| Children's and Liturgical Opera Company, LLC www.chancelopera.com |
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LITURGICAL OPERA: Daniel's Gift |
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DANIEL'S
GIFT |
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a Christmas opera based on the tale by M.C. Helldorfer |
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story adaptation and music by Susan Hulsman Bingham |
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Louis Le Nain, Adoration of the Shepherds, detail |
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VOICING: |
Sop, sop, bar, bar, treb, treb, treb, one non-singing child's part, and two trebles from chorus (mentioned below) who sing a duet. |
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CAST: |
Daniel (treble), Zeke (treble), Ralph (treble), a Lamb (non singing), Mak (baritone), Mak's wife (soprano), Pair of Angels (part of chorus - trebles), Mary (soprano), Joseph (baritone). |
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ACCOMPANIMENT: |
piano, recorder |
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CHORUS: |
trebles sing in chorus but are all part of the acting cast | |
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DANCE: |
none |
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PROPS: |
traditional Biblical shepherds and nativity regalia | |
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SOURCE OF TEXTS: |
M.C. Helldorfer, DANIEL'S GIFT |
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LANGUAGE: |
English |
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MUSICAL STYLE: |
tonal, melodic, traditionally harmonic but gently experimental and with a seasonal "feel". Click here to hear a sample from DANIEL'S GIFT. | |
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SCENES: |
one |
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DURATION: |
30 minutes |
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PREMIER: |
Christ Church Parish, New Haven, CT, 1984 • stage direction by Jeanne Bartlett Kerr | |
MORE SOUND SAMPLES: |
Sound Sample One: brothers are looking for one lost sheep Barbara Yeichner, soprano, Ginger Stevens, child soprano, Thomas Whitney and Jeremy Hutchins, trebles. Sound Sample Two: near the end of the opera Sung by the Children's Chorus of the Chancel Opera Company of Connecticut. Hannah Howard, recorder, and Susan Bingham, pianist. |
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SYNOPSIS |
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Two shepherd brothers are sleeping. A thief dupes wakeful Daniel, the third and youngest brother, takes his one lamb and hides it. A noisy hunt ensues. After the lamb is retrieved, angels appear to Daniel, telling of the birth of the Christ Child. Daniel finds the manger and offers a gift. |
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Musical score: $58. Price includes shipping and handling within the U.S. Price also includes performing rights and permission to make sufficient copies for cast and accompanists for one group or company for one season.
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Composer's comment: a magical opera, thanks in large part to the author of the story, M.C. Helldorfer. Has a real seasonal flavor. Fun solo parts for a few children and several adults. One non-singing part for a small child. SHB |
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