The fact that the music of Mack Wilberg's Requiem sounds so much like Vaughan Williams is no coincidence. Wilberg, associate director of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, was asked to write an introit and benediction to bookend a performance of Vaughan Williams' Dona nobis pacem, and for the introduction he chose the text "Requiem aeternam," and later used this piece as the basis for his own complete Requiem setting. Wilberg's aesthetic sensibilities seem to mesh perfectly with those of Vaughan Williams at his most lushly ...
Read More
The fact that the music of Mack Wilberg's Requiem sounds so much like Vaughan Williams is no coincidence. Wilberg, associate director of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, was asked to write an introit and benediction to bookend a performance of Vaughan Williams' Dona nobis pacem, and for the introduction he chose the text "Requiem aeternam," and later used this piece as the basis for his own complete Requiem setting. Wilberg's aesthetic sensibilities seem to mesh perfectly with those of Vaughan Williams at his most lushly Romantic, particularly the plush, shimmering string writing of the Tallis Variations. In fact, there are few moments in the Requiem where it wouldn't be possible to imagine that this was a newly discovered score by the English pastoralist. That means Wilberg's piece is not notable for its originality, but it also means that it's characterized by absolute compositional confidence, a potent lyricism, and an admirable, emotional directness. Wilberg, like so many composers since the late...
Read Less
Portions of content provided by Rovi Corporation. © 2024 Rovi Corporation.