If I Can Stop One Heart From Breaking (2015) – SATB w/ piano (3′)
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-On a text from Emily Dickinson, this setting specifically avoids regular accompaniment patterns in the piano, instead treating the piano and chorus as independent members of the ensemble. In doing so, there is an overwhelming sense of space and depth created by the florid piano lines which constantly ring under the full chorus’ lush and stark outbursts. I envision the piano and chorus as very separate entities in the piece: the chorus plays the role of the speaker in the poem, striving to ease the pains of the world as best possible; the piano is fate which sometimes works together with the speaker to better things, but this is not a constant thing. Fate moves how it will and the speaker will often have to work without the aid, or even against fate. While both players exist in the piece, the speaker is always dependent on fate to determine what move to make next, for better or worse. Appropriate for upper level high school/standard collegiate ensembles and beyond.