Music: Sun Feb 18

Sunday morning’s musical selections open with one of Catalonian composer Federico Mompou’s delicate Charmes, or Spells, in this case “to inspire love” in keeping with February’s worship theme. Black History Month is commemorated in the remaining works with music by composers of African descent in a variety of styles. R. Nathaniel Dett’s Cinnamon Grove consists of four movements, each of which is prefaced by an inspirational citation from a distinct literary source. The second movement is headed with these lines from Rabindranath Tagore’s Gitanjali: “When thou commandest me to sing, it seems my heart would break with pride; and I look to thy face, and tears come to my eyes.” The fourth section alludes to these lines from a song found in Religious Folk Songs of the Negro: “Oh, the winter’ll soon be over, children; Yes, my Lord.”

In contrast to Dett’s classical leanings, the remaining works are popular examples of Ragtime by the legendary Scott Joplin.

Click here to see part of  Music Director Adam Kent’s recital in honor of the Black Lives Matter movement at CUUC last year, including several of Joplin’s rags: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5uJYr2S1_4c

Read on for programming details.

Centering Music: Adam Kent, piano

From In the Bottoms

            No. 3 Honey

From Cinnamon Grove

            IV. Allegretto

                                                R. Nathaniel Dett

Maple Leaf Rag

                                                Scott Joplin

           

Opening Music:

Charmes (Spells)

            IV. …pour inspirer l’amour

                                                Federico Mompou

Offertory:
From Cinnamon Grove

            II. Adagio cantabile

R. Nathaniel Dett

Interlude:
The Entertainer          

                                                Scott Joplin