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The Snowy Day
an opera in one act
bestselling children’s book by Ezra Jack Keats
2020, orch. 2024
Version for Full Orchestra
Music by Joel Thompson
Libretto by Andrea Davis Pinkney
PERUSALSCORE
The Snowy Day
opera in one act based on The Snowy Day, the beloved bestselling children’s book by Ezra Jack Keats
Music by Joel Thompson
Libretto by Andrea Davis Pinkney
2021
1. Morning Promise....................................................................................................................................8 Peter, Soprano 1 & 2, Tenor 1 & 2, Bass 1 & 2
2. Bundling.................................................................................................................................................21 Peter, Mama, Daddy, Soprano 1, Tenor 2
3.
5. Whisper Walk .......................................................................................................................................67
Tenor 1 & 2, Bass 1 & 2
6. Snowball Fight ......................................................................................................................................85 Peter, Jasper, Tim, Billy
7. Whack, Whack, Whacking (at the Brittle Bark Tree) ........................................................................115 Peter, Amy
8. Rocket Sled Rhapsody .........................................................................................................................128
Amy, Soprano 2, Tenor 1 & 2, Bass 1 & 2
Amy, Jasper, Tim, Billy
12. Fathers Calling .....................................................................................................................................173 Papí, Daddy 13. Time to Come Home ............................................................................................................................181 Peter, Amy, Papí, Daddy
14. Snowball in My Pocket ........................................................................................................................190 Peter, Daddy
15. Un-Bundling ........................................................................................................................................194 Peter, Mama, Daddy
16. Bubble Thoughts ................................................................................................................................207 Peter, Mama 17. My Forever ...........................................................................................................................................225
18. Toss-Turn Dream ................................................................................................................................230 Peter, Amy, Mama, Jasper, Tim, Billy, Soprano 1 & 2, Tenor 1 & 2, Bass 1 & 2
19. Finale: New Day Rising .......................................................................................................................252
Peter, Amy, Tim, Soprano 1 & 2, Tenor 1 & 2, Bass 1 & 2
Performing Forces
Peter .....................................................................................................................................................Soprano
Amy/Ensemble Soprano 1*† ................................................................................................................Soprano
Mama/Ensemble Soprano 2*† ...........................................................................................................Soprano
Jasper/Papi/Ensemble Tenor 1*† .............................................................................................................Tenor
Ensemble Tenor 2† ..................................................................................................................................Tenor
Daddy/Tim/Ensemble Bass 1*†‡ .............................................................................................Bass-Baritone
Billy/Ensemble Bass 2*† ............................................................................................................................Bass
2 Flutes (2 doubles Piccolo)
2 Oboes (2 doubles English Horn)
2 Clarinets in B@ (2 doubles Bass Clarinet in B@)
2 Bassoons
4 Horns in F
2 Trumpets in C
2 Trombones (2 doubles Bass Trombone)
Timpani
Percussion (2 players)
Timpani, Glockenspiel, Xylophone, Marimba, Vibraphone, Crotales, Tubular Bells, Sleigh Bells, Vibraslap, Crash Cymbal, Suspended Cymbal, Large Tam-tam, Snare Drum, Conga Drums, Large Tom, Bass Drum
Harp
Piano (doubles Celesta)
Strings
* Indicated doubling and tripling of roles may be separated at producer’s request.
† Ensemble roles may be sung by multiple voices at producer’s request.
‡ The doubling of Daddy / Tim results in a fast costume change in No. 19: Toss-Turn Dream between m. 42 (Tim) and m. 96 (Daddy). It is the preference of the composer that Daddy and Mama are onstage as Peter wakes up from his dream, which can be achieved with a quick costume change or with a separation of the doubling into two singers. If either of these solutions is impossible, Mama and Daddy can tacet from m. 96–108; their lines are cued in the Oboe and Bassoon parts, respectively. (Mama’s offstage lines m. 89-96 remain regardless.)
Duration: c. 65 minutes
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Commissioned by Houston Grand Opera Premiered by Houston Grand Opera on December 9, 2021
This orchestration commissioned by Minnesota Opera Premiered by Minnesota Opera, Kelly Kuo, conductor, February 8, 2025
Copyright © 2024 Joel Thompson (BMI). All Rights Reserved.
The Snowy Day, a book by Ezra Jack Keats, is copyright © 1962 Ezra Jack Keats Foundation Published by Just a Theory Press | www.justatheorypress.com
First printing of this preliminary edition, December 2024
Ste ady, trance-like = 72
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( = 112)
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Temp o di “ Whi sp er Walk ” ( = ca 112)
Temp o di “ Whi sp er Walk ” ( ca 112)
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( = 72)
stage)