commissioned by the Bagaduce Choral

Earthly Light is a cantata in 3 movements for SATB chorus with divisi and chamber ensemble.

cantata for SATB divisi and wind or string ensemble

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Photosynthesis
In which the plants cheerfully explain to us how they provide for all our earthly needs

lyrics by Anna Dembska

Mmm sun, mmm sunlight. We eat the sunshine from the sun. We eat the sun.
Oo water, ah carbon dioxide. We drink the water, breathe carbon dioxide.
We drink the water from the earth, breathe carbon dioxide from the air.
Chlorophyll. We use our chlorophyll to eat red and blue.
We eat the red, the violet, yellow, orange, red, blue,
We reflect the green, we fill the world with green.
Energy from the sunlight excites the molecules, excites the water molecules.
Carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O), excited by the light, become glucose (C6H12O6) and oxygen (O2)—ah, to breathe.
Carbohydrates, we make carbohydrates—sugars, starches, fibers
From carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O), excited by the light, we make oxygen (O2) and carbohydrates (CH2O)
For you to eat—roots, seeds, fruits
And grow—muscles, organs, bones
And build—wood
And clothe—cotton
And heal—quinine, digitalis, aspirin
And live.
Mmm sunlight—yellow, blue
Mmm red, yellow, blue violet
Mmm red, orange, yellow
We eat the red and blue, bring life to you—life!
Shape-shifting water, CO2—chlorophyll!
Transforming sunlight into you
Bring life to you
Change light to you