Look To The Sky

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