Mack Wilberg The Prodigal

4
MACK WILBERG
the prodigal
for SATB choir and organ, full orchestra, or chamber orchestra

MACK WILBERG
the prodigal
for online perusal only
for SATB choir and organ, full orchestra, or chamber orchestra
text by David Warner
A

Great Clarendon Street, Oxford, OX2 6DP,
United Kingdom
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© Oxford University Press 2016
Mack Wilberg has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs
and Patents Act, 1988, to be identified as the Composer of this Work
for online perusal only
First published in 2016
Impression: 1
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced,
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without the prior permission in writing of Oxford University Press
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Enquiries concerning reproduction outside the scope of the above
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ISBN 978–0–19–341337–5
Music origination by
Enigma Music Production Services, Amersham, Bucks
Printed in Great Britain on acid-free paper by
Halstan & Co. Ltd, Amersham, Bucks

Instrumentation
The accompaniment to this work exists in three versions:
1. For organ
The organist plays from the vocal score.
2. For full orchestra
2 clarinets in A
4 horns in F
2 trumpets in C
timpani
harp
strings
for online perusal only
3. For chamber orchestra
organ
piano
strings

The Prodigal
for online perusal only
The Prodigal in composers who are
The Prodigal
Community College.

Text
To watch with him until the night is come.
That certain man wills one thing:
That all his kin may come inherit all:
I am now all my own.
for online perusal only
Yet let its son go on alone.
Sup from the spoils that fall to me—

This son of ours
For this our son
To all he speaks his promise sure:
A woman searches for a coin—
For one small silver piece
To purchase each peculiar one
Belong.
Amen.
for online perusal only

Commissioned by University of Southern Mississippi Choral Activities, Hattiesburg, MS,
conductors Gregory Fuller, John Flanery, and Webb Parker
The Prodigal
David Warner
(based on Luke 15)
MACK WILBERG
SOPRANO
ALTO
Expressively, as when telling a story q. = 54
TENOR
BASS
ORGAN
PEDAL
Expressively, as when telling a story q. = 54
8' only
p sempre
p
for online perusal only
7
mf
13
f
dim.
© Oxford University Press 2016 Printed in Great Britain
OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS, MUSIC DEPARTMENT, GREAT CLARENDON STREET, OXFORD OX2 6DP
The Moral Rights of the Composer have been asserted. Photocopying this copyright material is ILLEGAL.

8
18
mf dim.
23
mp
for online perusal only
29
35

9
41
q. = q
Solo
mp
p
Ped.
+16'
S./A.
47
SOPRANOS & ALTOS unis.
mp clearly, simply
3 3
for online perusal only
T./B.
TENORS & BASSES unis.
A cer -tain
man had two sons— As Ev - ’ry - man has two wills to be made
3 3
p clearly, simply
52
3 3
one— The young er
- de- sired the por - tion meant for him, For tend-ing
his ag - ing
3 3

10
57
fa
- ther,
to feed him, To watch with him un - til the night is
61 moving ahead
come.
moving ahead
cresc.
Ped.
for online perusal only
66
S.
T.
slightly faster q = 60
SOPRANOS
TENORS
mp clearly, simply
3
That
p clearly, simply
3
cer - tain man wills one thing: To give all he
2
2
slightly faster q = 60
mf

71
has that all may live, That all his kin may come in - he - rit all: His
11
p
Ped.
76
kind
- ness, his mer - cy, His pro - mise yet to give and to for - give.
mp
81
moving ahead
A.
ALTOS
for online perusal only
slightly faster q = 66
mf with greater intensity
2 3
B.
moving ahead
cresc.
BASSES
And
2
2
2
slightly faster q = 66
so the man begged his son: ‘Stay
3
mp with greater intensity
mf

12
86
with me, rest in me, A bide
- with me, thy day is just be - gun.’
91
moving ahead
S./A.
T.
slightly faster q = 72
moving ahead
SOPRANOS & ALTOS unis. f obstinately
2 3
TENORS
‘No, fa - ther, I will not
2 3
mf obstinately
cresc.
for online perusal only
2
slightly faster q = 72
2
f
95
moving ahead
hear! Em brac
- - ing, ex - pect - ing, You seize my will and fill my heart with
moving ahead
( f )

