Children's and Liturgical Opera Company, LLC
www.chancelopera.com
 

CHILDREN'S OPERAS: The Changeling

 
 
THE CHANGELING
a musical play for children based on the traditional fairy tale
libretto by Ellen Greist
song lyrics, melodies and rhythms by 3rd and 4th grade
arrangements and accompaniments by
Susan Hulsman Bingham

program drawing by Susan Bingham
 

CAST:

 

VILLAGERS
Four Narrators
Will, a farmer
Constance, his wife
Fallon, a villager
Gandalfia, a wizard
An Old Man
Child & Parents at the Fair
Food Vendors
Sword Swallower
Friends of Will & Constance: Hermione, Gurian, Wolfreda & Mariette
Igor, assistant toGandalfia
May pole Dancers
Onlookers

FAIRIES
Esmeralda, Queen of the Fairies
Imperion, King of the Fairies
Fairy children: Loki, Puck, Bondo, Breeze, Cobweb, and Tuffet
Advisors to the King & Queen: Vitupera, Argenta, & Coleus
Dr. Herbonyx
Calendula, a Nanny
Calendula’s helpers: Periwinkle, Placket, Greenleaf & Arbono
Fairies-in-Waiting: Gylfi, Wisp, Furlong, Willow, Tendril, Petal

   
 

ACCOMPANIMENT:

 

piano/synthesizer, guitar, viola, cello, horn, percussion

CHORUS:

 

treble chorus are all acting parts

DANCE:

 

simple group dances

PROPS:

 

minimal, using whatever you have

SOURCE OF TEXTS:

 

ltraditional fairy tale

LANGUAGE:

 

English

MUSICAL STYLE:

 

tonal, melodic, eclectic

SCENES:

 

eight

SOUND SAMPLE :

 

Hear a sound clip from this opera.
Hear a second clip.

DURATION:

 

fifty minutes

PREMIER:

 

Students of Worthington Hooker Elementary School at Yale University's Sprague Memorial Hall, New Haven, CT., 1998, with Ellen Greist, Director, Susan Smyth, Music Director, and Karen Davidson, Choreographer.

NOTE:
  
This opera project was made possible in part through a grant from MEET THE COMPOSER'S "New Music for Schools" Program.
 

SYNOPSIS

 

The only way the Fairy Family's newborn baby can be saved is to have the child nurtured back to health by a human family. A switch is planned, and the opera enacts the amazing events leading to each child's being returned to her own parents.

 

Composer's comment: a lively, funny tale adapted by Ellen Greist, with parts for everyone and lots of melodious little songs and dances interspersed. Fifty third graders (forming a non-acting chorus on risers) and fifty fourth graders (functioning as both actors and chorus) performed this opera at Sprague Memorial Hall at Yale University, New Haven, CT, as their annual year-end production. As with many of these operas for young children, there are no solo parts; all music is sung by all, though children may have individual acting parts. SHB

 

Musical score: $58. Price includes shipping and handling within the U.S. Price also includes performing rights and permission to make a limited number of copies for cast and accompanists (see contract agreement which accompanies order form).



DVD of "The Changeling" available: $28. Price includes shipping and handling within the U.S.



 

Composer's note: This opera was a joint effort between third and fourth grade children and the composer. Many musical motifs and ideas, and many lines of lyrics, were written by the students, and each student's name appears above his or her contribution. This piece is an excellent teaching tool for children ages 7-12, as it shows how much young people can contribute to a work, if invited.

THE CHANGELING would be a good piece to do at a summer theater camp or as school theater project. SHB