No 13 — July 1979 Edited by Michael Walters
HOW MANY PRODIGAL SONS?
Sullivan wrote his own preface to the score of The Prodigal Son, beginning it with comment, "It is a remarkable fact that the parable of the Prodigal Son should never before have been chosen as the text of a sacred musical composition". I find, however, that an oratorio called The Prodigal Son was in fact composed by one Samuel Arnold in 1773, a fact which seems to have escaped the usually astute Sullivan, who knew his musical history. I am wondering whether anyone can throw any light on this musical dodo. Sullivan ends his preface with the remark; "the episode with which the parable concludes has no dramatic connection with the former and principal portion, and has therefore not been treated." This of course, refers to the incident of the surly elder brother. I suppose that the operative word is "dramatic"; but those who regard all holy writ, and especially the parables, as being entirely complete and balanced in both the literary as well as the theological sense might find this little point open to discussion. DAVID THOMAS, MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA.
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