Celebrate Black History Month through music:
CUMC Music Ministry will be sharing several pieces written by Black composers during worship this month.
On Feb. 4, the offertory will be an organ piece written by Florence B. Price. Price was born in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1887, educated at the New England Conservatory of Music, and was active in Chicago from 1927 until her death in 1953. She composed over three hundred works and was the first Black woman to have a symphony (her Symphony No. 1 in E minor) performed by a major American orchestra. Her songs were performed by some of the most admired voices of her day.
On Feb. 11, the offertory will be an organ piece written by Adolphus Hailstork. Hailstork was born in Rochester, New York in 1941, and studied violin, piano, organ, and voice in the US and abroad. He has written numerous works for chorus, solo voice, piano, organ, various chamber ensembles, band, orchestra, and opera. He currently resides in Virginia Beach, VA where he holds the title of Eminent Scholar and Professor Emeritus of Music at Old Dominion University.
On Feb. 18, the Chancel Choir will sing the anthem "Ain't Got Time to Die", a spiritual arranged by Hall Johnson. Hall Johnson, born in Athens, Georgia (1888-1970), was a choral director, composer, violinist, and arranger. He dedicated his career to preserving and interpreting the rich legacy of the African-American spiritual. His choral ensembles toured professionally and were renowned due to their work on Broadway and in films.
On Feb. 25, Voices In Praise will sing a setting of the Latin text "Ubi Caritas" arranged by Victor C. Johnson. Johnson, b. 1978, a native of Dallas, TX, is a prolific composer and arranger, having over 400 choral works, vocal solo books, and keyboard collections currently in print. He attended the University of Texas at Arlington where he majored in music education with a concentration in organ.
Feb. 4 – Adoration by Florence B. Price
Feb 11 - Kum Ba Yah by Adolphus Hailstork
Feb 18 – Ain’t Got Time To Die by Hall Johnson
Feb 25 – Ubi Caritas – anthem by Victor C. Johnson