Kindling: Small Reflections on a Limitless Faith (conductor’s score)

When conductor Jason Oby invited me to compose a large choral work inspired by Unitarian Universalism’s Six Sources, I was thrilled. Rather than prescribing what to believe, these touchstones affirm the places we turn to for inspiration, meaning, and purpose. As expressions of shared human experience, these enduring sources resonate with seekers, skeptics, and believers alike.

Summarized briefly, the Six Sources are:
1) Direct experience with mystery and wonder
2) Words and deeds of prophetic people, which challenge us to bring forth justice, compassion, and love
3) Wisdom from the world’s religions and Indigenous traditions
4) Jewish and Christian teachings, which call us to love our neighbors as ourselves
5) Humanist teachings, reason, and science, which warn us against idolatries of the mind and spirit
6) Earth-centered traditions, which celebrate the sacred circle of life

I recognized my own spiritual touchstones in this list – even if it didn’t yet sound like the stuff of music! So I enthusiastically dove into writing lyrics, trusting the poetry would reveal itself.

But whoa, just because I was enthusiastic didn’t mean it was easy! I struggled to find words that would truly sing. During long walks with my husband, I indulged in dramatic laments: “What was I thinking? There’s no poetry here whatsoever! And humanism? I might as well set the tax code.” But with each day I came closer to finding the rhapsodic kernel within each source. (Yes, even within humanism!)

The breakthrough came when I realized I didn’t need to write a sweeping manifesto. The symbol of Unitarian Universalism is not a bonfire; it’s a chalice – a small flame that kindles something deep within each of us. I began paying attention to intimate moments that gesture toward what is shared across religions and philosophies, moments that speak to our common experience of what is sacred and true. What emerged was a set of small reflections on a limitless faith: Kindling.

Individual Movements:

I. First Touch: When my two-year-old son Oliver felt a hydrangea blossom brush against his cheek, he exclaimed, “Mom, that makes music!” Witnessing that moment of wonder was all the inspiration I needed.

II. Pages: The news of the world often evokes sorrow, pain, fear and anger. But alongside hardship there are glimpses of perseverance and quiet determination. I brought that shifting emotional landscape into this song, honoring the courageous actions of those who have come before us, and inviting us to follow their example.

III. Chosen People: My parents were deeply engaged with the stories and questions of Judaism and Christianity, and my childhood was better for it. This song reflects my gratitude for a tradition shaped by compassion, redemption, and hope, as well as a core belief that all people are chosen people.

IV. So Much Radiance: The modest aspiration of this song was to honor all the religions of the world…in under five minutes! What’s a composer to do? As each new faith is revealed, new tonalities emerge. By the end of this song we’ve traveled through all twelve major keys, each illuminating a different facet of truth, with more yet to come.

V. Strong Braid: Despite how much I value rational thought, I’ve always had a wee little aversion to the word “humanism.” Because it’s grounded in science, reason, and rational thought, humanism can sometimes come across as dry and academic. It was clear I needed a metaphor. What if faith is an ecstatic kite, while humanism is the string that keeps it anchored to the ground? Yes! I felt like I finally understood the relationship between these two perspectives. Reason does not limit faith; it allows it to soar to great heights while remaining grounded and healthy.

VI. Where Belief Begins: Earth-centered spiritual practices bring us full circle to where belief first arises in our young hearts, in awe of the natural world and its abundant beauty.

Epilogue: The Chalice of our Hearts: Kindling closes with a simple canon that calls us to stretch beyond our own experience, tending the flame that burns in our own hearts.

-Elizabeth Alexander