Shadow and Light

Shadow and Light, an Alzheimer's Journey is a healing, secular oratorio; a compassionate exploration of lives of those touched by Alzheimer's dementia. The libretto is a carefully ordered collection of poems and texts from various sources, including scripture, contemporary poets, the composer's own writing, and poems by caregivers.
Item Voicing Duration
JS-074 70:00
No.1 I Felt a Cleaving 4:50
Audio file
No.2 Tangled Tango 4:50
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No.3 Memory Aids 3:25
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No.4 This is What We Fear 3:30
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No.5 By Night 4:30
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No.6 Sundowning 7:45
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No.7 A Choice 3:25
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No.8 Lead Kindly Light 4:30
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No.9 Take Me Home 1:00
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No.10 In this Uncontainable Night 6:15
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No.11 Regret 4:10
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No.12 Why Am I in this Place 5:50
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No.13 Remembering 4:20
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No.14 Hold Hands 2:35
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No.15 I Sing to You 3:00
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No.16 Love Bears All Things 5:00
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 Three major segments provide the structure for a "universal" story of Alzheimer's. Part I / The Cloud of Forgetting is told from the perspective of a person diagnosed with dementia, and features a mezzo-soprano soloist. Part II / Uncontainable Night focuses on the experience of the loved one/caregiver, (Soprano and Tenor). Part III / I and Thou maintains that the person with dementia has not 'disappeared.' They are not 'the disease,' but a person still capable of feeling love, beauty, music and remains capable of connection. Throughout, the chorus performs the role of story teller, care partner and witness. 

"This is truly a masterwork and deserves a place in the standard choral repertory." 

- Dr. Diane Retallack, Commissioning Conductor

Libretto conceived and created by Joan Szymko (from various sources)

Scored for SATB chorus, mezzo-soprano, tenor and soprano soli orchestra (2,2,2,2 - 2 hrn, 2 tpt, 2 perc, hrp, pno, strgs).

Chorus & Orchestra
Difficulty
Moderate

Libretto conceived and created by Joan Szymko (from various sources)