13
slightly faster q = 84
100
ff
S.
fear.’
ff
* f defiantly
A.
fear.’
‘I
am
f defiantly
ff
T.
fear.’
‘I
am
f defiantly
B.1
B.1
‘No,
no,
no,
no,
no,
f defiantly
B.2
B.2
‘No,
no,
no,
no,
no,
slightly faster q = 84
105
ff
A.
my
own!
I,
I,
I
am my own!
ff
T.
my own! I,
I,
I
am my own!
ff
B.1
no,
no!
I
am my own!
ff
B.2
no,
no!
I
am my own!
for online perusal only
*The alto part for bars 103–13, doubling the tenors, is optional.

14
110
My - self,
a - lone!
I am my own!’
dim.
My
- self, a - lone!
I am my own!
I
dim.
am
My
My
- self, a - lone!
- self, a - lone!
I am my own!
I am my own!
I
dim.
I
dim.
am
am
for online perusal only
T.
B.1
115
my
mf
own,
I am my own!
Ev - er my own!’
mf
B.2
my
my
own,
own,
I am my own!
Ev - er my own!’
mf
I am my own!
Ev
- er my own!’

15
120
ff
125
rit.
A.
slower q = 60
mp with reflection
ALTOS
3 3
for online perusal only
B.
BASSES unis.
That
Pe - li -can
from its breast Di - vid - ed its sus - te - nance— Its
3 3
p with reflection
rit.
Ped.
slower q = 60
p

16
131
liv
- ing, its keep - ing— And fed its young, while weep - ing, Yet let its son go
136 p
pp
moving ahead
on
a- -lone.
pp
ppp
pp
moving ahead
molto cresc.
for online perusal only
141
f

17
a tempo q = 60
146
S./A. SOPRANOS & ALTOS unis. mp with resolve
3 3
Then ga - ther-ing
all good gifts He fu - rious - ly fled a -
3 3
a tempo q = 60
p
Ped.
151
- way— Fled feel - ing, and know - ing, To wast - ing all his liv - ing, As
156 poco rit.
With agitation q. = 108
for online perusal only
3
if life were one ri - ot - ous, end - less
day.
3
poco rit.
With agitation q. = 108
2
f marcato
Ped.

18
160
2 2
2
2 2 2 2
165
2 2
170
cresc.
for online perusal only
175

19
S.
A.
179
ff marcato, with abandon
T.
B.
‘Eat!
ff marcato, with abandon
Drink!
Sup from the spoils that fall to
ff
183
for online perusal only
me— From the fruit of the vine!

20
187
Eat!
Drink!
Dine on the fruit of the sweat of my
191
brow— It is mine! It is mine!
for online perusal only

21
195
f
Turn!
f
Spin!
Whirl
in
re
- vel - ry,
199
for online perusal only
fear - ing no - thing. Up!
Up!
Up!

22
203
Rise
up
to
play!
Un - fet - tered,
207
( )
for online perusal only
hear me say:
2
f
2 2

211
23
2 2 2
216
for online perusal only
221
f
BASSES
Here,
f
TENORS
Here,
I see, my own
I’m free! Here I know my own

24
S.
A.
T.
B.
225
mind.
mind.
f
Here
f
Here
I know my own mind! Here I know in my mind! Here I
I know my own mind! Here I know in my mind!
Here I know in my mind.
Here I know in my mind.
for online perusal only
230
know that my mind’s all my own!
div.
I am all on my own!
I am all on my own!
I am all on my own!
I am now all my

235
own! I am mine, all my own!
ff
I am mine, all my own!
ff
I am mine, all my own!
ff
25
I am mine, all my own!
ff
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240
Not
his,
Not his, but
Not his, but
Not his, but
but

26
245
mine a - - - lone,
mine a - - - lone,
mine a - - - lone,
mine a - - - lone,
for online perusal only
250
mf
a
mf
- -
f
lone,
f
a
mf
a
mf
a
- -
- -
- -
lone,
f
lone,
f
lone,
dim.

