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STONE SOUP was my first professional commission, composed in the summer of 1983. To conjure up tunes that were so catchy that they felt inevitable, I walked up and down the streets of Southwest Philadelphia with Frank McQuilkin's clever libretto, singing along until each scene came out right.
Commissioned by Young Audiences of Greater Philadelphia for their in-school opera ensemble, STONE SOUP received well over 1000 performances over 20 seasons of "continuous run" in Philadelphia-area schools.
A subsequent commission from Young Audiences took the opera, originally composed only with piano accompaniment, into a chamber orchestra version which has also received performances around the country.
Using catchy tunes, humor, and a story about food, young listeners stay engaged and absorb the very timeless metaphor that "it takes all kinds of people to make up a happy town" just as "it takes all kinds of food to make Stone Soup." Through the one-act opera, which may seem like entertainment for young listeners, this important message is introduced, while the equally important message that opera is fun is also in the background!
STONE SOUP uses a cast of 4 principal singers: Vegetable Lady (Soprano), Mayor (Alto), Soldier (Tenor), Butcher (Bass). In addition there are small speaking roles for several children, and an optional chorus of townspeople. It was composed for solo piano accompaniment, and later orchestrated for an ensemble of 1-1-1-1, 1-1-1-0, Harp, Piano, 2 Percussion, and Strings which may be 1 per part, or doubled.
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