Children's and Liturgical Opera Company, LLC
www.chancelopera.com
LITURGICAL OPERA: Transfiguration
a
chancel opera
by Susan Hulsman Bingham
Thomas Crumb and Jonathan Hutchinson, tenors,
in a Children's and Liturgical Opera Company performance
CAST:
Jesus, James, John and Peter
(all in the low ten/high bar range)
Angel Chorus (may be treble children or soprano/alto range adults)
none
ACCOMPANIMENT:
piano
CHORUS:
DANCE:
none
PROPS:
minimal household materials. Details in score.
MUSICAL STYLE:
tonal, harmonic, lyrical
SOURCE OF TEXTS:
Gospels of Matthew 17: 1-13, Mark 9:2-13, and Luke 9:28-36; the Second Letter of Peter I:13-21; Exodus 34:29-35, Psalm 24, and Isaiah 64:5-9
SCENES:
one
twenty-five minutes
DURATION:
PREMIER:
has not been performed
Jesus, Peter, James and John go up Mt. Herman or Tabor. Jesus prays there and is transfigured so that his face shines like the sun and his clothes become dazzling white. Moses (law) and Elijah (prophecy) appear, and Jesus speaks with them, "speaking about Jesus's departure and what he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.
Peter, James and John, fighting sleep, witness this glory and stammer something to Jesus about building tabernacles for Moses, Elijah and Jesus, but a bright cloud overshadows them, and a voice says, "This is my Son, the Beloved (my Chosen); with him I am well pleased; listen to him!" When the voice is finished speaking, Jesus is once again standing alone.
As the disciples and Jesus descend the mountain, Jesus orders the men to tell no one about the vision "until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead." He also explains that Elijah has returned and was not recognized, and that the Son of Man Himself is about to suffer.
Composer's comment: We haven't performed this one. (Photo above is from a performance of another opera.) If YOU perform it, please tell us how it went, and feel free to give us suggestions for improvement. I do like this piece very much.
Piano/ vocal score for the chancel opera THE TRANSFIGURATION: $50. Includes shipping within the U.S. as well as copying and performing rights (see contract which accompanies order form for more details).
