somewhere
for soprano duet and sextet
op. 3
for Renee Macdonald
Instrumentation: Soprano (G3 - Bb5), Soprano (F3 - D5), Percussion, Piano, Violin (2), Viola, Cello
Duration: 6 Minutes
Premiere: July 29, 2021 at University Congregational Church, Wichita, KS.
PROGRAM NOTES
This piece is dedicated to our friend Renee Macdonald. Upon moving to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, she contacted Justin about writing a piece for her to perform at her going-away recital in Wichita, Kansas. The piece illustrates the journey of cherishing your time spent with the friends you meet in life, but ultimately deciding to listen to your calling, which sometimes is geographically apart from where you may be now. Near the end, Da’Kneisha writes, “My time has come, I must move on, there’s so much more. Please know my love will linger on engraved in time.” This movement is a cyclical love letter, from Da’Kneisha and Justin to Renee, and vice versa.
Lyrics
Verse 1
There’s a place for me out there,
A place beyond the stars, out there,
Where hopes and dreams collide.
Chorus
I’ve cherished each moment,
Time spent with you, here,
Destiny calls me to my place,
I’ve waited much too long,
I know it’s out there now,
Somewhere,
Out there, I know it waits for me.
Verse 2
I’ve prayed this day would come,
No task was left undone.
I pray, you hear my love in every song.
Bridge
I, I’ll take these memories,
Time spent with you, here.
Time waits for no one.
My destiny, oh, it waits for me and it’s out there.
Chorus
I’ve cherished each moment,
Time spent with you, here,
Destiny calls me to my place,
I’ve waited much too long,
I know it’s out there now,
Somewhere…
Verse 3
You’ll always be with me,
part of what made me.
Please know I’ll remember all that you gave,
I’ll save a space for you.
You’re in my heart forever intertwined.
My time has come, I must move on,
There’s so much more.
Please know my love will linger on engraved in time.
Chorus
I’ve cherished each moment,
Time spent with you, here,
Destiny calls me to my place,
I’ve waited much too long,
I know it’s out there now,
Somewhere!
Chorus
I’ve cherished each moment,
Time spent with you, here,
Destiny calls me to my place,
I’ve waited much too long,
I know it’s out there now,
Somewhere,
Out there, my place,
It waits for me.