27
S.
A.
T.
B.
255
unis. mp
a - - lone!’
unis.
Ped.
mp
dim.
dim.
260 rit.
pp
rit.
pp
for online perusal only
p
265 Slower q = 66
Slower q = 66
pp

28
A.
271
ALTOS
p forlornly
3
BASSES
B.
And
p forlornly
when he spent all he had,
3
A
276
3
fa-mine
be - fell the land,
3
for online perusal only
Till hun - ger and thirst - ing Turned
282 rit.
3
ev
- ’ry thought to dy - ing, And breath ing
- to a har - row - ing, help - less
3
rit.

286
As the beginning, but slightly faster q. = 63
cry.
As the beginning, but slightly faster q. = 63
p
SOPRANOS
290
p lamenting
S.
*Cry,
ALTOS
p lamenting
A.
*Cry,
for online perusal only
cresc.
cry,
cresc.
cresc.
cry,
29
*For added dramatic effect, tenors and basses may sound the unvoiced ‘c’ consonant at the beginning of some or all of the ‘cry’ entries in this section (bars 290–310).

30
cry,
295
div. f
unis.
f
cry,
cry
cry,
f
cry,
cry,
cry,
f
300
dim.
mf
cry,
cry, cry, cry,
dim.
mf
cry,
cry, cry, cry,
dim.
mf
cry,
for online perusal only

31
305
cry, cry, cry,
dim.
dim.
cry,
cry,
cry.
dim.
310
for online perusal only
p
cry.
p

A.
B.
32
316
ALTOS
BASSES
p resigned
Then
la
pp resigned
3 3
- bor - ing in the fields, He fed a great herd of swine, And
3 3
Ped.
for online perusal only
321
yearned to be feast - ing On what the beasts were eat - ing, But no man gave him
326 moving ahead
suc
3
- cor that he should dine.
3
Solo
p
mp
moving ahead
cresc.

331
Ped.
f
33
337 rit. a tempo ( q = 60)
p
for online perusal only
S.
344
SOPRANOS
p with sad reflection
3 3
T.
TENORS
Ped.
And
when he came to him - self, He thought of his fa - ther’s house And
3 3
pp with sad reflection
349 moving ahead
ser- vants, And ev - ’ry mer - ry feast.
moving ahead
cresc.

34
354
S./A.
T.
slightly faster q = 72
SOPRANOS & ALTOS unis.
mf with restrained hope
‘I
TENORS
will
a
mp with restrained hope
- rise And
mf
slightly faster q = 72
359
trust that I may see His kind - ness, his mer - cy As pro - mised to his
for online perusal only
364
chil
- dren, And pray his low - ly ser - vant I may be.’
mp cresc.

369
35
f
S./A.
T.
B.
374
S./A. unis.
moving ahead
f with greater intensity
2 2
2
2 2
2
2
And he a - rose
2 2
2
2
2 2
f with greater intensity
And went un - to his fa - ther, Who
2 2
2
2
2 2
2
2
moving ahead
for online perusal only
379
cresc.
2 2 2
saw him When
2
2
2
2
cresc.
cresc.
2
2 2
2
yet a great way off, And with com - pas - sion ran to him To
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2

36
slightly faster q. = 76
384
ff
2
2
2
2
fall up - on and greet him with a kiss.
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
ff
slightly faster q. = 76
ff
389
395
rit.
401
dim.
for online perusal only

37
Slower q = 66
406
SOPRANOS mf pleading
S.
‘O fa - ther, I have sinned, fa - ther; Sinned a - gainst the heav’ns and in thy
TENORS
T.
mp pleading
Slower q = 66
mf
p
412
sight, And I am no more wor - thy as thy son.’
mf
Ped.
417
SOPRANOS & ALTOS unis. mf with great resolve
2 3
S./A.
But the fa - ther called to his ser - vants: ‘Bring
TENORS
T.
mp with 2 great resolve 3
2
for online perusal only

