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