Light
- Completed
- 2008
- Instrumentation
- Voice and Saxophone. The piece may be sung by an alto, a tenor, or a baritone. With an alto or tenor, the saxophone part is to be played on an alto saxophone; with a baritone, the same saxophone part is to be played on a tenor saxophone.
- Duration
- 4'30"
- Recordings
- Nate Widelitz (bar.) and Max Schwimmer (t.s.) at the 2008 USC Fall Composition Showcase.
- Cantor Geoff Fine (ten.) and Ryland Bennett (a.s.).
- Sheet Music
- There are minor differences between the recordings and the sheet music, because the performers were using an earlier revision of the piece.
- Program Notes
I believe Lawrence Escamilla, a pianist familiar with my work, captured the intent of Light best when he remarked, "It's a different interpretation of happiness, I think. It is a very radiant piece. It does have dark qualities about it, almost like it's crying out."
- Text
- Light by Rabindranath Tagore
Light, my light, the world-filling light, the eye-kissing light, heart-sweetening light! Ah, the light dances, my darling, at the center of my life; the light strikes, my darling, the chords of my love; the sky opens, the wind runs wild, laughter passes over the earth. The butterflies spread their sails on the sea of light. Lilies and jasmines surge up on the crest of the waves of light. The light is shattered into gold on every cloud, my darling, and it scatters gems in profusion. Mirth spreads from leaf to leaf, my darling, and gladness without measure. The heaven's river has drowned its banks and the flood of joy is abroad.