Mack Wilberg The Prodigal

for SATB and organ or orchestra 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

71

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 )