Michael Bussewitz-Quarm (b. 1971, US; living on New York's Long Island), composer of more than 30 vocal and choral works written over the past 20 years, is a passionate advocate of music's role in effecting social awareness and change. The Silver Swan (SATB, SSAA, TTBB) is dedicated to a Long Islander who lost his battle with PTSD following his tour of duty as a medic in Iraq. Adapted from the text attributed to Orlando Gibbons, this setting memorializes lives lost to conflict with the tender repeating phrase He sang his first, and sang his last, and sang no more.