Since 2019, Boston Children’s Chorus has been developing an exciting commissioning project called Opus Nuovo, with the goal of creating new choral works representative of our community and championing the work of composers outside of the Eurocentric Western canon. BCC's season finale concert, Lift Every Voice: All Of Us on May 19, 2024, will feature the world premiere of Opus Nuovo commission, "Our Love As Infinite" by Darita Seth.
From the composer:
For the 2024 Opus Nuovo commission, Boston Children's Chorus (BCC), I was asked to write a piece to commemorate 20 years of marriage equality in the state of Massachusets. Historically, the Opus Nuovo program at BCC invites composers to meet with the singers and create a body of text to later set as the final piece of music. My experience was not any different. Impressed by advocacy of these young people, I took note of the moments that moved me the most, and took my notes to a Queer Indigenous poet, Holly Quinn Jordan, to curate and transform their thoughts into a singable piece of text.
After receiving Holly's work, I immediately heard the outpouring of gratitude in supporting one another, and those that fought for our rights to simply be ourselves and love those we want to love. I was struck by the tension in the uneasiness of the text, particularly "in rivers of water washed in blood, true north is where we stand." It was an artistic choice to give resolution to the uneasiness with key changes, to offer a sense of resolution by moving forward with change, rather than resolving to familiarity. A throughline of the piece is the affection for the word "you." There is a gentleness with which I set the word that allows for the conversation to have a marriage-vow aesthetic, or the feeling of mentee to mentor. In my conversation with the singers of BCC, I was particularly moved by their desire to support their elder LGBTQIA+ loved ones, even they themselves do not identify within the community.
Concluding our conversation, I had the opportunity to lead the singers in a meaningful improvisation session. The latter half of this piece is reminiscent of that. "Our love reflected in every child," should allow for the singers (most of whom are still children), to offer themselves as exemplary models of the love that we are able to offer one another, and the best gift for the occasion of celebrating marriage equality.
We look forward to continuing this important work in each future season of BCC—creating a choral canon that is truly reflective of our singers and our diverse communities.
