Shadow and Light is a compassionate exploration of lives of those touched by Alzheimer’s dementia. The libretto is a carefully ordered collection of poems and texts from various sources, including scripture, contemporary poets, the composer’s own writing, and poems by caregivers. Scored for SATB chorus, mezzo-soprano, tenor and soprano soli, and chamber orchestra (2,2,2,2 - 2 hrn, 2 tpt, 2 perc, hrp, pno, strgs). Three major segments provide the structure for a “universal” story of Alzheimer’s. Part I / The Cloud of Forgetting is told from the perspective of a person diagnosed with dementia, and features a mezzo-soprano soloist. Part II / Uncontainable Night focuses on the experience of the loved one/caregiver, (Soprano and Tenor). Part III / I and Thou maintains that the person with dementia has not ‘disappeared.’ They are not ‘the disease’ — but a person still capable of feeling love, beauty, music and remains capable of connection. Throughout, the chorus performs the role of story teller, care partner— witness. “This is truly a masterwork and deserves a place in the standard choral repertory.” — Dr. Diane Retallack, Commissioning Conductor