Mermaid in the Jar Orchestra Score

Full Orchestra Score (PDF Download)

Libretto by Royce Vavrek, based on the short story by Sheila Heti.

Mermaid in the Jar is the first short chamber opera in the Wild Beast of the Bungalow triptych (Mermaid in the Jar, Prairie Dogs, and Fine and Dandy), which takes place entirely within an eleven-year-old Girl’s bedroom as she overhears her parents’ volatile conversations. Over the course of a few days, a mermaid, a family of stuffed prairie dogs, and singing groups of chickenpox and shingles force her to confront what it means to care for others and be cared for herself.

CAST: coloratura soprano, mezzo-soprano, bass-baritone, and three additional treble voices. (If the Prologue is omitted, no bass-baritone is required.)

INSTRUMENTATION: 1.0.1 (doubling BCl.).1.bar.sax/0.0.1.0/pft-perc (1)-harp-1.0.0.1.1 (Parts need to be rented separately; contact me for further information.)

DURATION: 20 minutes

PAGES: 86

WORLD PREMIERE: Oberlin Conservatory, Winter 2020.

NOTE: All performances of this work require separate permission and licensing. Any performance without a license is a violation of copyright. To obtain performance rights, please send me a message via the Contact form.