I Have Never Loved Someone (The Way I Love You) (SSAA)

SSAA

“I Have Never Loved Someone (The Way I Love You)” is a song about the transcendent power of unconditional love.

“Six months after my son was born, my maternal grandmother transitioned from this life,” the composer writes about the song’s inception. “I was not only feeling love for my child, but my grandmother’s love for me.”

Nova’s specific experiences inform this mediation on “a universal love, love independent of circumstance.” She imagines love like light from the Sun— perpetually shining on the Earth, whether the skies down here be clear, or cloudy.

“I Have Never Loved…” is one of the Shara Nova’s most performed and beloved songs, and has appeared as the emotional centerpiece of dozens of My Brightest Diamond concerts since its composition in 2010. The song, dedicated to her son, depicts unyielding love with both clarity and a characteristic lyrical vividness.

Over the years, many have connected with the song’s depiction of the emotions that anchor life’s core relationships. This arrangement gives choral ensembles the opportunity to share this simple yet powerful tune with their audiences, and with each other.

Speaking of the emotional truths behind the song, Nova writes: “There is so much suffering in this life, and I hope this song helps you feel comforted in this experience on Earth. May you know that it is okay to feel a lot, and that you are part of a big universe who’s essence, I believe, is love itself.”