The sun kept setting... (2019) for SATB choir and piano

This composition, with a text by Emily Dickinson, explores themes of death and descent through motives. The recurring structure of the first three stanzas of the poem governs the structure of the work; hence, the reappearance of a descending four-note motive which corresponds to the first line of each of these stanzas. The piece also travels downward regarding key areas, similarly to the four-note motive. Each section presents one stanza of the poem in a key that is determined by the first instance of the motive, which is sung by the sopranos at their first entrance, moving from D minor to A minor. The final section provides a sense of resolution, repeating the last (and relatively positive) line of the poem: “I’m not afraid to know.” Though the music descends and the narrator of the poem approaches death, fear has dissipated by this point, inspiring the repetition of this line.

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Caggiano placed third runner-up in the 2019 ACDA Brock Competition for Student Composers for The sun kept setting...