Look out for squalls

for a cappella choir
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Length: ca. 4'

Voicing: SATB; some divisi (all parts). Requires a minimum of 8 singers (SSAATTBB).

Availability: PDFs for purchase; please indicate number of copies needed in order. Orders fulfilled in 1–2 business days.​

Program Note
Adapted from a newspaper article published in The Weekly Star (Wilmington, North Carolina) in
1891, the text of Look out for squalls is based on the predictions of a self-proclaimed “weather
prophet” from Texas. Drawing from personal observations and questionable science, the
weather prophet predicts a period of catastrophic storms and urges readers to prepare for
destructive hurricanes.
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When reading the weather prophet’s plea, I was struck by the parallels between his advice and
the warnings of contemporary climate scientists. Look out for squalls echoes these warnings,
asking listeners to remember the true, human-driven causes of climate change and to examine
our individual and collective responsibilities. As increasingly erratic weather patterns and rising
global temperatures threaten lives around the globe, we must make radical changes and
extreme preparations to protect our planet and to ensure an equitable future.
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Premiere
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Commissioned by the UNC Wilmington Chamber Choir & conductor Aaron Peisner; premiered in April 2022.
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​Recording