Light Shines (SATB chorus with piano)

LIGHT SHINES IMAGES OF HOPE

For SATB Chorus with piano Duration 9 mins

Words and music by Juhi Bansal

Light Shines grew out of a question I imagine many musicians ask during their lifetime: When confronted with hatred, darkness, violence and fear in this world – how do we continue to make music? Where do we find hope in the face of cruelty?

Where do we find solace in a world filled with sadness and futility?

Perhaps the answer is in music itself – in coming together with many voices to celebrate beauty, to create beauty; hoping together for better things and times to come.

"This will be our reply to violence: to make music more intensely, more beautifully, more devotedly than ever before."

Leonard Bernstein, 1963

Copyright ©2018 by Juhi Bansal Music All rights reserved

juhibansalcomposer@gmail.com www.juhibansal.com

Light Shines Images of Hope Stars shine bright When shadow falls, we look for the light In the dark, leaves whisper a broken rhythm Hope is in the wind In drops of rain caressing the desert We ache for vast silence Light shines ahead The cosmos within us, we touch the stars Light falls from the sky like tears Stillness As shadow falls Stars shine Hope will blaze like a lightning flash through the sky As shadow falls Stars shine bright

Commissioned by The New York Virtuoso Singers World Premiere by The New York Virtuoso Singers, Harold Rosenbaum, Conductor

Notes on performance 1) Measures 63 - 124 feature a texture with imitations of wind and raindrops in the background behind the melody.

The "like wind in the background" texture (which first appears in Soprano at mm 63, before moving through the other voices) is a very soft imitation of swirling wind. The "ooo" syllable should be sung through mostly closed lips, resonant and round, with a light, airy tone.

This same section also features fp dynamics (first appearance in the tenor at mm72), in imitation of splashing raindrops. These should be performed rhythmically as:

2) Measures 172 - 173 feature a very dramatic, quick diminuendo in all choral parts and piano. The desired effect at 174 is of the solo voices emerging out of the choral texture on "stillness".

  

3

q = 100









 









    BASS  

















SOPRANO

ALTO

TENOR

Clear, bell-like q = 100

   

Piano



 



 

p

    

  

   

f



 







   



fff

5

A.

 

ppp

Stars

   3    

fff

ppp



 

3      Stars

    

fff

    

ppp

3        

ppp

3     

ppp

ppp



fff

shine

fff

ppp



Stars

fff

   

 



 



bright!

    

shine

fff

3     B. 

ppp

shine

Stars

T.

fff

  

 



 3 S.     

  

 

p



 



bright!

   



bright!

   

shine



bright!

5

   

Heavy

Pno.



ff

    

  

  

 







 

  

p

  

  



 







4

9 fff

  S.    

fff

    3

ppp

fff

   



Stars

fff

   

A.

    

T.

fff

B.



     9 



Pno.







fff

ppp

 

Stars fff

 3   

ppp







 3   

fff

Stars

shine

      

fff         3

fff

     

fff

fff

3

fff

   



      

  



  

13

  

3  Stars

     



ppp



shine

      ppp

Stars

  

 



fff

      

fff



ppp

3 

3





bright!

 

   



 bright!

   

  

  





 

 

ppp



ppp

  p

fff



   

  

Stars

Pno.



 

fff

 

ppp

shine fff

   

   





shine

  S. 

B.



bright!

3   

ppp

13

T.

   



fff

   

 

ff

ppp

3

shine

Stars







bright!

   

Stars

12

A.

fff

   

3   

   



shine

fff

fff

ppp

3   

fff



shine

ppp

fff

     



        



3

       

shine

ff





 

 



 



16

S.

    

 



5

17

p

ppp





 









 





bright

p

A.



    



 









 







bright

ppp

T.

 

     ppp

ppp

B.



   

17

 



Pno.



 







pp

 



 

  

  

Clear, bell-like

     



mf











  



 







 20

  S.  

p



When

3

 



sha - dow

falls





A.

21







 p





When

T.

B.



3

 



sha - dow

falls

  

 

























Pno.





 

  

21

















p

   

   



25

6

Soft, ominous

 S.     



    



A.



