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Damien Geter’s Cantata for a More Hopeful Tomorrow

voicings, and canonic writing. The frequent change of “long day.”
texture contributes to a sense of anxiety throughout the Geter draws particular attention to two lines of text.
movement. At “the closest breath,” the composer indicates a ritardan-
Text-painting is another important compositional do, giving special attention to its reference to the trans-
approach that is employed to great effect in this move- mission of COVID-19. In the last few measures of the
ment. Where the text references floods and mountains, movement, he highlights the text “and try and dream,”
the bass is juxtaposed in its low range and the soprano set in the altos alone, and ends the movement with a C
in its upper range, painting the images referenced in the major chord, foreshadowing the hope later in the work.
text. The words “we seek and reach” are set in sequen-
tial, cascading long notes, representing the persistence II. The Prayer
necessary to reach the desired outcome. Consecutive “The Prayer” is scored for SSAATTBB choir, soloist,
quarter-note triplets convey the dragging nature of the and cello and is set in theme and variations form with

72 CHORAL JOURNAL November/December 2025 Volume 66 Number 4