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Compose Like a Girl
Sundowning
Grace Brigham
Receding into quietness, like a colorful sunset.
for SATB choir a cappella
The heartfelt expression of “Sundowning” will move the singers and audience alike. A single voice opens up into warm, lush voice writing. Brigham breaks up the homophony with supple rhythmic figures so each voice is independent. Every word is set delicately, resulting in beautiful and interesting text painting. As the title implies, “Sundowning” recedes into quietness, like a colorful sunset.
Grace Brigham is a composer, soprano, and violinist based in Salt Lake City, Utah. Her work is rapidly gaining attention, with premieres by Cantus at the Kennedy Center, St. Martin’s Voices at St Martin-in-the-Fields, the Washington National Cathedral Choir, the Western ACDA SSAA Honor Choir, ensembles at St. Olaf College, the Capital Fringe Festival, and more. Originally from Washington, D.C., she holds degrees from St. Olaf College and the European American Musical Alliance. Her piece “Sundowning” was named a winner of the HerVoice Emerging Composers Competition; the Chicago Classical Review wrote, “Sundowning gently conveys the distress and confusion of the patient in graceful, overlapping vocal lines, moving from disquiet to acceptance and stoic peace in its brief duration. It is no small praise to say that Brigham’s affecting work did not pale next to the music of the masters surrounding it.” Additionally, her piece “Discoveries” was named the winner of both the Cantus Young & Emerging Composer Competition and the Cathedral Choral Society Call For Scores. It was described as follows: “Through daring harmony, exquisite text-painting and remarkable sensitivity, “Discoveries” was a celebration of the accomplishments of female scientists, a recognition of their marginalization and a strong call to action.” Grace has received commissions from Women’s Voices Chorus, the Washington National Cathedral, St. George Children’s Choir, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Assumption University, Herriman High School Vivace, Maple Mountain High School, the Utah Chamber Artists, & more. During the daytime, Grace works as a Sales Engineer at a software company. She and her fiancée live with their two beloved dogs, Jack and Penny.
Composer’s Notes
“Sundowning” recounts the experience of observing a loved one suffer from dementia. Medical professionals use
the term “sundowning” to refer to certain behaviors people with dementia often exhibit during the late afternoon and early evening. These behaviors can include increased confusion, agitation, anxiety, aggression, and restlessness. I worked as a Certified Nursing Assistant in a dementia unit during college. During that time, I learned how difficult and draining it is watching someone you love change so much, knowing that there is nothing you can do to stop it.
A few years later, my grandfather developed dementia. Towards the end of his life, I helped care for him as the only one in my family trained to do so. I think that dementia is something most people have dealt with in some way, but we tend not to talk about how heartbreaking it is to watch someone you know and love so deeply slowly decline. This is what inspired me to partner with my friend Shae, who also has her own personal experience with dementia, and create this piece of music.
– Grace Brigham
Text
your hand in mine
clenching
breathe in, breathe out
as we recollect back to the now
time stands still each time I grow
but for you it ebbs and flows
and as your eyes flutter at me
my heart murmurs unevenly;
sundowning.
in and out
as the sun descends
you trail along with her;
i will guide you back
we pulse in sync
until the morrow robs you again
of the light in your eyes,
and the hope in mine
– Shae Lime
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