Conversations at the Piano

There’s a phrase I remember reading somewhere that says: “Brighten the corner where you are.” And so as we begin another year in this world that seems far from peaceful, I certainly hope that the message of Let There Be Peace on Earth can bring you some hope. Our wish for peace around the globe is certainly nothing new. It was present in 1955 when Jill Jackson Miller and her husband Sy Miller wrote this song.

In contrast to the atmosphere surrounding the creation of the standards from the American Popular Songbook, Let There Be Peace on Earth had much more humble beginnings. This husband and wife songwriting team had a dream for world peace. They believed that as individuals, we can each have a part in achieving this universal desire. To emphasize their personalization point, the second line of each verse is either: “And let it begin with me.” Or “Let this be the moment now with every step I take.”

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Throughout the past 30 years in my work as Music Director at the Hartford Street Presbyterian Church in Natick, MA, I’ve had the opportunity to become familiar with quite a few African-American spirituals. The greatest thing about this repertoire is that the songs work in a variety of styles, arrangements and contexts. But however and whenever I play this music, there’s a special spirit that sets these selections apart from any other music. Although Go Tell It on the Mountain is usually associated with the Christmas season due to its lyrics, our congregation loves to sing it at any time of year.

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Although my piano students and for that matter, listeners in general, tend to prefer pieces that are in major (happy) keys. There are certain songs, written in minor (sad) keys, which capture their interest and rank high on their favorites list. Among these are two holiday favorites: Carol of the Bells and We Three Kings of Orient Are.

Both are traditional tunes in contrast to the many popular songs composed during the last several decades. Carol of the Bells was written by Ukrainian composer Mykola Leontovych in 1904. The original lyrics were associated with the celebration of the New Year (which occurred in April) in the Ukraine. Our use of it during the Christmas holiday season came as a result of the lyrics written by Englishman Peter Wilhousky in the 1930s. The melody is made up of a catchy one measure 4-note motive which repeats many times. It is so easy to recognize, that it makes the music more well-known and popular than the words. This is unusual in our society today where the words and the beat are the primary features contributing to a song’s status on the charts.

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