We Came Searching for a Home

Immigrant voices

For SATB chorus a cappella

2025

Texts taken from Ellis Island Archives, with additional fragments by Chief Standing Bear, Khalil Gibran, Paul Laurence Dunbar, Langston Hughes, Emily Dickinson, Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth, and Emma Lazarus

(Revised 3‐10‐25)

Music by Juhi Bansal

Program note

When conductor Matthew Robertson asked me to write a piece centered on immigrant voices, I found myself trying to ﬁnd a unifying element tying together the diversity of immigrant stories. I read records and ledgers from Ellis and Angel Islands and archival newspaper accounts of why people made dangerous, terrifying journeys to the New World. I read poetry and graﬃti from walls of detention centers and speeches from those asserting their basic humanity and right to equal treatment while being denied both by those in power. I thought about my own experiences as an immigrant, the combined fear and hope and uncertainty that drew me forwards to a new place.

I realized early in my reading that there really is no unified voice of immigrants. We have come from a hundred different places for an infinite number of individual reasons, united only in our search for hope and a better life. Most of the time, we are many voices –chaotic, distinct, contradictory – but we come together united in our hope, our belief in moving towards something better. This piece pays homage to that strange duality of experience, of being at once individual and distinct voices, but able to sing at the blink of an eye as a single unified, powerful whole. Alongside, it sets the words of First Nations peoples and Americans in reflection of the pluralistic experiences and aspirations of those for whom this has been home.

Duration – 18 minutes

juhibansalcomposer@gmail.com www.juhibansal.com

Texts

1. We came (texts from Ellis Island archives)

We came searching for a home

2. Island of Hope, Island of Tears (texts from Ellis Island archives)

We came

They came

He came

She came

We ﬂed

They ﬂed

He ﬂed

She ﬂed

Island of tears

Island of hope

A solider

An immigrant woman

A family of seven

A child

Pipers

A stowaway

Musicians

A boy

We came searching for a home

This land of tears

This land of hope

Slavic, Jewish, Arab, Syrian, Czech, Slovak, Cossak, Dutch, German, Greek, Sami, Indian, Italian, Turkish, Bavarian, Polish

Our joys, our sorrows, We touch new ground

We came searching for a home

2a. With all our possessions (texts from Ellis Island archives)

With all our possessions on our backs, we came.

3. Same Blood (adapted from Chief Standing Bear’s 1879 speech, demanding recognition as a ‘person’ under the law)

If I pierce my hand, blood will ﬂow

If you pierce your hand, blood will ﬂow

The blood that will ﬂow will be of the same color

4. Despite the Dark (text fragments by Khalil Gibran, Paul Laurence Dunbar, Langston Hughes, Emily Dickinson, Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth)

We look for light despite the dark

I have heard chains dropping Hope is a thing with feathers Like seeds dreaming beneath the snow, your heart dreams of Spring If they shout keep going, if they shout keep going, don’t ever stop

I will speak upon the ashes Help me to break this shadow, smash this night

Though life has been hard, death’s pathway dark, I shall wake in the morning to sing with the lark.

Not a single star of hope Help me shatter this darkness

We look for light despite the dark

Hope is a gift, a ﬂame that leads to the light of tomorrow.

Hope is a thing with feathers If they shout keep going, if they shout keep going, don’t ever stop

We look for light despite the dark

5. New Colossus (excerpt) (text by Emma Lazarus)

Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest‐tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door! Performance notes

This piece moves back and forth between sections of simple clarity and sections of chaos; sections where the text delivery is of primary importance, and sections where the intended eﬀect is for the audience to be overwhelmed with an unintelligible wave of conﬂicting voices. Lean into these extremes.

1. We Came

- Music in dashed boxes is out of sync - each singer moves through the pitches alone, independently of the rest of the section. (See note on Rhythm below)

- An arrow is used to clarify gestures where a section is together. [e.g. at rehearsal A - Soprano and Alto sections begin together (marked with an arrow). Then each singer within S and A moves independently through the pitches F-G-Ab-Bb.] The Bb releases together before moving onto rehearsal B.

- When a horizontal extension arrow (see rehearsal K for example) is used, repeat the figure in the box as marked.

Rhythm (in out of sync sections): In the "out of sync" sections, create as much variety as you can in rhythm between individual singers. You may pause and hold any of the pitches within the box, or run through all the pitches quickly, or run - then hold, move slow - then fast, or superimpose any rhythm at all you like over the given pitches.

