A World Gone Quiet - SATB and Piano

The world fell quiet in March of 2020. The choir world became especially quiet. Not only did lockdowns isolate choristers, but shockwaves travelled through music circles as evidence mounted that singing could further contribute to spreading the coronavirus. As a choir director, I became devastated as the farewell concerts and end of the season rites of passage ceased to exist. In the depths of my pain, I felt one of the only things I could do to cope is to create. While writing articles has been a passion of mine in such things as professional choral publications, I turned inward to write in a medium I don't normally use - poetry. The words are not confined to a poetic meter or style. Rather, they are simple raw emotion. Loneliness and isolation, fear, pain, loss...and ultimately light and hopefulness. The beauty I have seen in humanity continues to drown out the darkness. My hope is that these words and notes may be a refuge to turn to in any time of darkness. May they be a reminder now and forever that light ALWAYS extinguishes the dark.
 
The world has gone quiet
We are isolated and alone
Humanity is fighting and afraid
Millions of lives hang in the balance
From the depths fear pain will rise
 
May light caress our pain
But where is the light?
Light, Rise
 
Rise up my brothers and sisters
Rise all nations, all tribes, all lands
From the hands of millions, out of darkness we will prevail
From the hands of all, we will rise
Like the sun which never dies, we will rise!