Mack Wilberg A Cloud of Witnesses

This dramatic choral work, with text by David Warner, artfully
weaves together multiple witnessing stories of Christ’s Resurrection
into a single narrative. Wilberg employs an effective array of musical
techniques to depict the protagonists’ experiences: from rapid
figurations that move through the orchestra creating a sense of
momentum and breathless astonishment, to pairings of voicings to
convey an act of collective witnessing and declamatory exclamations
of praise. The work is scored for mixed voices without soloists,
conveying a universal perspective on this story, and accompaniment
is by piano four-hands or orchestra.
Mack Wilberg was appointed Music Director of
the Mormon Tabernacle Choir in 2008, having
served as Associate Music Director since 1999.
He is a former professor of music at Brigham
Young University, where he received his bachelor’s
degree; his master’s and doctoral degrees are from
the University of Southern California. Alongside
Wilberg’s conducting responsibilities he is active
as a pianist, choral clinician, composer, arranger,
and guest conductor throughout the United States
and abroad. In addition to the many compositions
he has written for the Mormon Tabernacle Choir,
his works have been performed by artists such as
Renée Fleming, Frederica von Stade, Bryn Terfel, Rolando Villazón, Deborah Voigt,
and The King’s Singers. Wilberg’s arrangements and compositions are performed
and recorded all over the world.
Also by Mack Wilberg:
Mack Wilberg Anthems (978–0–19–339819–1)
Mack Wilberg Carols (978–0–19–387016–1)
The Prodigal (978–0–19–341337–5)
Requiem (978–0–19–380454–8)
Cover image: Robert Zünd, The road to Emmaus, 1887
© Christie’s Images Limited (2011)
1
www.oup.com
ISBN 978-0-19-353201-4
9 780193 532014