Music News Archive
T
he Standard Was Raised
It was standing room only in the Sanctuary Saturday night, June 11, for “Raising the Standard,” our choir’s annual summer concert. This Dining for Dollars event (with tickets also sold at the door) was devoted this year to choir and solo interpretations of jazz standards. Afterwards, champagne and sentiment flowed in Forbes Hall as we said farewell to Director of Music DeReau Farrar, who is heading north for a fulltime job as acting director of music at the First Unitarian Church of Portland Oregon.
— Rick Rhoads
Our choir celebrated a year of spectacular music making and paid special tribute to honor director DeReau K. Farrar at the annual party June 16th. Rima Snyder, Cindy Kelly and Diane Fletcher-Hoppe masterfully customized the lyrics to the popular swing tune “Come Rain or Come Shine.” Beaming a smile we’ve all come to adore, DeReau was moved as the choir family sang of all nighter parties, all kinds of weather, “we’ll love you always” and “you’re in our hearts rain or shine.”
— Teri Bond
Please join us for the return of SummerSings!
Led by Church Accompanist Danny Gledhill, these informal community hymn sings take place on Thursday
nights in summertime and take us through the pages of our UU hymnals to enjoy familiar favorites or find new gems. All voices welcome. 4 Thursdays, July 21 through August 9, 7 p.m. to 8:30 pm in the Sanctuary. Contact Rima Snyder/ Music Committee.
With Gratitude for DeReau “Welcome to the zoo...”
With those words and a gentle smile, DeReau K. Farrar welcomed me to my first choir rehearsal, in August of 2013. I began tentatively, unsure of my voice. But joining new friends to create music was an immediate source of joy, and as my confidence grew, I fell completely in love with choir and with the music program as a whole. In time, my involvement in choir and the music program has become one of the most meaningful ways I participate in church. On a broader scale, the music program that DeReau has developed here at UUSM has become one of the best things in my life. When I was going through rough patches, the communion of choir and music was a lifeline. I do not exaggerate when I say that the music ministry saved me.
Under DeReau’s tenure, the UUSM choir has sung a beautifully diverse range of music, including traditional classical choral pieces, African American spirituals, eclectic modern‐ day arrangements, and new pieces composed by contemporary Unitarian Universalist musicians. We have sung pieces in Spanish, German, Korean, Hebrew, French, Latin, Akan, and more. We have performed large-scale Requiem pieces in remembrance of loved ones for “Day of the Dead” evening Vespers services. Many pieces have been quite harmonically and rhythmically challenging. In choir rehearsal I’ve joked, “DeReau, you’re so ambitious!” and yet, I am so proud of our choir for meeting the challenges he has given us. We have so much fun during the process, and it is so rewarding. I have loved singing such a wide variety of music, often with powerfully emotional results. Through all of this, DeReau has been a source of constant encouragement, inspiration, and good humor. Under his skilled leadership, and with valuable guidance from our choir section leaders and our fantastically talented pianist, our choir has blossomed into something truly special.
DeReau’s impact on the music program as a whole cannot be overstated. Every Easter Sunday I eagerly awaited what instrumental guests would join us. Summer evening “HymnSings”, in which we sang our way through the UU hymnals, were a great joy. Some of my favorite music events have been the occasions that bring together various UU congregations throughout the greater Los Angeles area, such as the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. day UU choir festivals, as well as selected UU choir exchanges. I have enjoyed making music and sharing musical space with our wider UU community. (And I’m sure there are additional elements of the music program, including guest musicians, that I’ve neglected to mention here!)
DeReau’s musical gifts, skills, talent, and leadership will be greatly missed here at UUSM. He has truly transformed the music program, has fostered a welcoming musical environment that invites play and growth, and in his too‐short time with us, has left a great legacy and “big shoes” for our next music director to fill. Dear DeReau: THANK YOU for all you have given to our music program, and for the many ways your music ministry has fed and nurtured our collective spirituality, heart, and soul. It is with the deepest gratitude that we bid a fond farewell to a dear friend. We wish you all the best as you embark on your next great adventure in Portland, Oregon — I hope they realize how lucky they are to have you! Blessings to you on the musical journey!
