http://serpamusic.com/product/like-a-darling/
Poet Naomi Shihab Nye marks out the physical and emotional effects of terrorism with people— first graders, mothers, friends; with everyday objects— kettles, apples, glasses of water; with locations— Texas, Turkey, Syria. She captures with these everyday words how alarmingly common, even mundane, news of terrorism has become to us. Her text and my musical setting aim for understatement, while leading toward the idea of togetherness which offers hope in a world torn apart.

I came across Nye’s poetry shortly after the terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001. I discovered that the pain, fear, and loss that was new to me and many Americans was part of the daily lives of millions in the Middle East for generations. The bombing of the 2013 Boston Marathon, which included death of eight-year-old Martin Richard, brought to mind the boy in Nye’s poem. The middle movement of Like a Darling was written in 2013 shortly after the Boston Marathon Bombing. I have friends and colleagues in Boston from my time there in grad school, a couple dear singer-friends were running in the marathon that year, another life-long friend was volunteering in the first aid tent like he does every year. Seeing the events unfold on television brought back the fear and helplessness I felt watching the Twin Towers fall on 9/11. I responded the only way I know how, with music. I returned to Nye’s poem in the fall of 2015 wanting to complete the cycle. I had finished the third poem in early November and was working on setting the first poem when terrorists attacked Ankara and Paris.

I can recall news of terrorism throughout my life: the Middle East, Northern Ireland, Oklahoma City, 9/11— politics, fear, difference all tearing people apart. I’m not sure if this will ever change, but I think Naomi Shihab Nye is onto something when she prompts us to consider the word— together.


This work was premiered by the Chorosynthesis Singers with Dr. Wendy Moy and Dr. Jeremiah Selvey, co-artistic directors, on March 19th, 2016 at Good Shepherd Chapel, Seattle, Washington.

Like a Darling: a triptych for a cappella voices (2015)

http://serpamusic.com/product/like-a-darling/

The third movement from my triptych LIKE A DARLING, which sets a poem by Naomi Shihab Nye. In her text, Naomi marks out the physical and emotional aftereffects of terrorism in people— first graders, mothers, friends; in everyday objects— kettles, apples, glasses of water; in locations— Texas, Turkey, Syria. She captures with these everyday words just how alarmingly common, even mundane, news of terrorism has become to us. I can recall news of terrorism throughout my life: the Middle East, Northern Ireland,
Oklahoma City, 9/11— politics, fear, difference all tearing people apart. I’m not sure if this will ever change, but I think Naomi Shihab Nye is onto something when she prompts us to consider just one word— together.

This is the premier performance given by the Chorosynthesis Singers with Dr. Wendy Moy and Dr. Jeremiah Selvey, co-artistic directors.
March 19th, 2016 at Good Shepherd Chapel, Seattle, Washington

Together from "Like A Darling"

http://serpamusic.com/product/like-a-darling/

The first movement from my triptych LIKE A DARLING, which sets a poem by Naomi Shihab Nye. In her text, Naomi marks out the physical and emotional aftereffects of terrorism in people— first graders, mothers, friends; in everyday objects— kettles, apples, glasses of water; in locations— Texas, Turkey, Syria. She captures with these everyday words just how alarmingly common, even mundane, news of terrorism has become to us. I can recall news of terrorism throughout my life: the Middle East, Northern Ireland,
Oklahoma City, 9/11— politics, fear, difference all tearing people apart. I’m not sure if this will ever change, but I think Naomi Shihab Nye is onto something when she prompts us to consider just one word— together.

This is the premier performance given by the Chorosynthesis Singers with Dr. Wendy Moy and Dr. Jeremiah Selvey, co-artistic directors.
March 19th, 2016 at Good Shepherd Chapel, Seattle, Washington

I break this toast from "Like A Darling"

http://serpamusic.com/product/like-a-darling/

The second movement from my triptych LIKE A DARLING, which sets a poem by Naomi Shihab Nye. In her text, Naomi marks out the physical and emotional aftereffects of terrorism in people— first graders, mothers, friends; in everyday objects— kettles, apples, glasses of water; in locations— Texas, Turkey, Syria. She captures with these everyday words just how alarmingly common, even mundane, news of terrorism has become to us. I can recall news of terrorism throughout my life: the Middle East, Northern Ireland,
Oklahoma City, 9/11— politics, fear, difference all tearing people apart. I’m not sure if this will ever change, but I think Naomi Shihab Nye is onto something when she prompts us to consider just one word— together.

This is the premier performance given by the Chorosynthesis Singers with Dr. Wendy Moy and Dr. Jeremiah Selvey, co-artistic directors.
March 19th, 2016 at Good Shepherd Chapel, Seattle, Washington

Someone not there now from "Like A Darling"

Steven Sérpa is an award-winning whose works have been performed by the Austin Symphony, Tucson Symphony, the Glimmerglass Opera Orchestra, as well as being part of the American Composers Orchestra EarShot emerging composer program. His one act-opera Thyrsis & Amaranth has had over a dozen production and was praised by critics as a "truly beautiful… magnificent little story jammed full of thought and feeling and meaning" with “gorgeous music and wrenching lyrics.” Recent premieres include a choral oratorio on HIV stigma with Inversion Ensemble in Austin and a micro-opera responding to the Pulse nightclub tragedy with Thompson Street Opera in Chicago and Opéra Queens in Montréal. Steven earned his doctorate from the University of Texas at Austin. He makes his home in Austin, TX with his partner and their rescue dogs, and he works as co-director of Fast Forward Austin, producing inventive, forward-looking music experiences for local audiences and communities. www.serpamusic.com