www.chancelopera.com
of the raising of the daughter of Jairus
Trinity Church on the Green, New Haven, CT
CAST:
5-7 sopranos, one mezzo soprano
ACCOMPANIMENT:
piano
CHORUS:
no separate chorus
DANCE:
one 12-year-old female modern or ballet dancer optional (to act the raising of Jairus's daughter)
PROPS:
minimal household materials. Details in score.
SOURCE OF TEXTS:
Gospel texts: Matthew 9:18-26, Mark 5:21-43 and Luke 8:40-56
LANGUAGE:
English
MUSICAL STYLE:
tonal, melodic, some chant
SCENES:
one
DURATION:
twenty minutes
New Haven, CT, 1987
"A moving and touching dramatization."
Carl Gerbrandt, Sacred Musical
Drama, a Producer's Guide
It is sixteen years after the death of Jesus. A group of women gathers at a well at the edge of their village. A stranger joins them, and the women discover that she is the daughter of Jairus, who at age twelve was raised by Jesus from the dead.
On the same day as that long-ago raising of Jairus' daughter, a woman was cured of bleeding when she touched Jesus' garment. This woman is among those at the well. She and Jairus' now-grown daughter meet, and with joy and amazement all the friends piece together the events of that day long ago.
Piano/ vocal score for PIECE TOGETHER: $50. Includes shipping within the U.S. as well as copying and performing rights (see contract which accompanies order form).
CD of three chancel operas (THE OTHER WISE MAN, PIECE TOGETHER, and TALES FROM A MAGIC MONASTERY): $20. Price includes shipping within the U.S. form).
Composer's comment: It is generally easier for us to find female singers than male, and yet most Bible stories have more male characters than female. This opera offers a solution. It is dramatic and has powerful, beautiful solos for two sopranos and a mezzo soprano.