— Karen Hsu Patterson
Keep On MovingForward
I do not think there are sufficient words in my own vocabulary to express the deep sense of gratitude I feel for the brief time I have spent with you all at the Unitarian Universalist Community Church of Santa Monica. There has never been any time in any church I have served where I felt more supported and upheld, both in vision and in person. I am not certain what my future experiences will be like, either in Portland or in whatever church I land at in the following year, but I do know that my memory of being in Santa Monica will remain a highlight of my personal and professional life.
I appreciate the ways many of you have expressed that you are sad to see me go. It feels good to know that my work has had a positive impact on so many of you and your relationships to the church. That said, there are obviously some (rather hilarious) opportunities for change, as a result of me being gone. Perhaps some of you have your eyes on the choir seating area, wondering how to change it. Perhaps others of you will be relieved to not have to hear the cajon and/or the organ for awhile. And, perhaps still others of you will hope for more guest folk musicians in the coming years.
Whatever change you seek, in this time of great transition, I hope you will pursue it in the spirit of moving forward — not moving back, not moving on, and certainly not moving in place. Each of you comprises a church made strong by its incredible history and traditions and kept strong by its resources and capacity for vision. With that, I urge you to gird yourselves with love and compassion, with gentleness and kindness, and with patience and humility, and keep on moving forward.
I anxiously await that smiling time when I can see you all again. Thank you for these 4 years!
— DeReau Farrar
From Our Director of Music: I am so grateful for the opportunity to be in community with you
Charles Haskell has been asking me for more than three years if I would write something about the Music Program for the monthly newsletter. Someday, I promise, I will do that. Today is not that day, as it turns out... However, as my focus has turned toward worship preparations for November and our month of “Gratitude,” several thoughts and questions crossed my mind about our community here. So, I have set up a playlist of Vivaldi’s Concerto for Guitar and Strings in D Major, Lauridsen’s Lux Aeterna, and Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, and am now ready to write.
The first questions that emerge are, “Why are they (you) here?” “Why are there so many people that give so much of their (your) lives and livelihoods for the sake of this church?” “Why do they (you) keep showing up?” The obvious and rather bland answer, of course, is that this is extremely important to all of you. But, I sense this goes deeper. So, I start to recall some of the many conversations I have had with some of you when you have told me bits and pieces of your stories — what your life was like before you came to the church however long ago, what initially drew you to the congregation, what sorts of involvement you have had since joining, and so on. It then occurs to me that this is all about expressing gratitude. You have told me time and again about the various ways the church has served you, and I believe you are now acting out of gratitude to ensure this beloved institution survives to serve others.
I begin to wonder though, as the years have (in varying pace) danced along, if the gratefulness that has fed such imperative industry has sometimes transitioned subconsciously into a fear of losing what has been established. And, recognizing that the church is as much the place we gather as it is the we that have gathered, I wonder if our expressions of gratitude have become confused into expressions of fear. Do we approach our activity in the church with an attitude of “I am grateful you are here for me,” or “I have worked so hard to help build you, and I am afraid you are changing?” Likewise, do we greet each other with a spirit of “I am so grateful for the opportunity to be in community with you,” or “you are welcome in my home, but please remember it is my home?” Have we become possessive of this bounty such that there is no more room in the inn? Being myself extremely grateful that each of you pledges and pays of yourselves to secure that I have a place of employment that values my personhood as much as my professional contribution, I can clearly see the temptation. However, I have persuaded myself that despite whatever needs taking a position here once fulfilled, it is now my turn to do what I can to guarantee that those in the communities around us searching for an oasis of love, respect, dignity, worth, and solidarity have a comfortable seat when they stumble into our halls. I have convinced myself that whatever sentimentality I hold for those notverylongago early days is not worth the sacrifice of losing the battle for others. I have been served, so shall they also be.
