Vol. 1: Music for Social Advocacy, Justice, Liberation, and Belonging
By Elizabeth Alexander & Saunder Choi
As music professionals working to create Unitarian Universalist worship, we found it deeply rewarding to collaborate on our recent Take Note article, “Music for a Faith of Radiance and Reason.” So many themes that are important in our denomination are relevant to musicians everywhere! With celebrations of Juneteenth, Pride Month, and America 250 right around the corner, we’re eager to continue our conversation here about social advocacy, justice, liberation, and belonging.
ELIZABETH: Saunder, I can’t think of a better place to start than your “Message Out to Sea.” When I sang that song last summer with a conference choir, it was love at first hearing – which is to say you had me at the very first words: “Dear Mom.” The tenderness in your testament to your mother’s unconditional love takes my breath away. I wish every LGBTQ+ child could experience that transformative acceptance. Heck, I wish everyone could!
SAUNDER: With “We Hold Your Names Sacred,” Mari Esabel Valverde continues her advocacy by memorializing trans lives through music. This piece invites singers and audiences to bear witness to the continued injustice faced by the trans community, particularly BIPOC trans people. It is set to the prayerful poetry of acclaimed poet Lady Dane Figueroa Edidi.
ELIZABETH: I was ten years old when Helen Reddy’s I Am Woman exploded on the pop charts, sparking a lifelong interest in what makes a truly great empowerment ballad. Emily Drum’s “Womankind” checks every one of my boxes, channeling raw strength, vulnerability, complexity, and surprising tenderness. Her pulsing close-harmony writing has an ease and power that reflect her many years of vocal arranging. Like successive waves, the evocative images in Taylee Heldt’s poem pour forth, swelling, surging, and caressing.
Message Out to Sea (Dear Mom…)
by Saunder Choi
SATB & piano
Difficulty: 3 | 5-10 min.
We Hold Your Names Sacred (SATB)
by Mari Esabel Valverde
SATB & piano; also SSAA & TTBB
Difficulty: 4 | 3-5 min.
Womankind
by Emily Drum
SSAA & cajón; practice tracks available
Difficulty: 3 | 3-5 min.
SAUNDER: I had the chance to perform “¡Ayudame!” by Carlos Cordero last summer in a concert with Lalo, a new professional choir with mostly Filipino-American choristers. Most of us in the group are immigrants, and Carlos’ powerfully stark and passionate plea really resonated deeply with both the ensemble and our audiences – especially in light of the ongoing abuses in customs and border enforcement.
ELIZABETH: From its very first measures, Jeffrey Derus’ “I Dream a World” captures the hope at the heart of Langston Hughes’ aspirational poem. Derus layers voices and piano with clarity and restraint, allowing their inherent resonance to become a cradle for the poet’s vision. Pure magic.
SAUNDER: I first heard B.E. Boykin’s “Stardust” at the 2023 ACDA National Convention, where it was sung by multiple choirs. It struck me as an especially effective and heartfelt tribute to Black lives, rooted in classic Black literature and built around the “magic words” from The People Could Fly by Virginia Hamilton as its compelling refrain. I immediately programmed it for the SoCal UU MLK Choir Festival the following year!
¡Ayúdame! (Venezuelan Plea for Life)
by Carlos Cordero
SATB & percussion
Difficulty: 3 | 3-5 min.
I Dream A World
by Jeffrey Derus
SATB & piano
Difficulty: 4 | 5-10 min.
Stardust (SATB)
by B.E. Boykin
SATB, piano, & djembe; also SSA & TBB
Difficulty: 2 | 3-5 min.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.