Southern Harmony (Duckworth)

Southern Harmony is a minimalist composition by William Duckworth written in 1980 and 1981. It is scored for unaccompanied mixed chorus, and is an original work created through adaptation of shape-note songs from the 1854 compilation Southern Harmony and Musical Companion (first published 1835). Southern Harmony is divided into four books (or sections) that were premiered over the span of a decade. The complete work was premiered in February 1992 at Merkin Concert Hall in New York by the Gregg Smith Singers.

Movements

The individual movements of Southern Harmony are:

Book One

1. Consolation
2. Wondrous Love
3. Hebrew Children
4. Solemn Thought
5. Rock of Ages

Book Two

6. Cheerful
7. War Department
8. Condescension
9. Holy Manna
10. Bozrah

Book Three

11. The Mouldering Vine
12. Mear
13. Leander
14. Sardina
15. Windham

Book Four

16. Distress
17. Nashville
18. Turtle Dove
19. Primrose
20. Social Band

References

• Monroe Street Music [1]
• Southern Harmony compact disk [2]
• Silverman, Adam. "Stylistic Combination and Methodical Construction in William Duckworth's Southern Harmony". Contemporary Music Review Volume 20, Number 4, 2001, pp. 45–59 (15). [3]