(In the background) pp

    



 

   

sha -

Pno.







falls

     

dow

sha -

sha -







ppp

   

falls

     

dow

Soft and muddy, ominous



            

  

25



mp





  

falls

(In the background) pp

B.



When

  

T.



dow

sha -

  













una corda

3    







sha - dow



When

mp





When

B.

 

  

T.



falls

 



   



sha -



    falls

     

dow

29

Pno.

   

      sha -







falls



A.





29

S.



dow

(All trills and tremolos barely audible, like a rumble in the background)

 

 

     



dow

3

 





sha - dow



falls



            

 

falls

      sha -

dow







 

 

 

      sha -



dow

 







7

33

S.

  

3

sha -

dow





 



f



   

 

falls

      sha -









37



T.

B.









we

look,





we

look,

  

   

 

   

 

 cresc.     

falls

      

dow

sha -

dow

  





Gradually growing clearer

 





cresc.







 

 



  

  



dow

 





f

we







we

look,



f



we

             falls

     

       sha -







look,

falls





we

cresc.

sha -



look,

37

Pno.

dow

     







We

falls

sha -



cresc.

           







falls

     



sha -

cresc.





  

look,

 



 

dow



3

sha - dow



  S. 

A.



When

dow











We



      33

Pno.



falls

sha -



falls

   

  

T.





     

A.

B.



dow



sha -

 





mf

dow



  

      



8 41

  S.   look

  

A.

look

f

T.

B.







for

the





for

  







the

3     light

mp

    

43



In the

    



In the

dark

light





 

dark

mp

 



In the



Barely heard, a whisper on the wind pppp

 

  In the

 





    

light, Barely heard, a whisper on the wind pppp

   



Look!



 

star

  

Forceful

Pno.







 



   

mf







   



45

 S.  



dark

 

A.







43

 

T.





B.



pppp

 

    

 

pppp

light,

   





Pno.



 

pppp





 

In the

dark

leaves

whis

 







In the

dark

leaves

whis



 

-

-



per

a

  



per

a

    

light,



  

pppp



Look!



         

 

 

star

 









pp



dark







   

pppp



Look!



 

star





pp





 



        pppp

 

 pp











 



9

52 49

 S.   bro

bro

ken





-

-

rhy





Slow accel.





-







 



 



 

     



















thm





ken







 rhy



 

T.

B.

-

 

A.





rit.

thm

pppp

light.

 

pppp

   



star



Pno.



  

 

52



rit.

     



Slow accel.

Bright, articulate





pp







3



        

   



  



tres cordes

  



54

53

S.

 

  

q. = 108

    mp





  



 

Hope

A.

T.

B.

 



 





 



 

  





























  

54 q. = 108

(always leave ringing through this section)

          

 

Light, clear and bell-like

     

Pno.



     

 

 mf

  

subito pp

 



 



(sempre pp )



          





57 Almost imperceptibly slower

10

q. = 96-100

   S.          

A.



mp





Hope

  

T.

  

B.



  

 

is

the

in

  

   



   





wind





















57 Almost imperceptibly slower q. = 96-100

 

Pno.



  

   

  

 

pp













 

   p

 





63 62

S.



 



(Like wind in the background) pp

 

  



  

  





 





ooo

 

A.

T.

B.











 





















Pno.

   







  

 

63





 

pppp





 





pp







  





11

67

  S.    66

mp

 

A.

  In

B.



     ooo

  







Pno.



 

 



 

drops

of

rain

  

  

     

67

 

 

  



    



ca - ress



     



 

(Like wind in the background) pp

T.



 

-

ing

  

the

 











 



   



70

  S.   

A.



de





71

 







In

drops

of

rain

-



 

f



ca - ress







-

    

ing

the



sert.



   

T.

B.

mp



p



fp



 

In

drops

of

(Like wind in the background) pp

  



  

fp

  

  

     

ooo

71



Pno.





      





      

 



   

 

12

75

74

 S.   



de

 

T.



Pno.





fp







 

In

drops

of

rain

(Like wind in the background) pp

 



 



ooo

rain





mp

 

  







sert

 

A.

B.

-

mp

 







 



f

ca - ress

  



-

  







the

     

ooo



 

fp

fp

Drops

of

  

ing

pp

75



    





 

    





79 78

 S. 

