Light Transforms the Darkness

Light Transforms the Darkness

Kyle Pederson (2023)


Movement IV of A Vision Unfolding

SATB, Music by Kyle Pederson
Text by Shanelle Gabriel & Kyle Pederson
Instrumentation: piano, with optional snare drum and trumpet

Text: 

Light transforms the darkness, so go...go and let your light out. Love is what we harness, so go...go and live your love out.
We are all unified by the way our heart beats
What you feel, I feel 

Different palettes and hues and variety The Creator’s tapestry
We need to see the light
Don’t let the darkness hide our humanity 

This is a calling. 

We’ve been blinded by hate we were taught to believe That’s not how it should be
If my brother or sister is chained
There’s no way I can say I’m free 

We are the change we need So that equality can be reality 

spoken word:
Calling you to set your heart ablaze
Raise the torch, pave the way
So all can say I am free
Calling for all to have the ability to dream To see ourselves in every being
I want you to be free 

For all to find home
Wherever they may go
Step into action, words no longer hollow We will fight for you to be free 

Called to stand for all races, abilities, religions, identities
No matter who you love You are worthy 

You deserve to be free 

I will fight for you to be free
This is our calling
We are invited into each other’s life We are called to live love
Called to be that light 

Commissioned by: 

Sponsoring Members 
Festival Singers of Florida, directed by Dr. Kevin Fenton
Tennessee Tech University, directed by Dr. Craig Zamer
University of Dayton, directed by Dr. Steven Hankle 

Participating Members 
VocalEssence, directed by Philip Brunelle and G. Phillip Shoultz, III
University of Mississippi, directed by Dr. Donald Trott
Northwest Missouri State University, directed by Dr. Adam Zrust
Florida State University, directed by Dr. Kevin Fenton 


PROGRAM NOTE:

Shanelle’s text is a call to action: to live our light and love out into the world—a world that desperately needs light and love. This piece includes spoken word, allowing all choir members to give voice to the immediacy of the message. 

Optional Spoken Word:

This piece is the fourth movement in A Vision Unfolding, and is preceded by a spoken word prologue.