38
421
moving ahead
S.
A.
forth the best of robes And the gold ring And shoes fit for his feet And the
426
pure and fat - ted calf that all may eat— For he’s liv - ing! He’s liv - ing! My
T./B. unis.
cresc.
for online perusal only
moving ahead

431
436
441
39
Joyfully, with more motion q. = 108
f
son once dead is liv - ing now a - gain!’
f
Joyfully, with more motion q. = 108
f marcato
for online perusal only

40
446
S.
A.
T.
f with joy
‘Be -lov- ed for aye! Be-lov- ed for
f with joy
‘Be-lov
-ed
for aye! Be-lov
- ed for
f with joy
‘Be- lov -ed
for aye! Be-lov
- ed for
f with joy
B.
‘Be -lov
-ed
for aye! Be-lov
- ed for
451
aye, to stay For ev - er - more! This son of ours Will ne - ver go a -
aye, to stay For ev - er - more! This son of ours Will ne - ver go a -
aye, to stay For ev - er - more! This son of ours Will ne - ver go a -
aye, to stay For ev - er - more! This son of ours Will ne - ver go a -
for online perusal only

41
455
- way!
Re-mem-ber
the day, re-mem-ber
the day! Re-mem-ber
the
- way!
Re-mem-ber
the day! Re-mem-ber
the
- way!
Re-mem-ber
the day! Re-mem-ber
the
- way! Re-mem-ber
the day! Re-mem-ber
the
460
ff
day and sing! A - bun - dance bring! For this our son Has ho - nored him who
ff
day and sing! A - bun - dance bring! For this our son Has ho - nored him who
ff
day and sing! A - bun - dance bring! For this our son Has ho - nored him who
ff
day and sing! A - bun - dance bring! For this our son Has ho - nored him who
for online perusal only

42
464
unis.
Pled for
him, wept
for him, Hoped till at last he came home!’
Pled for him, wept for him, Hoped till at last he came home!’
Pled for him, wept for him, Hoped till at last he came home!’
Pled for him, wept for him, Hoped till at last he came home!’
for online perusal only
468 poco rit.
472
Slower q = 60
S.
T.
SOPRANOS
TENORS
mf sullen and perplexed
Then
draw
- ing near yet fear - ing, The el - der son came
Slower q = 60
mp sullen and perplexed
Ped.
mp

43
477
in. ‘And what does all this mer ry
- - mak - ing mean? I’ve la - bored, Not
482
ceas
- ing; I’ve al - ways lived for pleas - ing, And yet thou ne - ver gav - est me a
for online perusal only
487
feast.’
( mp ) poco cresc.
Ped.

44
493
A.
ALTOS
mp generously
3
B.
BASSES
‘My
son, thou art with me now, Al - ways, And all I have is
p generously 3
mf p
499
for online perusal only
thine. It is meet that we should all be mer ry
- here. Be - hold him, thy bro- ther! This

45
505
one for whom we’ve wait ed—
- This one, once lost, Now here with us is found.’
( p )
510 moving ahead
cresc.
mf cresc.
516
slightly faster q. = 76
for online perusal only
f
522
rit.
dim.

S.
46
527
Slower q = 69
mp with a sense of finality
A
cer
- tain man had sons, Had chil - dren, each one dear. To
A.
T.
p with a sense of finality
A
cer
- tain man had sons, Had chil - dren, each one dear. To
B.
Slower q = 69
mp
for online perusal only
532 Transcendently, with childlike conviction q = 76
all he speaks his pro - mise sure:
mp
all he speaks his pro - mise sure:
A
A
shep
shep
- herd search - es for a
p
- herd search - es for a
Transcendently, with childlike conviction q = 76

47
536
lamb And will not rest un - til it’s found.
mf
lamb And will not rest un - til it’s found.
mf
mf
for online perusal only
541
A wo - man search-es
for a coin—
A wo - man search-es
for a coin—

48
546
For one small sil - ver piece She sweeps the house and bends to touch the
For one small sil - ver piece She sweeps the house and bends to touch the
550
mp
For this a cer - tain Son came down,
mp
pp
ground.
p
For this a cer - tain Son came down,
p
pp
ground.
mp
for online perusal only

