there is a contribution by a 19th century Universalist layman, Sargent Epes. The text is
classic Universalist, "All souls, oh Lord, are thine assurance blest." The tune again, was
contemporary for the time. It does not appear in STLT, but a number of tunes that do can be
used to set this text, such as # 101, "Abide With me."
Thus, out of 576 hymns there are only eight contributions of hymn text by Universalists.
Whether this was because Universalist hymnody of the time was considered too "Trinitarian" or
other reasons such as Universalist music being transmitted orally and not notated we will
probably never know. But given the paucity of Universalist text in the volume despite its "joint"
nature, I can understand why many Universalist churches chose other hymnals into the 1960s.
Stephen L. Finner, Ph.D. "Steve" Director of Music Universalist Unitarian Church of
St. Johnsbury, Vermont
Universal Harmony
by Steve Finner
The observation has been made a number of times regarding the UUA, that if Unitarianism
represents the head, Universalism represents the heart of our faith. And since music speaks to
the heart, how wonderful it is for Universalism that the Unitarian Universalist Musicians Network
is now more than twenty years old. Because of UUMN, we now have access to thousands of
compositions by hundreds of UU composers as seen in Singing The Living Tradition and
Singing the Journey, to name the two most obvious sources. In addition, major music publishers
carry pieces by UU composers and hundreds more "self-publish".
Now comes the latest source published by the UUMN itself. "May This Light Shine: A Songbook
for Children and Youth" is collection of thirty songs for almost every element of a worship
service and may be used in a variety of other settings. Don't be fooled by the title. While the
purpose of the publication is to fill a definite void in the area of UU children's music, many of
these pieces can also be sung by adult choirs and congregations, and many are especially
suitable for small congregations and can be sung without accompaniment (acapella). Most are
unison or single voice. A few have simple harmonies and with some it is possible for a skilled
conductor to add in ad lib harmonies for more skilled choirs. The notation includes chord
identifications to enable accompaniment by a guitar or other instrument.
There are chalice lightings, welcome songs, chants and benedictions. There are songs that of
celebration and songs of contemplation. . Many of the contributors are names already known
by many UU's such as Tom Benjamin, Shelley Jackson Denham, Nick Page, Joyce Poley and
Jim Scott. Others are by lesser known UU composers (including yours truly), but all are
accessible and relatively easy to teach and learn.
The volume comes in two versions. There is an 8.5 by 11 inch director/accompanist version
that contains the pieces, and in addition performance notes and suggestions prepared by the
contributors as well as contact information for them. There is a smaller sized version for
singers, measuring 6 by 9 inches, which is easy for younger singers to hold. Both versions are
spiral bound making is easier to turn pages and lay flat.
Preceeding each selection is a delightful pen and ink drawing by a child or teenager.
Ordering information can be obtained at http://www25.uua.org/uumn/docs/forms/csborder.pdf
Stephen L. Finner, Director of Music
St. Johnsbury, Vermont Universalist Unitarian Church
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