(A Children's Christmas Cantata)

Score Samples Click Below First Page Choral Part Final Page Children's Chorus Page 1 Children's Chorus Page 2 Performers required: Published: MMB Duration 20' Premiere: March 1965, Raleigh Public Schoolss. Program notes and instrumentation:

Text: Kay K. Maves

Music: David W. Maves

The Legend of Befana (a 20 minute (non denominational) Christmas Season Cantata for grade school children. The work is based upon the Italian Christmas legend about the old woman who searches for the Christ Child, and not finding him, decides to give the presents she's carried to the to the poor. This work was written to be performed, as much as possible, by elementary school students. Excepting the piano part, all the insteumental and singing (choral only) parts, and acting has proven to be well within grade school student's capabilities.

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Instrumentation:

Auto Harps (or second piano, or harp)

Strings:

Violins

Violas

Violoncellos

Contra Bass(s) (if available)

Piano (the only part requiring an adult)

Percussion:

Triangles

High and Low

Cymbals

Antique

Small

Large

Suspended (played with Timpani mallets)

Tambourines

Rattles

Claves

Castanets

Wood Blocks

Bells (resonator, or ay tuned bells with soft round tone)

Glockenspiel

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Performers:

Narrator (either an adult, or a gifted student)

The following parts are silent, i.e. no singing or speaking, the performers just act out the story as it is narrated.

Befana (the old woman)

Wise men

Children

Mimes or dancers (optional as desired)

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First Page

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Choral and Percussion Page

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Children's Chorus Page 1

Children's Chorus Page 2 near end

Final Page (actually one page before the final decrescendo)

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