a muskrat lullaby
A Muskrat Lullaby
Words & Music by EDWARD BARNES
Based on “Mama Don’t Allow” by Thacher Hurd
SYNOPSIS: Miles and his friends, Bird, Spider and Toad, love to sing, but no one wants to hear them practice. “Take that music to the swamp” the townspeople tell them. And sure enough, down by the swamp where the alligators live, the singing quartet gets a different reception.
THEMES: Working together to solve a problem. The power of music.
“Inventive musical variety, including an impressive stylistic sweep from Rachmaninoff to rap that kept the audience enthralled and amused.”
LOS ANGELES TIMES
Illustrations ©copyright by Thacher Hurd
CAST: 5 + small chorus/ensemble
- Miles, a muskrat (tenor)
- Bird (soprano)
- Spider (mezzo)
- Toad (bass)
- Boss Alligator (baritone)
- Ensemble, Townspeople, The Alligator Gang (adults and/or children)
DURATION: 25 minutes
ACCOMPANIMENT: Piano and/or Electric Keyboard w/o Percussion. Optional children’s percussion band.
COMMISSIONED BY: The Los Angeles Opera
PRODUCTIONS: The Los Angeles Opera, Lyric Opera of Kansas City, Opera Columbus, Manhattan School of Music, Marshall University, Miami Opera, Opera Orlando, Penn State University, Monterey Opera, Mercer University, University of Akron, Muse Opera Korea
videos/excerpts
Scene 1
Scene 2
Copyright 2022 – Operas for Children – Edward Barnes, Composer