A Muskrat Lullaby

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A Muskrat Lullaby is a one-act opera by Edward Barnes, based on the children's book, Mama Don't Allow by Thacher Hurd. [1] The work was commissioned by the Los Angeles Opera with funding from the Milken Family Foundation, and originally premiered in Los Angeles in 1993. [2] The work went on to multiple productions by opera companies across the United States, including The Lyric Opera of Kansas City, Opera Columbus, Orlando Opera, Manhattan School of Music, Mercer University, University of Akron, and many more. [3]

Cast: Miles, a muskrat (tenor) Bird (soprano) Spider (mezzo-soprano) Toad (bass) Boss Alligator (baritone) Alligator Gang (children) Townspeople (children)

Duration: 25 minutes

Orchestration: Piano, or piano/electric keyboard and percussion

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References

  1. "A Muskrat Lullaby". Operas for Children. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
  2. "A Hip Opera : Education: The L.A. Music Center Opera created 'A Muskrat Lullaby' project for area grade schools. Students and teachers are singing its praises". Los Angeles Times . 11 November 1990.
  3. "A Muskrat Lullaby is an opera for young audiences, family audiences, opera education, opera for youth, opera for young people, children's opera, in one act, by composer Edward Barnes, based on the book "Mama Don't Allow" by Thacher Hurd". Archived from the original on 2015-02-14. Retrieved 2015-02-14.