A.



  de

-

fp

fp

Drops

of

rain

 



mp



  

   

  

fp



  



  

of

rain



   

 mp

 

   

(Like wind in the background) pp

  

  

     

  



ooo

79



fp

In

rain

Pno.

fp



 

Drops

  B. 







fp



sert

(sempre legato) T.

fp

       

 

 

 

13 (Like wind in the background) pp 82

 S.   

 



ooo

 

 



 



(Like wind in the background) pp

  





A.



  

 



  

mp



mp

 





ooo

mp

  

  



 





 

the

de

ooo

   drops

T.





of

rain

mp

B.

Pno.



  



ca





 

  







 



-

ress

 

-

ing

  fp

 

Drops

of





 



f



-

sert

fp

 





 



 86

  S.  

A.





   



 



  





88

pp

pp

T.

fp

B.



mf



 

ooo

   



 



Hope

p

mf



 

  

is

in

 

the



Hope

( p)

   

 



  

 







88    





rain

  

Pno.









p







pp





p

    

 

  



14

91

(Like wind) 90 pp

S.

   

 

ooo

   

A.

(sempre legato)

  

  



  









  



  

  

  

f



wind

B.

Pno.



    

  

T.



  

     

ooo







   







(Like wind) pp

  



91

     

 



 



pp









94 (Like wind) pp

  S.  

 



ooo









  

    

(Like wind) pp

 

 



  

  

  



mp

  





  

pp



  

  

mp



  





    



 

  

ooo





  



94   

Pno.



   

T.

B.

 





A.



mp

 pp

  



 





pp



15

98

S.

 





mf

  

A.



   

 

is

the

Hope

  

pp

  

T.

ooo



 



wind

   





 

 

  fp

fp

Hope

in

drops

of

   

98

 

Pno.

in

  



fp

fp

B.









mp

  







  



    

  

    

   

sfz

sfz

sfz

sfz

  



pp





  

     

  





  





  

102 (Like wind) mf

S.

    

  

  

ooo

f

  

A.

   

   f

  In

 

T.

B.







fp

(p )

  



 

rain

    102

Pno.







mf

 

 

 fp





fp



 

Drops

of

  mf





  



 

   

 mp





 

16 106

 S.  A.

107



  



 

drops

of

rain

  

 



   



ca

-

ress



     -

ing



the

de

 

-

sert

(Like wind) mf

    ooo

T.

fp

B.



  

  



  

  

(p)





  

  





rain



Pno.









  

107





  

p

mp





 p

 







p





110

 fp S.   

fp

Drops

112

(p )

 

   

of

rain





A.

fp





 mf

  In



 



 

drops

of

rain



  ca -

pp

     

T.



(Like wind) pp

B.



 

   





   

  

  

 

ooo

110

 

Pno.





pp

      ooo



 

 



pp

112







  

 

pp





 mf





      mf

114

S.

 



mf (Like wind)

 



pp

  



ooo

 

f

 

A.

ress

-

 

ing

 the

fp

   Drops

T.

B.



  



de

-

   





mp





 

sert

In

fp

 



of





 



  

114

Pno.

mf

17





  

  



 



  





  

 



 118

 S. 





poco a poco dim.

A.

  



 

drops

of

rain

poco a poco dim. fp

    rain

T.

B.





Pno.





ca

ress

  -

 

ing

 



the

de



-

sert.



 



fp



 

Drops

of









fp





p

  



poco a poco dim.

poco a poco dim.

  

 





118







     



18 122

 S. 





A.

123 Freely, slower



   





 pp

 

   

fp

B.



  

wait

pp





 



   



We

T.



 



We

wait

   



 for



 for







rain



Pno.







  



123 Freely, slower

 





 

 

 



 

128 126

 S. 







ppp (long)



 si

-

-

-

ppp



A.

 









 

vast

   vast

T.

B.









si ppp







  

-

-

  



   



lence

lence

 

si ppp

-

si

-

-

-



lence

 



lence

128



Pno.





  



(leave ringing with pedal down across breath in choir) (long)



pppp

 

 

  

 

 



 





130 S. Solo

  

 



     

S.

A. Solo

q= 92 - 100



 

            B.    T.

130 q= 92 - 100

 

Pno.



 

 133

  S. Solo  

 

S.

