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Saunder Choi
Saunder Choi Music
The New Colossus
An evocative, post-minimalistic choral setting of Emma Lazarus’ The New Colossus.
SATB div. a cappella
Immerse yourself in the stirring and evocative choral masterpiece, an enchanting post-minimalistic setting of Emma Lazarus’ timeless poem “The New Colossus.” This captivating composition, crafted by Saunder Choi, skillfully weaves together a relentless pulse, using repetitive stuttering words to convey a powerful commentary on America’s immigration policies. Journey through a lyrical interlude of hope and welcome, as this remarkable piece ignites emotions and prompts reflection, illuminating the human experience and the pressing issues of our time.
Composer’s Notes
I chose to set Emma Lazarus’ poem The New Colossus because it makes sacrosanct the principle that the United States of America has been and will always be a nation of immigrants, regardless of xenophobic political ideologies. The notion of condemning immigration is against the concept of liberty and the land of the free. In this setting, I chose to only set the last few lines, arguably the more famous part of the poem. The post-minimalist approach of relentless pulse and repetition is interspersed with a warm, lush section of hope and welcome.
– Saunder Choi
Text
‘Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!’
– Emma Lazarus
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