Choral Choir (SATB) - Level 5 - Digital Download
SKU: A0.719611
Composed by Claude Debussy. Arranged by Curtis Hanson. 20th Century,Sacred. Octavo. 15 pages. Curtis Hanson #11833. Published by Curtis Hanson (A0.719611).
The Prodigal Son as arranged here is an adaptation of the final scene of Debussy's cantata which won the Prix de Rome in 1884. Debussy scored his work for three primary solo voices, the mother (soprano), the father (bass), and the son (tenor) plus a couple of minor servant roles. In this arrangement for SATB voices which begins as the prodigal son returns to his home, the father's solo and son's reply are kept, but they may be eliminated and the piece begin at ms. 68 where the entire company praises God at the son's return. Debussy modulated at this point to the key of B major which gives the solo soprano a high B near the end. For choral ease, such as it is, the arranger drops the modulation to A major making the high note a little more accessible for choral sopranos. Being a piano reduction of a Debussy orchestral accompaniment, a competent pianist is necessary, but the choral writing is not overly difficult. The English text is a translation by the arranger.
