Score Catalogue
To order, contact us by email or phone. Scores are sent as PDFs. This website is under construction, so listings do not include a synopsis, libretto, or duration of pieces as yet. Contact us at the email address or phone number below to get this information. Chancel operas are anywhere from 10-25 minutes long, and children's operas are mostly an hour or so long.
To order: [email protected] or 484-633-7369
chancel opera
chancel opera
A Holy Cross Day Liturgy
spoken and chanted
And Christ Came into the World
chancel opera for children
By the Pool of Siloam
chancel opera
a chancel opera based on I Samuel 17:55-20:42
a chancel opera based on II Kings 4:8–37
Hannah
chancel opera
Jonah
chancel opera
a tiny liturgical theater piece for narrator, two mimes (optional), violin, piano & tambourine
Magdalene and Others
chancel opera about Jesus's close women disciples
Mary and Rachel
chancel opera
Naaman the Leper
chancel opera
a chancel opera based on Luke 24
a chancel opera based on the story of the raising of the daughter of Jairus
Ruth
a chancel opera
She Who Anointed Jesus's Feet
a musical meditation
Tales of a Magic Monastery
Talent Tale
tiny chancel musical play
The Awakening
chancel opera
The Baptism of Lydia
tiny chancel opera
The Blind Man
chancel opera
The Brave Knight
children's chancel opera
The Departure of Elijah
chancel opera
The Other Wise Man
Epiphany oratorio
A chancel opera interpreting John 2: 1-53
The Sacrifice of Isaac
chancel opera
The Syrophoenecian Woman
chancel opera
The Unjust Judge
tiny chancel opera
The Upper Room
tiny chancel opera
Transfiguration
chancel opera
a chancel opera based on John 4
a musical homily for soprano, tenor and piano based on John 7:10–8:11
An "Interchangeable Parts" Opera in Two Acts Based on the Life of Eli Whitney, Inventor of the Cotton Gin and the Interchangeable Parts Musket
an opera for adults and children based on the Hans Christian Andersen tale
a Christmas opera for adults and children based on the traditional Italian fairy tale
a narrated opera of Hasidic tales
The Wild Swans
opera for adults and children
12 short folktale operas for children
Accompaniment: piano, synthesizer, percussion
Chorus: treble chorus
Dance: simple group dances
Language: English
Musical style: imitating folk music styles of the countries from which the tales originate. Tonal, rhythmic; eclectic
Scenes: twelve; fewer may be done, and in any order
Source of texts: Original and traditional folktales from around the world retold by students of Worthington Hooker School.
Duration: fifty minutes; individual operas range from 2 to 7 minutes.
Cast
Narrator(s), treble chorus. All parts sung by treble chorus; individual characters act out parts.
Premiere: premiered in June, 2000 at the Long Wharf Theater, New Haven, CT, as part of the 100th anniversary celebration of Worthington Hooker Elementary School
"… serves as an illustration of everyday religiosity. … a lovely educational tale (done) with lively acting."
— Review, Sindelfingen, Germany
White Gourd Children
An original Chinese folktale by Xiaodong Ma.
Greetings to the morning. I am a red flower. And look at me: I'm an orange flower. And I too: for I have bright yellow petals. I am pale green. And we are green, blue and purple! Seven flowers opened! Seven flowers opened! Seven flowers opened for the old man to see! Seven flowers opened! Seven flowers opened! Seven flowers opened for the old man to see!
Greetings to you, Grandpa. I am from the red flower. And look at me! I am from the orange flower! And I too, for I have bright yellow hair! We are from the pale green flower, green, blue and purple! Seven flowers opened! Seven flowers opened! Seven flowers opened and became seven boys! Seven flowers opened! Seven flowers opened! Seven flowers opened and became seven boys!
Bazyliszek
A folktale from Poland retold by Damian Grzybko.
A dragon with the body of a crocodile, the head of a rooster, the legs of a vulture, and the bugging-out eyes of a frog turns anyone who meets its gaze to stone. Fabula, a wise sage, devises a plan: a brave prisoner faces the dragon with a mirror-bright shield so the creature sees its own reflection. After a squawk, the prisoner emerges with a stone dragon.
