The
Wolf
and
the
Lamb

a
short
opera
for
children

David
E.
Chávez

piano/vocal
score
The Wolf and the Lamb
by David E. Chávez

A children's opera
Based on Æsop's Fables

The Wolf and the Lamb was originally intended as an intermezzo, a short, light opera to go
between acts of another opera (or, in the case of the premiere, between other longer children's
operas). It was written to take advantage of the wealth of female voices available in a college
opera workshop setting.

Cast (in order of appearance, all sopranos):

Narrator 1/Sheep 1
Narrator 2/Sheep 2
Shepherdess
Little Lamb
Wolf

Approximate duration: 11 minutes

Premiered Spring 2006

For scores, performance rights, and other information, contact the composer at
dave@davidechavez.com or visit www.davidechavez.com.

Copyright 2007 David E. Chávez

 The Wolf and the Lamb
an intermezzo for children David E. Chávez

Movin' & Groovin', Straight Ahead q = 108 (R.H.)

f
 
rhythmic
                   
    
   
     
  
Piano

         
senza ped.

 
3

f


Narr. 1                  
       


This is an in - ter - mez - zo; that means it's a lit - tle o - per - a be - tween the acts of a

 
   
        

 
   
        
  
Pno.


         

     

   
          pedal optional

 
6 (f)
     
Narr. 1   
big - ger o - per - a!

   
f

 

           


Narr. 2
This is an in - ter - mez - zo; and be - cause it goes be - tween the

 
     
   
    
 
Pno. (R.H.)

  
           
  
     
   
           
Copyright © 2006 David E. Chávez. All rights reserved. (www.davidechavez.com)
2

 
9 accel.

Narr. 1               
 
          
Real - ly fast! Real - ly fast! We
      
 
    
  We
Narr. 2




acts, we have to tell the sto - ry ve - ry fast! Ve - ry fast!
  
  
accel.
  
           
     
Pno.  
    
  
      

     
       con ped.
  

         
13 Allegro stringendo (q =148)

Narr. 1         

have to tell the sto - ry ve - ry fast!
             

Narr. 2    


have to tell the sto - ry ve - ry fast!


Allegro stringendo (q =148)

        

         

 
  

       
           
Pno.
     
     
           
       
      


 
17 Allegro (q = 120)
Narr. 1   

          
          

How to start? I guess we should start once u -pon a time.
          

Narr. 2           


Where do we start?
Allegro (q = 120)
          
   
                      

                 

Pno.
    
    
 
 3

  
a tempo (q = 120)



22 Slower mf
Narr. 1  
            


Once u - pon a time... There was a shep - her - dess

       
3
Narr. 2     

 
 

Once u - pon a time...
  
mp
Shpds.     



a tempo (q = 120) How I

 
     

Slower
 

   
  
  
Pno.
    
     



26

Narr. 2        

     
And it was


Shpds.
          


love all my sheep! How I care for all my sheep!

 
        

    
      


  
  
  
Pno.
    
    

   
30

             
Narr. 2   


said she would -n't hurt a fly She was so kind to ev' - ry -

       
 

 
   
 



   
     
     
Pno.
  
     

 
4


33 mf
Narr. 1         
And all the
mf
Narr. 2            

  
one. And all the
mf with soul
 
   
Shpds.            


And all the a - ni - mals are my friends

 
  
               
   
 
      
 
 
 
 
Pno.
    
  
        
        

  

36

Narr. 1              


a - ni - mals were her friends. And,
        
Narr. 2       
a - ni - mals were her friends. And,

     
 
  


an expression of pure joy
Shpds.   


Oo

  
          
    
 

  

 
 
Pno.

       
      

 5

 
40 Playfully (q = 128)

Narr. 1         
     
in that herd of sheep,
      
 
       
Narr. 2      


in that herd of sheep, there was a lit - tle lamb.
      
            
Playfully (q = 128)

 

         

 

  
Pno. mp
         
  

   

con pedale

 
45
  
             
Narr. 1      


She loved to play in the bush - es and jump in the streams.

   
      
Dancing, flowing and tranquil, but quietly joyful, with movement
   
         
   

   
Pno.
   

       
    
    
(con ped.)

 
  
49
     
Narr. 2     
    
She loved the shep - her - dess, and she had big dreams!

     
LL   


I love to ex -
    
   
 
  
           
   
 


 
 
Pno.
   
 
 
     
   

 
6

        
53
     

LL     


plore! I love to sing! I love to dance, Oh


            
     

          
Pno.
   
   
      
         


   
57


LL              
   


I just love to dance! I have so man - y

     
           
      
   
  
   
    
Pno.
        
    
Swing! (q = 144)

 
62 rit. iq = qK e


LL and SHPDS dance!
LL         


    
dreams. Swing! (q = 144)

rit.
           iq = qK e
    
               

3

 
Pno.
dig in  f
         
         
    


  
66
              
       


      
Pno.    3
         
                  
  
  
 7


                
     
70

                     

 
 3   3 3

Pno.
              
   
              
     


q = 128


74 qK e = iq

Narr. 1         
And, in that same place...


Narr. 2          


  
And, in that same place,
q = 128

                   
qK e = iq
 
 
  
mp
        
Pno.
     
 
 


79 attaca Wolf; no break
     
Narr. 1   

   
       

Narr. 2            



right by the pas - ture where the sheep grazed, there lived a wolf in the for - est!

 
   
    
 

  
       
   
 
Pno.
  
         
          
  

8 Down low blues (q = 90)

 
83 f


iq = qK e
Wolf 
          
       


I am so hun - gry! Well you know what I said.

