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This little musical play was
commissioned by The Derby High School. The
music teacher Margaret said to me "Write me
a Nativity please, Les, but I don't want tinselly
angels and shepherds with tea towels round
their heads". I came to the conclusion that
the tinsel and tea towels couldn't be entirely
avoided, but librettist Pat set about providing
lyrics with a strong poetic content which
embodied the amazing story, but also recognised
the humanity of the biblical characters.
As it was written for "junior school" - the
requirements of KS1/2 came to mind. In practice
the work has proved to be very flexible and
appeals to a wide range of performers. I have
watched "nursery class" children joining gleefully
in the chorus "On the Road" and the mature
young ladies of Derby Youth Choir singing
"Mary's Song" and others with great understanding.
Solos in choruses can be sung with all voices
if preferred. The items including a flute
part , which is optional and could be performed
by any suitable instrument such as recorder
or violin. Imaginative use of percussion has
proved to be a worthwhile addition.
The scene is a garden in Nazareth. Mary is
enjoying the peace and beauty all around her.
She is startled when a group of angels appear.
Their leader, Gabriel, tells Mary that she
is to bear a son and that Joseph her husband
will not be the father. The boy will be God's
only Son, and he is to be called Jesus. The
angels depart, leaving Mary in a dazed and
confused state. As she begins to realise the
momentous nature of what she has been told,
she asks the question "Why me Lord?"
Mary's husband Joseph is a carpenter and has
a very busy business. He is overwhelmed with
orders and finds it hard to satisfy everyone,
especially as it is so hot. Being an oldish
man he gets very tired and falls asleep. As
it is the hottest part of the day Joseph's
customers leave him to rest.
He is woken by the appearance of the angels.
Gabriel tells Joseph that Mary is to bear
a son who will be called Jesus. He will be
God's only Son. The angels depart, leaving
Joseph to take in the meaning of what he has
heard. Knowing that the scriptures foretold
the coming of a Messiah, Joseph realises that
it is to be his role to protect and raise
the infant Jesus as his own.
The Roman Emperor Caesar Augustus decides
to raise a tax, and makes a decree that everyone
must travel to the place of their birth and
register their names in a great census. Joseph
and Mary will travel to Bethlehem, Joseph's
birthplace. They join with the crowds travelling
along the road. Mary is now very near her
time and the journey is very hard. Arriving
at Bethlehem they find that the city is crowded
with people attending the census. There is
no room at the inn. However, a very bright
star is seen in the sky and the innkeeper
has an uneasy feeling that it is a sign. He
knows what the prophets have said about the
birth of a Messiah and decides to offer Mary
and Joseph shelter in his old stable.
That night Jesus is born in the stable. Shepherds
tending their flocks see the bright star which
seems to settle over the stable. Knowing the
story of the coming of the Messiah, they leave
their sheep and come to the stable. Wise men
also knew how the Messiah would be born and
told their kings who travelled far to bring
gifts to the infant Messiah. As all gather
round the manger where the child lays, angels
appear and all keep watch over the sleeping
child. |
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| Narrator |
| Mary - mother
of Jesus |
| Gabriel -
an Angel |
| Joseph -
Mary's husband |
| Innkeeper |
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| Chorus of People
- with optional solos |
| Chorus of Travellers
- with optional solos |
| Chorus of Angels |
| Chorus of Shepherds |
| Chorus of Kings |
| Inn Customers
-spoken lines only |
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| Company -
Angels, Shepherds and Kings |
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| Click on a title
to hear a Windows .wma file |
| 1) Introduction |
Flute & Percussion |
| 2) How Peaceful |
Mary |
| 3) Glory
To God (+) |
Angels (NB later repeated a
number of times) |
| 4) Just
An Ordinary Girl (#) |
Mary |
| 5) There's No Time To
Rest |
Joseph & Chorus Of People |
| 6) Mary
My Wife (+) |
Joseph |
| 7) Come
On (#) |
Chorus Of Travellers |
| 8) On The Road To Bethlehem |
Instrumental (NB later repeated
once) |
| 9) I'm
Sorry My Friends (#) |
Innkeeper |
| 10) This
Is My Old Stable (#) |
Innkeeper & Instrumental |
| 11) Star
Above (+) |
Chorus Of Angels & Mary |
| 12) Where
The Hills Meet The Sky (+) |
Chorus Of Shepherds |
| 13) The March Of The Kings |
Instrumental |
| 14) We
Come To Praise You (+) |
Chorus Of Kings |
| 15) Finale |
Mary & Company |
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Recorded at live performances
by ...
The Derby High School Juniors (#) and Derby
Youth Choir (+)
... as the coughs, sneezes and baby squeals
will testify!
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Schools who wish
to order using Official Orders and
Invoicing may do so by adding those
items required to the Shopping Basket
as normal. Please make sure you have
an Official Order Number and the school
e-mail address BEFORE you get to the
Checkout.
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Royalties
The royalty fees below are payable for
each performance
given to an audience, where the seating
capacity of the venue does not exceed
200. Obtain a quotation by either completing
the Application at the Credit Card payment
Checkout, or mail-in our printed Application
Form. |
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Schools
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£
10.00 |
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Amateur Groups :
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£ 10.00 |
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| Duration |
: 20 mins |
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Acts |
: 1 |
| Cast |
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Principals
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: 4m, 1f, 3m/f |
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Chorus
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| Sets |
: 1 |
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| ISBN |
: 1 904458 64 5
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| Size |
: A5 |
| Pages |
: 11 |
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| Other Christmas Items |
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