Tesori BLUE Act I, full orchestration

BLUE an opera in two acts Act I libretto by TAZEWELL THOMPSON

revision date: August 31, 2021

music by JEANINE TESORI

to Rick Bassett, in gratitude

TABLE OF CONTENTS Act I Prologue ......................................................1 Scene 1.........................................................6 Transition to Scene 2 ................................81 Scene 2.......................................................84 Scene 3.....................................................115 Scene 4.....................................................152

Act II Scene 1.....................................................221 Scene 2.....................................................276 Scene 3.....................................................310 Epilogue ..................................................345

CHARACTERS (all characters are African-American)

THE MOTHER: Mezzo-soprano THE FATHER: Bass-baritone THE SON: Tenor THE REVEREND: High Baritone GIRLFRIEND 1, NURSE: Coloratura Soprano GIRLFRIEND 2: Mezzo-soprano GIRLFRIEND 3: Alto POLICE BUDDY 1: Tenor POLICE BUDDY 2: Tenor POLICE BUDDY 3: Baritone YOUNG CHILD: Non-singing role. Very young, to look 4–6 years old.

In Act II, Scene 3 and Epilogue, the characters join together as a group of Congregants.

These parts could be augmented by a separate, diverse SATB chorus.

INSTRUMENTATION 2 Flutes (2. doubles Piccolo) 2 Oboes (2. doubles English Horn) 2 Clarinets in Bb (2. doubles Bass Clarinet) 2 Bassoons (2. doubles Contrabassoon) 2 Horns in F 2 Trumpets in C 2 Trombones Bass Trombone Tuba Timpani Percussion (2 players) PLAYER 1

Marimba Vibraphone (+ bow) Glockenspiel Xylophone Crotales (+ bow) Gran Cassa Splash Cymbal Crash Cymbals Tambourine (small folk) Shekere (or other loose low folk shaker) Small/Medium Gong Tam-tam (shared with player 2)

PLAYER 2

Crotales (+ bow) (shared with player 1) Chimes Thundersheet (+ Superball mallets) Small Triangle Medium Triangle Crash Cymbals Tam-tam (shared with player 1) Gran Cassa (shared with player 1) Wood Block 3 Tin Cans (different sizes) Bongos Finger Cymbals Drum Set (snare, 3 high, medium and floor toms, hi-hat, splash cymbal, crash cymbal, ride cymbal, bass drum)

Harp Piano Strings

Total Runtime: 2.5 hours Transposed Score