I am grateful for each of you. I am thankful for your love and support of beauty in our worship. I am also grateful for each of my colleagues. They are masters not only of their disciplines but of collaboration, creativity, and generosity. And, I am grateful for all of the nexttimes I see you, when our eyes and smiles will express gratitude for our very togetherness.
— DeReau K. Farrar, Director of Music
From Our Director of Music:
Summer HymnSing
Our annual HymnSing series will take place for an hour on the following Thursdays at 7:30 p.m.: July 2, July 9, and July 16. We will use this time to continue to journey through our hymnals, both with singing and light discussion. We will meet in Forbes Room #2.
— DeReau K. Farrar, Director of Music
From Our Director of Music:
Summer Music Lineup: Electric and Eclectic
As we transition into the summer months, I thought the congregation would appreciate knowing more about upcoming summer music events.
Our annual HymnSing series will take place for an hour on the following Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. June 25, July 2, July 9, and July 16. We will use this time to continue to journey through our hymnals, both with singing and light discussion. We will meet in Forbes Room #2.
I am very proud of our Summer Guest Musician line up! It is as follows:
June 28 — Ken Herman
Organist and recently retired Director of Music of First Unitarian Universalist Church of San Diego.
July 5 — Zachary Provost
Singer-songwriter and Music Director for Josh Groban.
July 12 — Scott Roewe
Jazz saxophonist and Director of Music of Unitarian Universalists of Santa Clarita.
July 19 — Pete Snell
Classical guitarist and composer.
July 26 — Lynn Angebranndt
Cellist.
August 2 — Mariachi Las Colibri
All-Female stringed mariachi.
August 9 — Ruben Villalobos
Sitarist and songwriter.
August 16 — The Crocker Sisters
Folk Band offshoot from The Evangenitals.
August 23 — Allison Bjorkedal
Harpist, presenting music by our own Rima Snyder.
September 6 — Nevenka
Bulgarian women’s choir.
— DeReau K. Farrar, Director of Music
Colleen Keene was introduced to the congregation on November 9 as our new Soprano Section Leader. Photo
by Charles Haskell.
Come, Sing a Song with the Women’s Alliance - April 13
UUs gather for services each week, all of us creating the worship together of many elements, words, music, and customs. All my life I have studied this process, and songs by UU women resonate strongly for me. You are warmly invited to the second in a heartfelt series, “A Year of Living Musically.” For Spring the music is by Grace Lewis-McLaren, whose hymnal gifts include:
“Touch the earth, reach the sky! Walk on shores while spirits fly over the ocean, over the land, our faith a quest to understand.”
“Touch the earth, reach the sky! Hug the laughter, feel the cry.
May we see where we can give, for this is what it means to live.”
While serving as Director of Music/Organist for several UU congregations, Grace wrote a number of anthems, hymns, and chants. She taught me some at district women’s retreats when she was at the San Diego church. She has degrees from Union Seminary School of Sacred Music in New York City and Pacifica Graduate Institute in Santa Barbara.
Her tunes, harmonies, and lyrics are carefully crafted, reflecting a life fully lived in family, community, and spirit. Here’s a fun one; you can play tambourine on the chorus to make it sound just right:
“The inherent worth of all, value comprehensive, this our UUology, sacrament intensive. ”
“Yah, yah, yes I am, I’m a Unitarian, Yah, yah, yes I am, I’m a Unitarian. You can count on me. Hey!”
“When it comes to questioning, I am in my glory. If you want to preach to me, better know your story.”
“Yah, yah, yes I am, I’m a Unitarian, Yah, yah, yes I am, I’m a Unitarian. You can count on me. Hey!”
