Please note: Song 7, “Freedom from Guns,” contains sensitive language about gun violence. Please feel free to skip this piece.
Opening processional: Time Now, Liz Douthitt Sharp, arranged by Frederick N. West
Songs of Reassurance
- Masambe, (South African train song), Sophie Mgcina
This South African lullaby describes traveling with your baby on the train. “Masambe” translates to “let’s go.”
Songs of Affirmation
- On Children, Ysaye M. Barnwell, text by Kahlil Gibran
Your children are not your children; They are the sons and daughters of life’s longing for itself. They come through you but they are not from you And though they are with you They belong not to you. You may give them your love but not your thoughts, They have their own thoughts. They have their own thoughts. You can house their bodies but not their souls, For their souls dwell in a place of tomorrow, Which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams. You can strive to be like them, but you cannot make them just like you.
Songs that tell a story
- Sing for You, Frederick N. West, to the tune of “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.”
Soloist Emily Keeney sings additional variations of “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.”
“Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” is an early 19th-century English poem written by Jane Taylor that was set to the tune of the French melody “Ah! vous dirai-je, maman.” Mozart wrote a set of piano variations of the French melody, and another famous lullaby “Baa Baa black sheep” is written to the same tune. We sing this song because it is so universal and touches the lives of many children.
Sing for you and sing for me, sing for the little child under the tree, sing for your supper and sing for your meal, sing while you dance and see how you feel. Sing for you and sing for me, sing for the little child under the tree.
Songs about seeking out beauty in your life
- Tota Pulchra Es, Maurice Duruflé, for womens’ chorus
Tota pulchra es You are beautiful
- Beati Quorum Via, Charles Villiers Stanford
This piece is one of three motets set to Latin texts, composed by Stanford in the late 19th century, and translates to “blessed are those who walk.”
Songs about speaking your mind
- Commotion: Time for Some Change, Liz Douthitt Sharp, performed by a small ensemble
Time now to fix the wrongs and make it right; time now, there’s a better world in our sight.
A song about difficult conversations we must face
- Freedom from Guns, Doug Balcom, adapted and arranged by Frederick N. West.
Soloists Elliot Kraber and Miriam Blau.
Spoken dedication by Martha Baskin.
This song was originally composed by Doug Balcom to be performed at rallies that promote awareness about gun violence and mass shootings in our schools and public spaces. This is a very difficult subject, but unfortunately one that touches children’s lives today. Frederick N. West adapted and arranged this piece to be sung in memoriam of those who have lost their lives to senseless gun violence.
Song about being on the move in community
- Gyáa’a Hlaa - Stand Up, Sondra Segundo. Performed by Sondra Segundo.
Sondra created this song for a community project with the local children for Seattle Public Libraries and United Indians of All Tribes Foundation/Ina Maka Program. It was inspired by a children's book, “We Are Water Protectors” by Carole Lindstrom & Michaela Goade. This song is included in the program to emphasize the importance of learning about and revering Native Americans, the original inhabitants of the land that we live on today, and their culture.
Tl’ajúugyaa’a We stand Eehl gáwjaaw With our drums Eehl sG_alaang And our songs Tl’ajúugyaa’a We stand Gándlaay isgyáan tlagáay tla’áanda To protect the water & the land
- Know that You Yourself Are Essential to this World, Frederick N. West, words by Lakota Chief Arvol Looking Horse, set to music with his special permission.
Soloist Sondra Segundo.
This song emphasizes the importance of instilling self esteem in our children so they understand their importance in our world, and feel empowered to participate in it.
-INTERMISSION-
Songs about being on the move in community
- People Get Ready, Curtis Mayfield, arranged by Frederick N. West.
Soloist Elliot Kraber.
A song about being on the move and being with your community on a quest for adventure and faith. Children want to be a part of travel with their community.
Additional verse written by Frederick N. West:People get ready there’s a train a comin’, this engine’s rollin’ and it’s not goin’ back. Pickin’ up passengers from coast to coast. There’s a bright new day we’re building track by track.
- Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody, traditional civil rights song.
Soloists Peter Colino, Sherry Tuinstra.
Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody is a traditional civil rights song that teaches us to stand up for ourselves.
Songs of Reassurance
- O-o-h Child, Stan Vincent, arranged by Kent Stevenson.
Performed by the African-American Cultural Ensemble and Seattle Peace Chorus, with Kent Stevenson.
Rap soloist Tommie Burton.
Ooh ooh Child, things are gonna get easier, Ooh Ooh Child, things’ll get brighter Some day, we’ll get it together and we’ll get it all done, Some day when your head is much lighter, Some day, we’ll walk in the rays of the beautiful sun, Some day when the world is much brighter.
- What the World Needs Now Is Love, lyrics by Hal David, music by Burt Bacharach, arranged by Kent Stevenson.
Performed by the African-American Cultural Ensemble, with Kent Stevenson
Sololists Rosalind Wallace Brown and Liah Walker.
This timeless message is just what our children (and the world) needs now.
- A Change Is Gonna Come, Sam Cooke.
Soloist Tommie Burton, with Kent Stevenson.
This song tells Sam Cooke’s personal story of overcoming adversity through song and hope.
- Amen, from “Jubilation in My Soul,” Kent Stevenson.
Performed by the African-American Cultural Ensemble and Seattle Peace Chorus, with Kent Stevenson.
Let there be peace - let there be peace in this world Let there be peace throughout the land, let there be peace
Recessional: Lead with Love, Melanie DeMore
You gotta put one foot in front of the other And lead with love Put one foot in front of the other And lead with love. Verses (call and response) Don’t give up hope (Don’t give up hope) You’re not alone (You’re not alone) Don’t you give up (Don’t you give up) Keep movin on (Keep movin on) Lift up your eyes Don’t you despair Look up ahead The path is there I know you’re scared And I’m scared too But here I am Right next to you
Support for this concert comes from the Abe Keller Peace Education Fund.
