Cacao

for SSA and piano
Setting a text by the contemporary writer and librettist Jennifer Thorp, this upbeat work is instantly catchy. Using vibrant language,Cacao tells a story from the perspective of the cacao seed from which cocoa butter and chocolate is made. The piece is embellished with quirky melodic lines and vibrant rainforest sounds made with the voice, such as the rustling of foliage, insect noises, and tropical birdsong. The independent piano part features complex rhythms and unexpected harmonic twists, giving the funky flavour typical of Young's writing. This piece was written in collaboration with climate scientists Dr Alix Dietzel and Savita Willmott, as part of the Raise a Voice: Climate Through Song project.