49
554
for this a cer - tain Son came
down:
for this a cer - tain Son came
down:
for online perusal only
558
mp
To
mp
To
p
To
find you lost, to bring you home,
find you lost, to bring you home,
find you lost, to bring you home,

50
562
mf
To pur -chase
each pe - cu - liar one
And
mf
To pur -chase
each pe - cu - liar one
And
To pur -chase
each pe - cu - liar
Pe
- cu - liar
safe-guard
safe-guard
mf
one
And
safe-guard
p
mf
one
And
safe-guard
for online perusal only
mf
567
ev
- ’ry daugh- ter, son. For him, yield up the heart to
ev
ev
ev
- ’ry daugh- ter, son. For him, yield up the heart to
- ’ry daugh- ter, son. For him, yield up the heart to
- ’ry daugh- ter, son. For him, yield up the heart to

51
572
roam— To be a - lone,
to be your own— And by his
roam— To be a - lone,
to be your own— And by his
roam— To be a lone,
- to be your own— And by his
roam— To be a - lone,
to be your own— And by his
for online perusal only
577
blood be free, un
blood be free, un
mp
- bound.
Re turn
bound.
- in -
- Re - turn
in -
mp
blood be free, un
bound.
- Re - turn
in -
mp
blood be free, un - bound.
Re turn
mp
- in -

52
582
mf
- to
mf
his
mp
arms
- to
mf
his
mp
arms
mp
- to his
mf
arms
mp
- to
his
arms
And there be home,
And there be
And there be
And there be
mf
mf
home,
mf
home,
mf
home,
for online perusal only
587
Be
Be
poco rit.
mp
one,
mp
one,
mp
Be one,
Be
mp
*
one,
poco rit.
Be
Be
Be
- -
p
a tempo, but slightly slower q = 72
long.
p
mp
- - long. A
p
Be
- - long.
A
p
- -
long.
- men,
a - -
mp
- men, a -
a tempo, but slightly slower q = 72
mp
*small notes optional

53
592
mp
A
- men,
a - - men,
a - - men,
- men, a men,
- - - a - - men,
a -
- men, a - - men,
a - men,
a - men,
mp
A
- men,
a - men,
a - men,
for online perusal only
597
a
men,
p
- - - a - men,
a -
p
- - - - men,
a - men,
a -
a
a
p
- men,
a - men,
a -
p
- - men,
a - men,
a -

54
602
mp
- men,
- men,
mp
mp
- men,
mp
- men,
p
a
p
a
p
a
p
a
-
-
-
-
men,
men,
men,
men,
p
Solo I
mp
Solo II
mp
607
rit.
pp
a
pp
a
pp
- - - - - -
- - - - - -
men.
men.
for online perusal only
a
pp
- - - - - -
men.
a
rit.
- - - - - -
men.
I
p
II
pp
Processed in England by Enigma Music Production Services, Amersham, Bucks.
Printed in England by Halstan & Co. Ltd, Amersham, Bucks.

With a text by David Warner on the parable of The Prodigal Son from
St Luke’s Gospel, this dramatic choral work brings to life the ancient,
universal story of reconciliation and belonging. The closely woven
text and music feature an expansive range of expression—plaintive,
exuberant, and resolute—before concluding with a transcendent
coda that gives way to reverberating ‘Amen’s. With echoes of some
of the minimalist elements of Wilberg’s Requiem, as well as Arvo Pärt,
Henryk Górecki, and John Tavener, the work is scored for mixed
voices without soloists, allowing the choir to function like a Greek
chorus—sometimes narrating, sometimes participating in the action,
sometimes reflecting on it—all underpinned by organ, or orchestra,
or chamber ensemble.
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)
My Song in the Night (978–0–19–380499–9)
Requiem (978–0–19–380454–8)
Cover image: detail from The Return of the Prodigal Son,
by Guercino (Giovanni Francesco Barbieri) (1591-1666).
Diocesan Museum, Wloclawek, Poland.
© 2006 Alinari /TopFoto
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ISBN 978-0-19-341337-5
9 780193 413375