Whispering Hope

Instrumentation: SATB Choir, children’s choir, and piano

Performance Note: All Treble Choir parts may be performed instead by a smaller group of sopranos and/or altos. The conductor may additionally choose to bolster the children's choir with a small group of adult singers.

Duration: 7’

Commissioned & Performed by: The Arizona Masterworks Chorale through a grant from the Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture

Premiere: December 3, 2022 at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, Phoenix, AZ

Program Note: The Arizona Masterworks Chorale commissioned this work to celebrate the joyous return of singing together, and to renew their commitment to the cultural life of the city and state. At the world premiere in December, 2022, the Chorale was joined by the Global Academy of Phoenix Children’s Choir.

What struck me most about Winner’s words in “Whispering Hope” was his balance of imagery pertaining to darkness and light. This poem does not contain an onslaught of optimism, but a realistic perspective: as surely as darkness exists, hope endures. Hope is never the loudest, most obvious voice, but its resilience makes it all the more worth seeking.

The piece begins in the middle of a storm, which clears just enough to perceive a glimmer of hope on the horizon. The children’s choir performs the role of the eagerly-desired voice of Hope, whose message gradually bolsters the morale of the adult choir. The music ends with jubilant celebration and a sense of deeply-rooted peace.

Hebrews 6:19a (NIV) We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.