Few composers have come to represent the ideal of beauty in piano music more than Frederic Chopin, whose 214th birthday would have been last Friday. His music reconciles spontaneous emotion with deep complexity, an apt expression of our multi-layered psyches and diverse connections. This Sunday’s musical selections include a survey of the composer’s wide-ranging creations.
The CUUC Choir is also on hand with John Rutter’s moving setting of “For the Beauty of the Earth” and a re-purposed Coke commercial. Our Parting Music brings home the beautiful connection between the natural world and personal attraction in Fats Waller’s “Honeysuckle Rose.” Read on for programming details.
Gathering Music: Adam Kent, piano
Polonaise-Fantaisie, Op. 61 ~ Frederic Chopin
Prelude: CUUC Choir – directed by Lisa N. Meyer and accompanied by Georgianna Pappas
I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing ~ B. Backer, B. Davis, R. Cook, and R. Greenaway, arr. Ruth Elaine Schram
Meditation:
Mazurka in E Minor, Op. 41, No. 2 ~ Frederic Chopin
Anthem:
For the Beauty of the Earth ~ John Rutter, Folliott Sandford Pierpoint
Offertory:
Waltz in C# Minor, Op. 64, No. 2 ~ Frederic Chopin
Parting Music:
Honeysuckle Rose* ~ Andy Razaf, Thomas “Fats” Waller
*Lyrics
Every honey bee fills with jealousy
When they see you out with me
I don’t blame them, goodness knows
Honeysuckle Rose
When we’re passin’ by, flowers droop and sigh
And I know the reason why
You’re much sweeter, goodness knows
Honeysuckle Rose
Don’t buy sugar
You just have to touch my cup
You’re my sugar
It’s sweet when you stir it up
When I’m taking sips from your tasty lips
The honey fairly drips
You’re confection, goodness knows
Honeysuckle Rose
Oh when I’m takin’ sips from the tasty lips
The honey fairly drips
Confection, goodness knows
Talkin’ ’bout Honeysuckle Rose