E Pluribus, Unum

"E Pluribus Unum" was commissioned by the the Schonbrun family for the Boulder Country Day School 2017 Fine Arts Week and premiered on March 10, 2017 in Boulder, Colorado . The theme of Fine Arts week was "Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity". This piece uses the unofficial motto of the United States of America, "E pluribus, unum" or "Out of many, one". The text was then translated into Spanish, French, Hebrew, and Bambara. The original English and Latin translations are also used. The composer chose Joseph Horatio Chant's poem, "Brotherhood", for the verses.

Text:

Is brotherhood to flesh confined?
Is there no kinship of the soul?
To have it thus, I am resigned,
If 'tis my God-appointed goal;
For there are those whom I hold dear,
Who claim with me a common sire,
That we, with one accord, revere,
And love holds out midst flood and fire.

E pluribus, unum! Out of many, many, many, many, out of many, many, many one!
De muchos, uno! D'une multitude, multidue, D'une multitude, un seul!
Me harbay, echad! Kabo camen la, camen la, Kabo camen la, ke-len!
E pluribus, unum! Out of many, many, many, many, out of many, many, many one!

But is the family so small
Of which I fondly claim a part?
Is there no other I may call
A brother, and within my heart
Cherish for him, whate'er his name,
Or rank, or color, or his creed,
A love of pure and changeless flame,
And feel I render but his meed?

E pluribus, unum! Out of many, many, many, many, out of many, many, many one!
De muchos, uno! D'une multitude, multidue, D'une multitude, un seul!
Me harbay, echad! Kabo camen la, camen la, Kabo camen la, ke-len!
E pluribus, unum! Out of many, many, many, many, out of many, many, many one!

Thank God for brotherhood so broad
That all the human race may share
A kinship, never yet outlawed,
Tho' types of it have been too rare.
But bigotry is doomed to die,
And hate, a relic of the past;
The golden age is drawing nigh,
And all one family at last!

E pluribus, unum! Out of many, many, many, many, out of many, many, many one!
De muchos, uno! D'une multitude, multidue, D'une multitude, un seul!
Me harbay, echad! Kabo camen la, camen la, Kabo camen la, ke-len!
E pluribus, unum! Out of many, many, many, many, out of many, many, many one!
E pluribus, unum! Uno! Un seul! Echad! Kelen! Unum! One!

Instrumentation:
Two part treble choir Flutes 1, 2
Oboe
Bassoon
Clarinet in Bb
Bass Clarinet
Alto Saxophone
Tenor Saxophone
Baritone Saxophone
Trumpets in Bb 1, 2
Horn in F
Trombone
Euphonium
Tuba
Percussion
Bass Drum
Snare Drum
Tom-tom
Triangle
Suspended Cymbal

(Piano part included for choir rehearsal)