Ethan Soledad Music

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This piece is based on a quote from Henry Purcell which was sent to me by my dear friend, Catherine. She sent me a picture of the book she was reading which contained the quote and said "this is the most beautiful thing I have ever read." I would wholeheartedly agree with her. As I neared the end of the piece, the meaning of the text slowly changed for me. In addition to its message about the incredible unity of poetry and music, it became about unity among people and coming together as a community to face grief, trauma, and hardships: each of us walking hand in hand to support one another. Note: There is a version without string quartet but it is labeled "Score (version without string quartet)" and not to be confused with "Vocal Score (version with string quartet)."

Music and Poetry

SATB Octavo

<p>Inspired by a love letter written by renowned WWI poet Wilfred Owen to his mentor and fellow poet Siegfried Sassoon, this piece portrays the tumultuous love between the two, but also the grief and painful guilt experienced after a loved one's death. Through composed with dramatic shifts in tempo, dynamics, and vocal textures, this is a moving selection for more advanced community and collegiate choirs.</p>

In Effect It Is This: That I Love You

SATB Octavo divisi

One of Wilfred Owen's most famous works, the text depicts the horrific scene of a WWI soldier experiencing the effects of chlorine gas in excruciating detail. Upon first reading the text, I was struck by Owen's incredibly graphic imagery and emotional intensity. The horror, trauma, fear, and rage that came with fighting in the war is so powerfully encapsulated and yet, it's merely a fraction of what the soldiers have experienced and continue to experience. The Latin phrase "Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori," or "How sweet and fitting it is to die for one's country," is used ironically in the poem to condemn the war and those who would glorify it. 
This work is perfect for any choirs seeking challenging and highly dramatic a capella repertoire.

Dulce et Decorum est

SATB Full Score

The poem by Alan Seeger is centered around soldiers who in their dedication and selflessness, fight for a cause that is greater than their own.
Through the use of compound meter, polyrhythm, and a highly imitative texture, the first section begins the piece with an energetic, rhythmic intensity that depicts the soldier's dedication and their trampling feet as they march onto the battlefield. The "floating" and meterless quality of the second section helps to portray the ethereal nature of the powers which the poet describes. The piece transitions into a more simple, lyrical section which juxtaposes the grandness of the ocean and the cosmos with the flight of a sky marshal. "The Beauty of Cosmic Things" is the grand prize winner of the Rachel Moore Choral Composition competition and was premiered in their concert series, Earthsongs: New Days on June 22nd 2019.

The Beauty of Cosmic Things

Instrument

The Ocean Lives There by M.J. Fièvre is a beautiful, touching story about a little Haitian-American girl living in Miami discovering her heritage. In her house, there is a magic door with the ocean behind it which is always calling to her. However, her mom always keeps the door locked until towards the end of the book where she decides that she’s ready to see what’s on the other side. After opening the door, she’s finally able to experience the beautiful culture of Haiti which she yearned for for the longest time.
This piece portrays this magical story through shimmering textures and soaring lyrical melodies.

This work is part of a larger 20' piece for narrator and orchestra. Also available with orchestra alone at 15' long.
This is only the full score. Contact composer at ethansoledad.com to order parts.

The Ocean Lives There Suite

Full Orchestra Full Score

Elevate your holiday worship with "I Wonder as I Wander," arranged by Ethan Soledad. This church Christmas anthem captivates with its profound melody and harmonious arrangements, designed to enhance the sacred atmosphere of seasonal services. A perfect choice for choirs seeking to inspire contemplation and awe during the festive period. - Note: This music is composed by humans. No human-written product description is available, limiting search visibility. The AI-assisted description is for reference only.

I Wonder as I Wander

The Cross of Snow is based on a poem of the same name by American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807 - 1882). In 1861, Longfellow lost his wife in a tragic accident in which a candle had lit her dress on fire. He attempted to extinguish the flames by flinging himself onto her but to no avail, and he was left with severe facial scars as a result. It is a poem of grief, despair, and haunting guilt at the prospect of a loved one's death, but also the joy and love that comes with celebrating their life.

The Cross of Snow

Grand Prize Winner of the Stephen Paulus Emerging Composer's Competition
  2021. The poem "When I Rise Up," written by notable African
  American poet and playwright of the Harlem Renaissance, Georgia Douglas
  Johnson, speaks of the author rising high above those who would attempt to
  hinder her. The fluttering cello and piano parts of the opening phrases
  depict birds as to symbolize Johnson literally soaring up to the clouds
  beyond the ties of the Earth. The final ending sequence calls back to the beginning
  when the choir repeats the phrase "When I rise," but now it has
  turned into "I rise" symbolizing an immediate and almost apotheotic
  ascent. The final quasi-cadenza is taken up to the absolute highest note on
  the piano, representing Johnson's ascension far beyond the grasp of anyone
  who has ever tried to impede her.

When I Rise Up

This haunting poem by Wilfred Owen portrays a scene in which WWI soldiers attempt to revive their dead friend by bringing his body into the sun. In the beginning of the piece, I imagined the soldiers staring at their friend’s body and quietly repeating to themselves “move him into the sun” as a mantra to give them courage and resolve. The bleakness of the beginning gradually turns to hope as they think to themselves perhaps this will truly bring him back to life. The hope then turns to worry and soon desperation with a frantic repetition of the mantra. Finally, they accept that their friend is not coming back. This work is a reflection on the fragility of life, the futility of war, and a contemplation on the question “what’s the point of living?” 
Although the sun cannot answer this question or prevent people from dying from senseless violence, perhaps we can, and perhaps this work can urge people to do so.

Move Him Into the Sun

An energetic, rhythmic setting of Psalm 133 as a celebration of unity. The fast sections in 7/8 are contrasted with an ethereal middle section, highlighting the celebratory and ecstatic quality of the text.

Note: the piano parts for the version with string quartet and without string quartet are slightly different so make sure if you want to purchase the version without string quartet you distinguish that from the vocal score of the string quartet version.

Unity

This work, setting a poem by John Henry Newman, portrays a journey from dark to light from someone who has lost their way in life. The harmonies mix together the major and minor modes to reflect an internal struggle, one which through community, hope, and love are able to be conquered. The percussion part is optional but highly recommended.

Lead, Kindly Light

Commissioned by Shanpatrick Davis for the Davis Alumni Choir. 
Supported by New Music USA's Creator Development Fund 2023 - 2024.
When my former high school choir director, Shanpatrick Davis, approached me asking to write a piece for him to conduct at Carnegie Hall with a choir of his alumni, I was absolutely thrilled. He commissioned it to be a celebration of his 25 years of teaching and so I sought to create a work that acted as a love letter to music and a representation of the power it has to bring people together.
I chose the text from the first movement from a tradition we had at the end of the year in choir in which we always sang the same song to end the final spring concert which used the Psalm 133 text. I thought it would be perfect that the first song we sing with him would use the text of the very last song we sang.
In the second movement I wanted to show a journey of someone who has lost their way in life finding it back again through music.
I first approached the third movement as a celebration of the glorious unification of music and poetry but as I worked on it more, the meaning of the Purcell text changed for me. It became about unity among people and coming together as a community to face grief, trauma, and hardships: each of us walking hand in hand to support one another.

Legacy: Songs of Unity

Commissioned by the Rose Singers at Coral Reef High School for the 2020 ACDA Southern Region conference. Shanpatrick Davis, conductor.

I Like For You To Be Still

Global Sections - CORE [DO NOT TOUCH]*

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