Compositions
Original compositions by Suzzette Ortiz, each crafted to honor life, memory, and emotion.
Que No Pare Mi Canto
SSA
Que No pare mi Canto is written in the bomba genre; an Afro- Puerto Rican danceable music rhythm rooted in the island’s African slavery history.
El Sol Brillará Otra Vez
SA and piano, and SATB and piano
El Sol Brillara Otra Vez is a song of hope and the desire of social justice in the midst of the Pandemic.
Catalina la O
3-Part Treble, Piano, Claves
Original song by prolific Puerto Rican composer Johnny Ortiz was made famous by the singer Pete “El Conde” Rodriguez.
El Cumbanchero
SATB
Written by the Puerto Rican song writing legend Rafael Hernandez Marin, here is a jazzy, concert setting of one of his most famous pieces.
Salmo 150
SATB
A creative arrangement of Psalm 150, sung in Spanish a cappella with hand percussion, and Latin flavor that will have everyone dancing.
Yukayeke
SATB, Flute, Percussion, Piano
A yukayeke is a Taíno word meaning a tribal community or village, central to the social and political structure of the Indigenous Taíno peoples of the Caribbean.
Bomba Holande
SA Divisi
This Bomba was commissioned through a consortium organized by Chorus America. Scored for soprano and divisi alto voices with percussion, this choral work is rooted in the Bomba Holandé style, one of the many traditional Bomba styles found in Puerto Rico. Bomba is one of the oldest Afro-Puerto Rican musical and dance traditions, rooted in the island’s history of enslavement. Created by enslaved Africans and their descendants, it served as a powerful form of cultural expression, communication, and resistance. Today, it remains a vibrant symbol of Afro-Puerto Rican identity.
Temporal
SATB
Composed by Diana Sáez and Suzzette Ortiz, Temporal is a traditional plena from Puerto Rico.
Canto’ E Libertad
SATB
Canto’ E Libertad (Song of Freedom), commissioned and premiered at the 2023 ACDA National Conference, embodies hope and resilience.
Parranda
SATB
Parranda is a Puerto Rican Christmas tradition similar to caroling but more festive. The participants surprise friends and family, usually late at night, singing and playing traditional instruments.
Gloria for Harp and Piano
Harp & Piano
This is an instrumental piece dedicated to my harp teacher professor Gloria Galante. Live performance in Germany 2025 by Puerto Rican harpist Lizary Rodriguez. Music is available upon request.