8-10 sec x x

(out of sync)

(out of sync) x x

(Piano - for rehearsal only): Double S/A/T until rehearsal L)

8-10 sec

(breathe and reenter on "We" as needed)

(start together)

(Sopranos enter one by one, growing faster and more frenetic) (Breathe as needed; rearticulate "we" as you reenter)

(Altos enter one by one, growing faster and more frenetic) (Breathe as needed; rearticulate "we" as you reenter)

(Tenors enter one by one, growing faster and more frenetic) (Breathe as needed; rearticulate "we" as you reenter)

(Growing faster and more frenetic)

(Breathe as needed; rearticulate "we" as you reenter)

(In time)

2. Island of Hope, Island of Tears

With energy and optimism q = 120-130

SOPRANO ALTO

Espressivo, soaring

Precise and rhythmic

TENOR

BASS Piano (for rehearsal only)

Espressivo, soaring

They p came,

We p came, they A p soldier,-animmi-grant-woman,-afami-ly-ofseven,-achild, p

Precise and rhythmic

S. A. T.

wecame, shecame,

came,

Hecame, she Pipers,-astowa-way,-musi-cians,-aboy.Asoldier,-animmi-grant-woman,-afami-ly-ofseven,-achild, We p

Espressivo, soaring

S. A. T. B.

hecame, theyfled,

came, Wefled they

Pipers,-astowa-way,-musi-cians,aboy.Asoldier,-animmi-grant-woman,-afami-ly-ofseven,-achild, fled, They

wefled she cresc. fled,

fled, he cresc. fled she

Pipers,-astowa-way,-musi-cians,-aboy.A cresc. soldier,-animmi-grant-woman,-afami-ly-ofseven,-achild, came, cresc. they cresc.

Pno. hefled, Theyfled,

fled Wefled, they Pipers,-astowa-way,-musi-cians,-aboy.Asoldier,-animmi-grant-woman,-afami-ly-ofseven,-achild, fled we

wefled,shefled,

fled, he fled, Pipers,-astowa-way,-musi-cians,-aboy.Asoldier,-animmi-grant-woman,-afami-ly-ofseven,-achild, came, we

wecame, she

came, hecame, Pipers,-astowa-way,-musi-cians,-aboy.Asoldier,-animmi-grant-woman,-a Pipers,-astowa-way,-musi-cians,-aboy.Asoldier,-animmi-grant-woman,-a

came, hecame,

she came, fami-ly-ofseven,-achild,Pipers,-astowa-way,-musi-cians,-aboy.A cresc. fami-ly-ofseven,-achild,Pipers,-astowa-way,-musi-cians,-aboy.A cresc.

A. T. B. Pno. They cresc. came, wecame,

We cresc. came, they came, soldier,-animmi-grant-woman,-afami-ly-ofseven,-achild,Pipers,-astowa-way,-musoldier,-animmi-grant-woman,-afami-ly-ofseven,-achild,Pipers,-astowa-way,-mucresc.

camesearching-fora

Pno. Is f land -oftears,

Pno.

Is f land -oftears,

Sla f vic, -Jewish,-Arab,-Syri-an,-Slovak-Cossack,-Dutch,German,-Sami,-Ita-li-an,Bava-ri-an, -

Sla f vic, -Jewish,-Arab,-Czech,Slovak-Cossack,-Dutch,GreekIndi-an-Turkish-Polish,

f

island-ofhope, 50 is mp land -ofhope, Slavic,Jewish,-Arab,Syri-an,-Slovak-Cossack,-Dutch,German,-Sami,-Ita-li-an,-Bava-ri-an,

Slavic,Jewish,-Arab,Czech,Slovak-Cossack,-Dutch,GreekIndi-an-Turkish-Polish,

B.

Thislandoftears, 54

Pno.

Thislandoftears,

Slavic,-Jewish,-Arab,-Syri-an,-Slovak-Cossack,-Dutch,German,-Sami,-Ita-li-an,-Bava-ri-an,Slavic,-Jewish,-Arab,-Czech,Slovak-Cossack,-Dutch,GreekIndi-an-Turkish-Polish,

Thislandofhope, 58

Thislandofhope, Our

Slavic,-Jewish,-Arab,-Syri-an,Slovak-Cossack,-Dutch,German,-Sami,-Ita-lian,Bava-ri-an,Slavic,-Jewish,-Arab,-Czech,Slovak-Cossack,-Dutch,GreekIndi-an-Turkish-Polish,

Oursorrows, - Oursorrows, -

joys ourjoys our dim.

Ourjoys ourjoys, Our dim. Ourjoys our joys, Our dim. dim.

Our dim. sorrows, - Oursorrows - We

joys, ourjoys, we Sorrows - Oursorrows,sorrows - Oursorrows -

touchnew ground, Wetouchnew ground,

touchnew ground, wetouchnew ground,

touchnewground,

touchnewground

Is f subito land -oftears,

Is f subito land -oftears, Sla f subito vic, -Jewish,-Arab,-Syri-an,-Slovak-Cossack,-Dutch,German,-Sami,-Ita-li-an,-Bava-ri-an,Sla f subito vic, -Jewish,-Arab,-Czech,Slovak-Cossack,-Dutch,GreekIndi-an-Turkish-Polish,

f subito

T. B.

island-ofhope, To cresc.