A. Solo

A.

T.

B.



pp



  

shines













































  





6

6

6























  







6







 











 Bright, hopeful p

(SOLO)









 

Light

shines

a - head







  



















6

6

    





 6





 















6

6

6

a - head





6



Light



 

 





6





Pno.

 

       

A.



19

Bright, hopeful p

(SOLO)



























6

6

6

6

6

6

    





    







20

136

 p S. Solo  





S.

A. Solo

Light

shines



T.





T.

B.



 

















6

6

  















  

















  

 









 

Light

shines

   

shines









6











Light



6

6

6













6

Bright, hopeful p

 





140



 



6

6









Light











a - head



shines

  





Bright, hopeful p







Pno.

p







139

A.



  

 S. Solo 

A. Solo

















S.















136

Pno.

 

a - head

 

A.

B.

 

 









a - head,













 

 

 

140























6

6

6

6

6

6

6

6

6

    

 

 

    

 

 

    







S. Solo

  

 

A. Solo



Pno.

p

 









light





A. Solo



A.

T.

B.



Pno.





 

cresc. poco a poco



 

a - head,





 

Light

shines

a - head

 

 

 

144







cresc. poco a poco





6

6

6

6

6

6

6

6

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 





mf









 



light mf cresc. poco a poco

shines

cresc. poco a poco



   







 





 

shines



    6

    



  6

 



 6





 6

    





  

 



 





6

 



 6

 



shines







 

mf cresc. poco a poco













Light



 

6

 





shines

   



 

shines







cresc. poco a poco



 

  S. Solo  S.





Light

shines.



    







21

p

shines

 145





Light

   



 

 

T.



144

Light

 

A.

B.



  

S.



p

142



 6

    







  

6





22

148 Bright, incisive

 f S. Solo  

 



Light shines

A. Solo

A.



a - head

   

S.





  



    









Light

shines

a - head







Bright, incisive f



 



Light

shines

a head







f



    Light

T. Solo





  

 

Pno.





  f

shines

3 

a head







 



Light

148

Light

 

shines





f

B.



shines

 

T.

3

  

 



 





Light

(SOLO) Bright, incisive f





shines

mf

           6

6

 

 mf



 

 





 

 





 

 

6

6

6

6

6

6

6

6

6

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

23

152

  

 S. Solo   Light

shines

f

 

S.



shines











Light

shines

a - head



 



  f

light



 



Light

shines

a head

  

A.



 





a - head,

 

A. Solo



a - head



Light



The

f











 

Light

shines

    a - head

  

f



The



 

T. Solo

f

T.



  

Light

shines,



  

 











  



 

3

  

shines

f

 

 shines

   3

Light





3

shines,





shines

152

Pno.

f

    Light

f

B.

 

 6

   



  6

 

  6

 

 6

 



  6

 

  6

 

 6

 



  6

 

  6

 

 6

 



 6

 

     f

  

24

156

  S. Solo 





3       

S.

cos - mos with- in

 

A. Solo

  





us, we

the

stars

3

touch





f





We

touch

the

  



3

stars

We







f









  

touch

the

stars,

We

3       

A.

3

  

cos - mos with- in

T. Solo

T.

  



  



   f

B.



us, we

touch

the

f







we

touch

the

stars





3

f





    

Light



stars





3















We

f







3   

We

touch

the

stars





shine

156 Strong, forceful (always in the background)

  

Pno.



 

   f

   

mf 6

6



 

 

        6

6

6

6

       

       

       

6

6

6

6

6

       

6

6

6

       

25

 S. Solo  



3   

touch

the

stars

160

 

S.

touch

the

stars

   touch



we

touch

the

light,





f





the





  





Light

falls

from the sky

like

tears





   light





we

stars











We

touch

the

light

Light



 



   f



162

Pno.



        6

f





Fall- ing, fall





stars



6

6

       





   

  

T.

B.

the

the



3



touch



touch

T. Solo









A.