Come sample a few Songs of Grace on Sunday, April 13, 10:10 to 10:55 a.m., in the Courtyard. All are welcome, whether you think of yourself as a singer or not.
—Joyce Holmen
Daniel Gledhill is our new Church Organist
Daniel Gledhill began studying the piano at the age of 5 with Dr. Irene-Peery Fox in Provo, Utah. He has become an accomplished pianist, winning first prizes on both national and international stages. At the age of 11, Daniel began to supplement his regular piano lessons with chamber music instruction from accomplished teachers such as cellist Roger Drinkall and Igor and Vesna Gruppman from the Rotterdam Conservatory of Music. These teachers helped him to develop a very deep love for collaboration, and from there he began to work constantly with a string trio that he formed, which performed consistently until he began his college education.
Daniel has worked as a nearly full-time collaborative pianist since the age of 16 and has studied at institutions such as the Idyllwild Arts Academy and Yellow Barn in Vermont. His college career began at Brigham Young University, where he received his Bachelor’s Degree in Piano Performance. Immediately following that, he was accepted to USC, where he pursued music with an emphasis in composition, receiving instruction on how to create music, greatly increasing his musical sensibilities. Daniel currently works as a recommended accompanist for the University of Southern California and also as a staff accompanist for the Colburn School of Music.
— DeReau K. Farrar
Come, Sing a Song with the Women’s Alliance on January 19
UUs gather for services each week, all of us creating the worship together of many elements, words, music, and customs. All my life I have studied this process, and songs by UU women resonate strongly for me. You are warmly invited to the first in a heartfelt series called “A Year of Living Musically.”
Three of Carolyn McDade’s wealth of songs you know from our hymnal: “Spirit of Life,” “Come, Sing a Song with Me,” and “We’ll Build a Land.” At annual women’s retreats across what she has called “a continent in song” she has taught dozens more. These are insightful, healing, empowering works to cherish each soul, build community, honor the earth. Come taste a few of these on Sunday, January 19, 10:10 to 10:55 a.m., in the Courtyard. All are welcome, whether you think of yourself as a singer or not.
Carolyn is leading an annual women’s retreat nearby on Friday and Saturday, February 21 to 22, at the United Church of Christ in Simi Valley. Recordings: carolynMcDadeMusic.com
— Joyce Holmen
Ken Alexander (flute) and David Gledhill (piano) performing the “Allegro from a Sonata for flute in E Major” by J. S. Bach during the Sunday service of November 10.
Tom Ahern, bass-baritone (soloist) and Daniel Gledhill, piano, performing “God Bless the Child” by Billie Holiday and Arthur Herzog at the 9 a.m. service on November 17.
The choir moved to a new location along the southwest wall for Ingathering Sunday. Choir members present were as follows. Back row from left to right: Edna Bonacich, alto; Debra Penberthy, substitute alto section leader; Rima Snyder, alto; Gabriel Paredes, tenor section leader; Liam Mina, tenor; Brigham Johnson, bass; Babatunde Akinboboye, bass section leader; VanNessa Hulme, soprano section leader; Cindy Kelly, soprano. Front row from left to right: Teri Bond, alto; Sue Bickford, alto; Janet Goodwin, alto; Karen Hsu Patterson, alto; Rob Briner, tenor; Richard Scher, tenor; Larry Howard, bass; Diane Fletcher-Hoppe, soprano; Rebecca Crawford, soprano. Not pictured, alphabetically: Thomas Ahern, bass; Norb Gallery, bass; Jyvonne Haskin, alto section leader; Kim Miller, soprano.
A quintet of choir members sang “Come Home” by Peter Eldridge during Ingathering Sunday. The singers are as follows from left to right: DeReau Farrar, Director of Music; Babatunde Akinboboye, Bass Section Leader; VanNessa Hulme, Soprano Section Leader; Debra Penberthy, Substitute Alto Section Leader; Gabriel Paredes, Tenor Section Leader.