Tonight, I played Laurindo Almeida’s classical guitar arrangement of Bach’s Air on the G String and Luis de Milán’s Pavane III at the Jefferson Unitarian Church Christmastide Music Service. The Pavane was originally written for the vihuela, a Renaissance instrument that closely resembles the guitar.  Air on a G String is an arrangement by German violinist August Wilhelm (1845-1908) of the second movement of Bach’s Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D major BWV 1068.  Both pieces are compact, highly expressive musical works that are adaptable to being performed in a variety of settings.

During the Christmas Eve service that followed the Christmastide Music service, I sang with the Jefferson Unitarian Church Choir “Deep Peace,” a mysterious, ethereal choral work by Bill Douglas.  The text of this work is part of a traditional Gaelic blessing.  The service concluded with every member of the congregation holding a candle in the darkened chapel while singing “Silent Night.”  Upon exiting the church, I was greeted by a thick, fresh layer of snow that heralded the arrival of Christmas.

Today, I sang the alto solo parts for the “Alleluia” and “Agnus Dei” of Glenn McClure’s St. Francis in the Americas: A Caribbean Mass with the Jefferson Unitarian Church choir at the 9:15 and 11:00 Jefferson Unitarian Church services.  The choir was accompanied by the Pan Jumbies Steel Drum Band.  The rhythms of the steel drum band blended well with the complex rhythms of the vocal music, creating a moving Caribbean-inspired liturgical sound.

This evening, I performed John Lennon’s “Grow Old with Me” at the Jefferson Unitarian Church First Friday Open Mic.  This song was inspired by the poetry of Robert Browning and Elizabeth Barrett Browning and was one of the final works written by Lennon.  Lennon recorded this work as a demo in 1980.  I performed along with seven other open mic performers in the sanctuary hall of the church.

Today, I performed a solo work, “All the World is One,” by singer/songwriter Peter Mayer at the 9:15 and 11 A.M. services for the Jefferson Unitarian Church.  The sheet music was not available on Peter Mayer’s website, so I learned the melody and lyrics of the song by listening to a Peter Mayer YouTube video and added my own guitar chords.  “All the World is One” is a very lyric-driven, folkloric song that offers a creative means to express human interdependence and connectivity.

Yesterday evening, I rehearsed American composer Glenn McClure’s St. Francis in the Americas: A Caribbean Mass as an alto singer with the Jefferson Unitarian Church Choir.  The mass features an eclectic mix of traditional and ethnic sounds.  The JUC Choir will be performing this work on December 16th.  I look forward to celebrating the holiday season with a musical work I have not heard or sung before. It isn’t that I don’t enjoy the many renditions of the traditional Christmas Carols, The Nutcracker, and the Messiah, but I welcome a new musical way to express “‘Tis the season!”

Last Wednesday evening while the majority of Denver was hunkering down to watch the Obama-Romney debate, I joined the Jefferson Unitarian Church Choir.  Today, I sang the lovely Kyrie from Paul Winter’s Missa Gaia, A Mass in Celebration of Mother Earth during the 11:00 service.  Although I directed elementary school choirs for twelve years, it has been almost that long since I have sung in a SATB choir.  What a joy it is to be singing in the midst of a sea of voices and sharing the beauty of the Kyrie with others!