The Return of Odysseus Cover Image

The Return of Odysseus: SATB Choral Vocal Score

$10.99 USD
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The Return of Odysseus Cover Image
The Return of Odysseus: SATB Choral Vocal Score

The Return of Odysseus: SATB Choral Vocal Score

By Malcolm Arnold

Item: 12-057150180X
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Description
A cantata for chorus and orchestra written specifically with young performers in mind. English poet Patrick Dickinson sets the story of Odysseus returning for Penelope, with Arnold's music serving the story in the most direct manner possible.

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Additional Details
Series: Faber Edition
Publisher: Faber Music
ISBN10: 0-571-50180-X
ISBN13: 978-0-571-50180-9
UPC: 9780571501809
SKU: 12-057150180X
Instrumentation: with Piano

More about this title

About the Composer: Malcolm Arnold

Malcolm Arnold (1921-2006) was a British composer of remarkable versatility who wrote everything from symphonies and concertos to film scores and light music. His gift for melody and orchestration made him one of the most performed composers of his generation, yet he never abandoned accessibility in pursuit of modernist complexity. Arnold understood how to write for young musicians without condescension, creating works that challenge growing performers while rewarding their effort with genuinely satisfying musical material.

His theatrical instincts shaped much of his output, and this cantata demonstrates that sensibility applied to narrative choral writing. Arnold knew what voices could do and what orchestras could accompany, crafting each line to sit naturally while serving the dramatic arc of the story. For school and community choirs, his approach offers a masterclass in clarity of purpose and directness of expression.

Why we love this

Arnold gives you a full-scale narrative work without getting tangled in avant-garde complexity or oversized technical demands. The pairing with Patrick Dickinson's English text creates a libretto that listeners follow easily, letting your singers focus on musical storytelling rather than deciphering obscure language. You get a genuine cantata that plays beautifully with piano and stands as a meaningful concert centerpiece for intermediate to advanced ensembles.

What to expect

Arnold's score pulses with narrative energy and classical restraint. The music honors the Odyssey's emotional stakes without resorting to bombast; instead it unfolds with the inevitability of a well-told story, moving between moments of lyrical beauty and dramatic urgency. Singing it feels purposeful and grounded in meaning.

Who it's for

This cantata works best for SATB choirs with solid sight-reading skills and some experience with larger works. It suits high school, college, and community choruses ready to tackle a substantial piece with dramatic and musical depth.

How to get the most out of it

  • Attend to Arnold's articulation markings carefully; his lightness of touch in the orchestration depends on precise attacks and releases from the choir
  • Shape the phrases around the narrative moments rather than pushing for constant volume; the story carries as much weight as the dynamics
  • Lean into the English text with natural speech inflection first, then align it with Arnold's melodic contours rather than forcing syllables onto notes

How to use it

Frame this as a concert highlight rather than an opener; its scale and story demand a program position where listeners are settled and attentive. It pairs naturally with shorter choral works from the 20th century or with instrumental solos that share Arnold's direct communicative style.

Skills your students will build

  • Sustained legit singing through longer narrative arcs
  • Dynamic balance between choral voice parts and accompaniment
  • Text-driven interpretation and emotional phrasing in English
  • Ensemble coordination across multiple key and meter changes

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