 

A. Solo





 

162

6

 

         6

6

6

6

        

f

 





Light

falls,

 -

  



ing

    mf



6

6

 

      6

 

6

6

   

  6

 

26

165

164

 S. Solo  

 Light

  

falls

from the sky





S.









like

167



tears



fall

f



   fall - ing, fall

 

A. Solo

 

touch

the

T. Solo



    

sky

like

tears

  









Pno.







f

-



 

ing,

fall - ing

  

6

6







f



6

     





falls

 Fall

-

     165              6





fall





6

 

6

 

6

6

   



 fall



tears

Light

Fall

ing



tears



f

B.



3

falls

 



-





Tears

 

 

T.





light

f

A.



 





fall -

ing,



  



ing,

fall - ing

tears

  167   

       

  6

f

6



 

 

6

6

6

6

   

 

27 168

 

 S. Solo  

170

 





tears

S.

A. Solo

A.

 





fall -

ing,

    fall- ing

 



 



f

 



tears

T. Solo

T.

B.

  

 



fall



 

tears

fall







ing,

fall



  f



tears

   fall

-

 







ing

fall

  

-





ing,

fall

-



 

ing

fall

   

  





 



ing

 

-





ing,

fall

  

6

 

 

6

6

   

 

6

       

   

 

-

ing





fall

      6









tears

Pno.

-

tears









-



6

170    

6

6

   

 







6

6

 











6

6



 



28

174 171

S. Solo

  

(no dim.) f



fall





We

ache

Espressivo mp



  

for

still

-

-

dramatic diminuendo

 

S.

fall

-





ing,

fall - ing

fall

-





ing,

fall - ing





fall

f (no dim.)



 

A. Solo







-





ing,

fall -



We

  

n



ing

Espressivo mp



ache





for

still

-

-

dramatic diminuendo



A.

n





tears

  

T. Solo



  



tears

f (no dim.)





We

ache





Espressivo mp





for

still

-

-







  



ing,

fall -

ing

  



dramatic diminuendo

      fall - ing, fall - ing

T.

 fall

-









ing,

fall - ing

fall

-

n

dramatic diminuendo

B.



 







tears

Pno.



6

6

6



fall

       



n

6

       

 

dramatic diminuendo

6

6

6

6

6

174

  6

   

(leave ringing with pedal down)

6

6

                 



n





175

 S. Solo  



S.

 

A. Solo



A.

T.

B.

Pno.



p



ness,

still

-

 -

ness,

-

-



still

-

-



-

-

-



 

 

ness,

still

-

-

-

ness,

 



p

 



-







-

-

-

-

ness,

 

-



 

 -



 



p



 



 



   -

T. Solo

177



-

29

-

-

-

-

-

-

ness,

 



 





 





 





 



 



 



   

177

 

  ppppp

 

 

6

6

6

6

 

 

 

 

una corda



 

 



n

 



(leave ringing with pedal down till breath)

30

180

 pp S. Solo  



still

-

-

-

-

pppp

 

S.

-

-

-

-

pppp

 

-

-

-

pppp

-

-

-

   still

-

-

-

Pno.

-

-



180





-

-

-

-

-

-

ppppp





-

-

-

-









 



 



 



 



ness

ness

ness

6





6







 

ness

ness



 





 

 



 

(leave ringing with pedal down)





 



6



-



 







 

-

-

-

pppp

 

-



   still



-

-

-

pppp

B.

ness



still

T.

-

-

 

T. Solo

-



still

A.

-



still

A. Solo

-





n



31

184 q = 110 - 120

 S.  A.

T.

B.





















 





p

  

sha - dow

falls

p









sha - dow

    

 

 



    

falls

188









sha - dow

falls

 



Sha - dow

falls

184 q = 110 - 120 crisp, bright

 

Pno.



 





 

 

 

188

pp



 

 







 

 

 

soft, muddy, ominous tres cordes



189

 S. 











A.

  

T.

B.

    



 



sha - dow

Pno.

 





 

 falls



    

191



 p

  

p

  

sha - dow

falls

p







 

 

 

 

sha - dow

falls







 









  

 

 

 

 

 

sha - dow

 





191

falls

32

194

 p S.   sha





dow

falls

cresc. poco a poco

-

    

A.

   sha

T.

p cresc. poco a poco





cresc. poco a poco

-

  p

B.



Sha





dow

falls





dow

falls

194





dow

falls





sha - dow







    



-

falls





 

p





-

 

  

  

 

-

 







dow

falls





dow

falls



 

  

cresc. poco a poco

 



falls

Sha

 

Pno.



sha

cresc. poco a poco

-







sha

when

p



 

 

 198

  S. 

