Zachary Wadsworth: Out Of The South Cometh The Whirlwind: Chœur Mixte et Piano/Orgue

In Out of the south cometh the whirlwind, chant-like melodies and colourful organ writing combine to explore the relationship between God and the natural world. Awarded a 2011 King James Bible Composition Award, the work uses rich language from the Book of Job to chart a trajectory from doubt toward belief. At the opening, lyrical melodies build from a single pitch to proclaim the majesty of the “wondrous works of God.” But doubt, painted with nervous lines in the altos and basses, soon invades, only to be diffused by a beautiful voice from beyond, a treble solo. Their faith restored, the choir joyfully celebrates God’s power and mystery, and the anthem ends inquiet contemplation.

The Novello New Choral Series is an inspiring selection of new works from a range of contemporary composers, offering pieces for all types of choirs, including sacred and secular works from simple, four-part settings to more expansive, yet accessible, repertoire in an exciting variety of styles. This collection is perfect for choirs looking to broaden their repertoire and explore some of the best new music around.

Zachary Wadsworth (b.1983) is a prizewinning young composer whose works have been hailed as “astonishingly confident” and “mesmerizing” (News & Observer). His song cycle Pictures of the Floating World was premiered at the Lincoln Center, and his opera Venus and Adonis was recently staged by the Boston Metro Opera. His works have been published by E.C. Schirmer and Alliance Music, recorded on Gothic Records, and broadcast on NPR’s Performance Today and BBC Radio’s The Choir. A winner of the 2011 King James Bible Composition Awards, Zachary has also received prizes from the American Academy of Arts and Letters, ASCAP, and the Lotte Lehmann Foundation. A native of Richmond, Virginia, he currently lives in Calgary, Alberta.

'Zachary Wadsworth's Out of the South Cometh the Whirlwind is a highly imaginative and compelling