A Muskrat Lullaby
Encyclopedia
A Muskrat Lullaby is a one-act opera by Edward Barnes
, based on the book, Mama Don't Allow by Thacher Hurd
. The work was commissioned by the Los Angeles Opera
with funding from the Milken Family Foundation
, and originally premiered in Los Angeles in 1993. 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.
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
Edward Barnes (composer)
Edward Barnes is an American composer and producer.Edward Barnes studied music composition at the Juilliard School with composers Vincent Persichetti and David Diamond, and at Dartington Hall in Great Britain with composer-conductor Sir Peter Maxwell Davies...
, based on the book, Mama Don't Allow by Thacher Hurd
Thacher Hurd
John Thacher Hurd is the artist and author of children's picture books including Mama Don't Allow and Art Dog.- Biography :Thacher Hurd is the son of children's book creators Clement Hurd and Edith Thacher Hurd. After attending the California College of Arts and Crafts, Thacher Hurd turned his...
. The work was commissioned by the Los Angeles Opera
Los Angeles Opera
The Los Angeles Opera is an opera company in Los Angeles, California. It is the fourth largest opera company in the United States. The company's home base is the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, part of the Los Angeles Music Center.-Current leadership:...
with funding from the Milken Family Foundation
Milken Family Foundation
The Milken Family Foundation is a private foundation established by Lowell Milken and Michael Milken in 1982. Lowell Milken serves as chairman and co-founder of the foundation.-Goals:...
, and originally premiered in Los Angeles in 1993. 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
Orlando Opera
The Orlando Opera was Orlando, Florida's professional opera company. Based in the Dr. Phillips Center in Orlando, the Orlando Opera performed multiple times a year in the Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre and other venues in the central Florida region....
, Manhattan School of Music
Manhattan School of Music
The Manhattan School of Music is a major music conservatory located on the Upper West Side of New York City. The school offers degrees on the bachelors, masters, and doctoral levels in the areas of classical and jazz performance and composition...
, Mercer University
Mercer University
Mercer University is an independent, private, coeducational university with a Baptist heritage located in the U.S. state of Georgia. Mercer is the only university of its size in the United States that offers programs in eleven diversified fields of study: liberal arts, business, education, music,...
, University of Akron
University of Akron
The University of Akron is a coeducational public research university located in Akron, Ohio, United States. The university is part of the University System of Ohio. It was founded in 1870 as a small college affiliated with the Universalist Church. In 1913 ownership was transferred to the City of...
, and many more.
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