Pno.

island-ofhope, To cresc. Slavic,Jewish,Arab,-Syri-an,Slovak-Cossack,-Dutch,German,-Sami,-Ita-li-an,Bava-ri-an,Slavic,-Jewish,Arab,-Czech,Slovak-Cossack,-Dutch,GreekIndi-an-Turkish-Polish,cresc.

thislandoftears, To 82 thislandoftears, To Sla cresc. vic, -Jewish,-Arab,-Syri-an,-Slovak,-Cossack,-Dutch,German,-Sami,-Ita-li-an,Bava-ri-an,Sla cresc.

vic, -Jewish,-Arab,-Czech,Slovak,-Cossack,-Dutch,GreekIndian-Turkish-Polish,

thislandofhope,

thislandofhope, Slavic,-Jewish,-Arab,-Syri-an,-Slovak,-Cossack,-Dutch,German,-Sami,-Ita-li-an,-Bava-ri-an,

Slavic,-Jewish,-Arab,-Czech,Slovak,-Cossack,-Dutch,GreekIndi-an-Turkish

Withallourposses-sions-onour backs, We

Withallourposses-sions-onourbacks, We

Withallourposses-sions - With

allourposses-sions-onourbacks, We

allourposses-sions-onourbacks, We came,

BASS

Piano (for rehearsal only)

3. Same Blood

Pure, piercing, expressive q = 140 - 150 (Feel in one) you p feel, youfeel pain, I p feel Ifeel pain, p

Piercing, straight tone

youfeelpain, the pain, thebloodthatwillflow

4. Despite the Dark

With momentum, like a cacophony of voices splitting and coming together h = 76-80 5 We p lookforlightWelookforlightdesWe p lookforlightWelookforlightWelookforlightWelookforlightdesWe p lookforlightWelookforlightWelookforlightdesp

Piano (for rehearsal only) We p lookforlightWelookforlightdes-

pite -thedark.

7 pite -thedark. f I f haveheardchainsdropping-Ihaveheardchainsdroppingpite -thedark.

pite -thedark.

Driving, clamorous

hope f isathingwithfeathers -

heardchainsdropping-heardchainsdropping-Ihaveheardchainsdropping-IhaveheardchainsdroppingLike f

Driving, clamorous

hopeisathingwithfeathers,16 heardchainsdropping-heardchainsdropping-Ihaveheardchainsdropping-Ihaveheardchainsdroppingseedsdreaming-beneath-thesnow,your

hopeisathingwithfeathers -

hopeisathingwithfeathers24

Driving, clamorous

heardchainsdropping-heardchainsdropping-Ihaveheardchainsdropping-Ihaveheardchainsdropping -

seedsdreaming-beneath-thesnow,your

heardchainsdropping-heardchainsdropping-Ihaveheardchainsdropping-Ihaveheardchainsdroppingheartdreamsofspring.Like If f they S. A. T. B. Pno.

shoutkeepgoing,iftheyshoutkeepgoing,don'tever-stop,don'tever-stop,Ifthey

hopeisathingwithfeathers -

heardchainsdropping-heardchainsdropping-Ihaveheardchainsdropping-heardchainsdroppingheartdreamsofspring. shoutkeepgoing,-iftheyshoutkeepgoing,-don'tever-stop,don'tever-stop,

metobreakthisshadow,-smashthisnight.helpmeto

not f asingle-starofhope,

Iwillspeakupon-theashesHelp f meshatter-thedarkness,breakthisshadow,-smashthisnight.helpmetobreakthisshadow, -

notasingle-starofhope,

Iwillspeakupon-theashes -

Helpmeshatter-thedarkness,

smashthisnight.helpmetobreakthisshadow,-smashthisnight.

We

we p lookforlightdespite-thedark

lookforlight,welookforlight,welookforlightdespite-thedark f we p lookforlightdespite-thedark f we p lookforlight,welookforlightdespite-thedarkThough

Hope

isathingwithfeathers,

lifehasbeenhard,death'spathway-dark,Ishallwakeinthemorning-tosingwiththe

T. B.

Hope f isagift,a

Pno.

flamethatleadstothelightoftomor-row.

Hopeisathingwithfeathers,

morning-tosingwiththelark.Thoughlifehasbeenhard,death'spathway-dark,

If f they

Hopeisathingwithfeathers,lark.Thoughlifehasbeenhard,death'spathway-dark,Ishallwakeinthe S. A. T. B. Pno.

shoutkeepgoing,-iftheyshoutkeepgoing,-don'tever-stop,don'tever-stop,Ifthey 62

Hopeisagift,a

Hopeisathingwithfeathers,Ishallwakeinthemorning-tosingwiththelark.Thoughlifehasbeenhard,death's S.

