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About the Composer

Jocelyn Hagen

Jocelyn Hagen composes music that has been described as “simply magical” (Fanfare Magazine) and “dramatic and deeply moving” (Star Tribune, Minneapolis/St. Paul). She is a pioneer in the field of composition, pushing the expectations of musicians and audiences with large-scale multimedia works, electro-acoustic music, dance, opera, and publishing. Her first forays into composition were via...

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We Shall Awaken

Jocelyn Hagen

A meditation on perseverance, quiet strength, and the unwavering commitment to justice.

Difficulty: 3

Duration: 3-5 min.

JH-C057

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SATB choir and piano

Composer’s Notes

“We Shall Awaken” is a meditation on perseverance, quiet strength, and unwavering commitment to justice. Drawing inspiration from the words of Hildegard von Bingen, the piece does not rush toward exuberance but instead honors the steady, daily work of awakening—both within ourselves and in the world around us.

The music unfolds with a gentle but firm resolve, reflecting the deepening awareness and love that fuel our response to the challenges we face. The choral lines move with patience and clarity, allowing space for reflection, while the piano offers a grounding presence, like the steady pulse of time. As the piece progresses, its harmonies expand with quiet determination, culminating in a closing that is neither triumphant nor uncertain, but resolute—a calm acknowledgment that the journey is long, and we must walk it with steady hearts.

Through this setting, “We Shall Awaken” invites singers and listeners alike to embrace the quiet power of persistence, knowing that real change is born not only in moments of passion but in the steady rhythm of devotion and care.
-Jocelyn Hagen

Text

“We shall awaken from our dullness and rise vigorously
toward justice.”
We’ll find our courage, bold and bright,
And with each breath, we’ll stir the winds
To turn the dark to radiant light.

No longer passive, mere spectators,
We’ll weave the world we long to see,
A world where justice is not fleeting—
Where love for life is boundless and free.

“If we fall in love with creation deeper and deeper,
we will respond to its endangerment with passion.”

We shall awaken.

We shall awaken with the courage to act,
to rise above fear,
and to make the world a little brighter,
one choice, one moment, one step at a time.

– Hildegard von Bingen & K.E. McKibben

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