Look To The Sky — Robert Paterson | Composer (original) (raw)

for SATB choir and Piano

Written: 2021
Duration: 5'
for SATB choir (with occasional divisi) and piano
Commissioned by the New York Choral Consortium for the BIG SING's Ten-Year Anniversary
World Premiere: New York Choral Consortium, BIG SING Ten-Year Anniversary Event, Dr. Deborah S. King, conductor, St. Vincent Ferrer Roman Catholic Church, New York, NY, September 12, 2021
Second Performance: Ember, Dr. Deborah S. King, conductor, The Actor’s Chapel, 239 West 49th Street, NYC, October 7, 2022; Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic Church, Montclair, NJ, October 8, 2022
Publisher: Bill Holab Music

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PROGRAM NOTe

Everyone who lived through 9/11 has their own personal story about that tragic day, yet we also all suffered through a shared experience. As so much time has passed since that fateful day, there are many questions we continue to ask ourselves: can we possibly ever show compassion, forgiveness, or understand why this happened? How can we move forward? What have we learned? In Look To The Sky, I reflect on these questions and try to offer a positive way forward, while never forgetting those who lost their lives during this unforgettable catastrophe. Look To The Sky was commissioned by the New York Choral Consortium for the BIG SING's Ten-Year Anniversary.

Look To The Sky
Some days we look up and see the light
Other days we look up and see darkness
On any given day, we have a choice
Eyes open, or eyes closed
Ears open, or ears closed
Hearts open, or hearts closed
Some storms seem like they will never end
Sometimes anger overwhelms, like it will never go away
Some sadness seems like it will last forever
We all want to be seen
We all want to be heard
We all want to be loved
What have we learned?
We know we cannot go back to the way it was
We need to move forward, through love and compassion
We can do better
We can be better
We can build better
We can love better
We can sing louder!
Look to the sky
We will always remember
We shall never forget
Look to the sky
– Robert Paterson