teacher lover lamb

SATB, a cappella

Sometimes, when a burden—be it emotional, psychological, physical, or financial—becomes too much for us to bear, many of us seek out someone else to help shoulder it for a moment while we regain our breath.  This work is a testament to that concept in that it’s a list made up of roles that people outside ourselves fulfill when we ask for a little extra help.

teacher lover lamb was commissioned by The Choral Project (Daniel Hughes, conductor) and received its premiere on June 24, 2023.  It is dedicated to the composer David Lang, whose music it is indebted to, and is a movement of a larger work based on mass ordinaries—this work is the “Agnus Dei”—titled there’s something i have to say.

The Text

Libretto from various sources; assembled by the composer

sometimes i need…
…a guide
…a mentor
…a healer
…a teacher
…a neighbor

sometimes i need…
…a therapist
…an investigator
…a contractor
…a coach
…an expert
…a role model

sometimes i need…
…a champion
…an advocate
…an enemy
…a lover
…a partner
…a friend
…my family
…a holy man
…a lamb of god

sometimes i need…
…you

Performed by The Choral Project
(Daniel Hughes, conductor).