199



sha - dow

A.

T.

B.

cresc. poco a poco

f

  falls

   

  

Stars

shine



 

f



stars

   





f

  



  

f

Stars

Pno.



  







  



shine



  





shine

           

       

f





     





when sha - dow

         

199



shine

Stars

  

  



    

        

     

cresc. poco a poco

 



202

S.

  

    

falls

When sha - dow

B.



  

  

 

cresc. poco a poco



 

 



      



Pno.

     

        

       







     

  







ff



 



    

 

ff

 

     



ff

    

                   

    

 

   

 

 



Hope

will

 



Hope

will

 



Hope

will

 

     

  

 

       



 



     

light - ning

 

  

flash

 

  flash



     

  flash



ning

       

will



like a light - ning



Hope





light

blaze

ff

blaze

Pno.









like a light - ning

       



 

33

205         

 



blaze

B.

 

       

blaze

T.



  



ff 206   S.  

A.



shine



 



 

shine

Stars





    

Stars



  

falls

cresc. poco a poco

  



falls







falls

T.

 



cresc. poco a poco

 

A.



205

 

  flash

  

   

                       

34 210

 S. Solo 





S.

 



in

 

T.

B.









the

     

 

A.

the



213 (SOLO)

 





p





When

sha -

dow



(long) p

      in

 



sky

(long) p

 



 

mf

(long) p



sky

    



 





sky



    

(long) p

 

mf







sky

Pno.



                    



214

   S. Solo 



     

    

falls,

  



 



 

when sha - dow

p

 

      

falls,





 



  

213



when sha - dow



 falls

S.













A.













  





















T.

B.



            Bell-like



Pno.

crisp, bright





 

 



       soft, muddy, ominous 

 

 

 

 





pp



35







When

sha -



dow



when

sha -

dow

Ossia

219





   S. Solo    









  

 

falls

 

falls

222

  



Stars

S.













A.













  





















T.



B.

219





Pno.

      











   

223

   S. Solo 



A.



p

   





  

  



n



p

   

n





   

  



n







p

n

 





shine



n



   p

n





shine





Stars

 

p

shine

  

p

Pno.





bright

stars

     Stars 

   

shine

p

B.





Stars

T.

222

    p



S.

   

n



 

p

shine

















n



 



 





4





229

36 227

 S. Solo   



  

 



    

p

Stars mp





p



    



  

    



    





  



 4





A.

p

    



n



n

Stars p

  

Stars p

    

pp



 

 

  



ppp

p

p

 



  

 

4

 



 

4











 ppp







n

ppp

ppp



n



 

 

pp

ppp

p

ppp

ppp

p

ppp







 

shine

ppp

 

 

 

shine

 

4

ppp







bright





shine

p

233

mp

 

 

ppp

shine

  

n

Stars

bright







bright

    

n





 





bright

p

  

n

bright

shine

p

Pno.





 

bright

     shine 

n

p



shine

B.

   

p

  

  

p

T.



mp

233

232

  S. Solo  S.









229



  



mp

bright

  



mp



bright p

Pno.



mp

    

 

stars

bright p

T.



mf

shine

bright

A.

B.





p

S.

mp

ppp

 

shine

 

 4

  



  

 

4

    4

 

  S. Solo 



S.

A.







bright

p

 

dying away





bright

ppp



ppp

p

 

ppp





bright



p



ppp



p

T.

B.



ppp

p

ppp

 

ppp

p





ppp



ppp

 



 

  

 

 



S.

A.

241

ppp

p

ppp



p

4

 

T.







  p

 



ppp



 



 



dying away

   

  





 

ppp

p



 

bright ppp

p

ppp





 

bright ppp

p

ppp

p

ppp

 



  

  

 

    

 

  



 

p

ppp

bright ppp



ppp

 

ppp

ppp

 





bright

ppp

ppp

 

shine

bright

p

 

 

ppp

   

bright

241

  

Pno.

 

4

   S. Solo 



shine

ppp



B.

p

bright



ppp

shine

bright

 

Pno.



 

shine

bright

  

ppp





  

ppp





37