Rex Isenberg

Love Texts

SATB chorus (with divisi) and piano | 9’

Love Texts (for SATB chorus and piano) is a digital romance in three movements. The piece weaves together real love notes exchanged over text message and dating apps into a joyful and sentimental narrative about falling in love online. The texts were submitted anonymously by members of the Young New Yorkers Chorus, who commissioned the work. The rollicking first movement, Safe, captures the giddiness and excitement of early exchanges between potential paramours with jaunty overlapping phrases bouncing around the chorus. The second movement, Reasons, is about the honeymoon period, with partners gushing over one another with almost treacly affection, in the style of a sultry bossa nova. And in the reflective final movement, Better, the lovers settle into their relationship, overcome initial obstacles, reaffirm their love, and vow for a better future together.

Text
Messages sent by members of the Young New Yorkers' Chorus via text and dating apps

Safe

Hey
You home safe?
Do you want to run into each other purely by chance again?
I'm about to grab a bite
Free to meet up for an afternoon kiss?
Wish we could meet for an afternoon hug
Those are my favorite
I stole your money and your metro card and you still bought me groceries I know you're busy, is there anything I can do to make your day better? Can you buy me a shallot?
You're magical.
Heart exploding

Reasons

Reason #5,679,843 I know I love you: Because I will follow you anywhere as long as you say it's an adventure even if it means going out into the snow and cold and dark to buy a lottery ticket when I was just about getting ready for bed.

I have a million things to thank you for, but I'm especially grateful you chose to stick around Ithaca
(even after earning your freedom from cornhole). You are a source of constant joy. Every day that I get to fall asleep to the sound of your soft lil snores and wake up and see that curly head of red hair in the morning light is a blessing.

Reason #5,679,845 I know I love you: Because every time you write in your journal it is perfect. Even when it's hard to read. Because it is true, and you are true, and I love you.

Better

Hello, my dear husband.
Just wanted to connect with you a moment.
I appreciate you.
I'm sorry I was impatient with you on the phone.
I'm sorry for being late and that you had to wait alone.
I love you.
I'm going to work harder. I want to be better for my future, for our future. I'm so excited for my future with you.

Commission
The Young New Yorkers' Chorus; Alex Canovas, Artistic Director

Performances
The Young New Yorkers' Chorus Mixed Ensemble