Listen to an excerpt from Bazyliszek from ANNIVERSARY TALES.
The Stepchild and the Fruit Trees
A folktale from Sierra Leone retold by Kyle Linehan.
Ijomah sings to her odala tree, asking it to grow after her father's wife buys fruit at the market, eats it, and gives none to her stepdaughter.
Red Fan and Blue Fan
A folktale from Korea retold by Joseph Ha.
Red fan, blue fan! One makes noses longer. One makes noses shorter again. A wondrous mystery to choose which size of nose to have whenever it pleases.
Poppy Seed Cakes
A folktale from Poland retold by Julia Genzano.
Andrew Sheck is supposed to watch Auntie Katushka's poppy seed cakes, but instead he bounces on his feather bed. A green goose claims the feathers and bargains for the cakes, with a very surprising ending.
Selene the Moon
A folktale from Greece retold by Theo Papageorge.
Selene asks Zeus to make a handsome shepherd sleep eternally so he will remain young. The stars reveal that Selene and Endymion have fifty daughters, all as pale as their mother.
Juan Bobo and the Pig
A Puerto Rican folktale told by Ulisses Berrios.
Juan Bobo is asked to care for a pig while his mother attends church. He feeds it pork chops and soda, dresses it in his mother's jewelry and dress, and finds himself in trouble when it runs into a mud hole.
Zomo
A folktale from West Africa retold by Maya Coleman.
Not big, not small, but very clever: Zomo seeks wisdom and uses wit to meet a wild cow, leopard, Sky God, and other challenges.
Giufa
A folktale from Italy retold by Sabina Bremner.
Giufa's mother tells him to sell cloth only to someone who does not talk too much. He takes the instruction literally, with comic results.
The Woodcutter and the Giant
A folktale from the United States retold by Brandon Corey.
Nathan challenges a giant to contests of blowing leaves, throwing stones, drinking a pond, and squeezing water from a stone. With cleverness and a lively chorus, he persuades the giant to leave.
We had a wonderful time writing these and a spectacular time performing them at the Long Wharf Theater in New Haven, Connecticut, USA. The pieces are full of variety and some are very funny. You need one or more lively narrators (some can be children) and a good percussionist or two — either terrific kids or a few teachers, parents or other adults. Parts for an adult saxophonist and clarinetist are available, though optional. I recommend you use them for added color. SHB
Barrington Bunny
children's musical play
Bearskin
children's musical play
a children's opera based on the Plains Indian tale, music, libretto and lyrics by Susan Hulsman Bingham and students of Worthington Hooker Elementary School
Char Face
children's musical play
a Christmas opera based on the tale by M.C. Helldorfer, story adaptation and music by Susan Hulsman Bingham
Fable Operas
children's musical play for large cast
Folktale Operas
children's musical play for large cast
How the Dragon Lost His Dark: an InKragable Tale
children's musical play
Isis and Osiris
children's musical play
Piper at the Gates of Dawn
children's musical play
Queen for a Day
children's musical play
The Changeling
children's musical play
The Light Princess
children's musical play
The Musicians of Bremen
children's musical play
The Talking Stones of Machu Picchu
children's musical play
a children's musical play based on Grimm tale
three tales by O'Henry • music and libretto by Susan Hulsman Bingham
a ballet opera for children and adults based on the Grimm tale
a ballet based on the Hans Christian Andersen tale
an opera with ballet for children and adults
A Musical Setting of the 23rd Psalm
A Setting of the Rite I Communion Service
A Setting of "Fairest Lord Jesus"
excerpt from the chancel opera Birth of Our Lord
Ave Maria
Little Piano Duet / Communion Piece
Magnificat
May the Road Rise to Meet You
Musical Setting of the Lord's Prayer
Peace Be With You
song in twelve languages
Peace Parade
Priest's Benediction
Psalm 63, Verses 1–3
Tiny Creed
Birth Elegy
song cycle
Intreat Me Not
aria
Whither Thou Goest
from the chancel opera Ruth
To order a score, please contact Susan Bingham by email (www.chancelopera.com) or phone (484-633-7369).
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