66

shoutkeepgoing,-iftheyshoutkeepgoing,-don'tever-stop,don'tever-stop,

flamethatleadstothelightoftomor-row. -

Hopeisathingwithfeathers,pathway-dark,Ishallwakeinthemorning-tosingwiththelark.

Not ( f ) asingle-starofhope,Nota

I f willspeak Help ( f ) me,shatter-thisdarkness.-Help help f meto

75 upon-theashes,-Iwillspeakupon-the me,shatter-thisdarkness.-Helpme, breakthisshadow,-smashthisnight.helpmetobreakthisshadow,-smashthisnight.

single-starofhope,Notasingle

starofhope,Notasingle-starof

ashes,-Iwillspeakupon-theashes,shatter-thisdarkness.-Helpme,shatter-thisdarkhelpmetobreakthisshadow,-smashthisnight.helpmetobreakthisshadow, -

lookforlight,welookforlight,welookforlight,welookforlight,

we p lookforlight,welookforlight,welookforlight, -ness.we p lookforlight,welookforlight,Like f subito smashthisnight.we p lookforlight,I f subito have

Pno.

Hope f isagift,a

Hope f isathingwithfeathers,seedsdreaming-beneath-thesnow,your

heardchainsdropping-Ihaveheardchainsdropping-heardchainsdropping-heardchainsdropping-Ihave

flamethatleadstothelightoftomor-row.94

Hopeisathingwithfeathers,heartdreamsofspring.

heardchainsdropping-Ihaveheardchainsdropping-heardchainsdropping-heardchainsdropping -

Helpme,shatter-thisdarkness.-Help

helpmetobreakthisshadow,-smashthisnight.helpmetobreakthisshadow,Notasingle-starofhope,Nota Iwillspeakupon-theashes,-Iwillspeak

me,shatter-thisdarkness.-Helpme, 106

smashthisnight.helpmetobreakthisshadow,-smashthisnight.helpmeto single-starofhope,Notasingleupon-theashes,-Iwillspeakupon-the

shatter-thisdarkness.-We p lookforlight,

breakthisshadow,-smashthisnight.We p subito lookforlight,welookforlight,welookforlight,welookforlight,

starofhope,We p lookforlight,welookforlight,welookforlight, ashes,-We

lookforlight,welookforlight,

Soprano Solo

5. New Colossus

With warmth and resolution q = 100-110

Solo espressivo, freely

Piano (for rehearsal only) Give mp meyourtired, - yourpoor, Yourhuddled-masses -

SOPRANO ALTO

(follow soprano solo)

Solo espressivo, freely

yearn ing -tobreathefree, Thewretched-refuse-of yourteeming-shore,

Sendthese, thehomeless, - thetempest-tossed tome Iliftmylamp, I

huddled-masses - yearn ing -tobreathefree,

- yearn ing -tobreathefree,

huddled-masses-yearning - to

huddled-masses-yearning - to cresc.

huddled-masses-yearning

The p wretched-refuse-of the cresc. wretched-refuse -

The p wretched-refuse-of cresc. of The cresc. wretched-refuse-of of cresc. of

the dim. wretched-refuse-of your tee mph = 75 beginning to lose momentum (Feel in 1)

dim. wretched-refuse-of

S.

T.

B.

Pno.

S. A.

T. B.

long and slow With energy, warm and resolute, h = 60

tee ming, -teeming-shore pp

Sendthese,the teeming,-teeming - shore pp Sendthese,the teeming,-teeming - shore pp Sendthese,the pp

Pno.

homeless - tome,

Sendthese,thetempest-tossed, to homeless - tome, Sendthese,thetempest-tossed, to homeless - tome, Sendthese,thetempest-tossed, to

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We Came Searching for a Home

Published on May 24, 2025

Juhi Bansal Music

SATB choral, a cappella, immigration. When conductor Matthew Robertson asked me to write a piece centered on immigrant voices, I found myself trying to find a unifying element tying together the diversity of immigrant stories. I read records and ledgers from Ellis and Angel Islands and archival newspaper accounts of why people made dangerous, terrifying journeys to the New World. I read poetry and graffiti from walls of detention centers and speeches from those asserting their basic humanity and right to equal treatment while being denied both by those in power. I thought about my own experiences as an immigrant, the combined fear and hope and uncertainty that drew me forwards to a new place. I realized early in my reading that there really is no unified voice of immigrants. We have come from a hundred different places for an infinite number of individual reasons, united only in our search for hope and a better life. (See score for continuation)