      
 
Down low blues (q = 90)

             
 
iq = qK e
        
mf 3 3 3
     
       
Pno.

With style, not square
    
          
          


87



 
Wolf        
       


  
I am so hun - gry! Yeah you know what I said

  
   
    
     
 

 
      
Pno.
 
   
             
              
     

90

 
       
3
Wolf     



Well if I don't eat some - thin' soon

    3
             
3
       
 
 
Pno. 3 3 3
              
3

    
         

93


Wolf            
   


I'm gon - na wind up dead. Yeah, a


          
3

   
       
Pno.    
    
3 3 3

          

           
  
 9


96

    
f
Narr. 1          

He's got - ta eat Sing it wolf!

     
f
Narr. 2         
You know you
      

   
3
        
3 3
Wolf
   


3
boy's got - ta eat, and a wolf's got - ta eat too,

    

        
 
 
        
 



  
   
Pno.

       
 
 
 
      
       

 
99

Narr. 1          
ooh, she's got - ta eat.

      
3
Narr. 2
       
got - ta eat too
 

              
3 3
Wolf
    


3
and a girl's got - ta eat, and a wolf's got - ta eat
  
           
                  
        
3

    
Pno.

            
             
       
10


102 3

Narr. 1  
        

You know she's got - ta eat too!
 3
Narr. 2         
 

 
   
         
Wolf
 


too, and if I don't eat soon I'm

    
 
     
3 3

         

      

Pno.
 
  
                     
           


 
qK e = iq Theatrical (q = 112)
  
105


Wolf                  



gon - na make a stew out of YOU! But first you'd bet - ter RUN! Be - cause I

 qK e = iq Theatrical (q = 112)
       

Pno.  
     
 
    
      

 
108 Narrators-as-sheep pop out from behind bushes (or from wings)

Narr. 1                

She likes to see it run! Oh yes, the

               
Narr. 2
 
She likes to see it run! Oh yes, the


               


Wolf

3 3
love chas - ing my food! Oh yes I love chas - ing my food!
   
Pno.
            
            
 11


111

Narr. 1        
hunt is half the fun!

Narr. 2        

       
 
hunt is half the fun! 3


Wolf          


That nice kind shep - herd won't know what hit her! And I'll have a

         
  
Pno.
         
    
         



114 Conga! (q = 116)
    
Narr. 1 

    
Narr. 2 

    
LL 

    
Shpds. 
Hears distant conga music

 
rubato


      
and [optional] conga drum...
Wolf


tas - ty lamb chop din - ner! [spoken:] I know just what I'll do.

        
[to audience:] can you keep a secret?

          
Conga! (q = 116)
        

  
Pno.
                   
          
12

 
mp sotto voce

118

       

Wolf           


I'll wear a cle - ver cos - tume; I'll join their lit - tle herd;
   
                      

  
Pno.
                 
           


        

121
  

cresc.
Wolf          


when the shep - herd is - n't look - ing I'll snatch a - way her lit - tle

      
       
            

  
Pno.
 
                        



124 f
Narr. 1          
Conga line makes its way onstage; We love mov - ing in a

  
SHPDS is wearing headwear made of fruit.
Shpds. 
 
(single downward port., like howl)


Wolf  



lamb!
 
                      
  
 
         
gliss.

 
Pno. ff mp

                    

 13


127

Narr. 1              
 
herd! We love mov - ing in a herd! We
f
           
Narr. 2  
We love mov - ing in a herd! We

 

   
LL



herd! We

        
                        
        
  
                   
 
Pno.
  
  
         
 
   

           
Narr. 1   
130

     
      
fol - low the shep - herd where - ev - er we go, Oh! We love mov - ing in a

                    

     
Narr. 2


          
fol - low the shep - herd where - ev - er we go, Oh! We love mov - ing in a

         
 
LL      


fol - low the shep - herd where - ev - er we go, Oh! We love mov - ing in a

        
     
           
   
                
           
Pno.
  
mf


    
         
14


133

Narr. 1     

herd!
Narr. 2      
herd!
LL      
herd!
Shpds.           
I just love herd - ing sheep!


Wolf   


Wolf joins conga line in ridiculous sheep garb;
makes obvious "shhhh" to audience.

         
                       
      
        
                   
Pno.
  
    
     
 15


136

Narr. 1          
We love mov -ing in a

Narr. 2          
We love mov -ing in a
Lamb is off in her own little world, eyes closed,
dancing like there's no tomorrow. Doesn't notice

that she is being led astray.
LL         
Da da da dee da doo
              
Shpds.  
I just love herd - ing sheep! I just love herd - ing


Wolf   


Wolf gently hangs on to lamb's shoulders and
steers her away from group.

          
                       
       
         
        
Pno.

       
        
       
16

   
139 Repeat until Narr 1 & 2 and Shpds are offstage.

           
Narr. 1


  
herd! We love mov -ing in a herd!

           
Narr. 2

herd! We love mov -ing in a herd!

  
LL improvises made up words (and even notes) based on conga.

           
LL

da! Da da da dee da doo da!

  
Shpds.
           


sheep! I just love herd -ing sheep!

     
Repeat until Narr 1 & 2 and Shpds are offstage.
    
   
   
 
   
           

                  
poco a poco dim. a niente

  

Pno.

             

Repeat as needed
LL, now all alone and still unaware, LL, looking more suprised and

 
completely ignores Wolf's first two "Dear me" than actually afraid,



Menacing (q =104)

LL  
142 attempts to scare her. sits down abruptly but politely.

         
  
3  short
  
    
 
 
Da da da dee da doo da!

Wolf       
Wolf tries once to make a big show of RHOWLRWAOOLLAAHH!!! Ha - HA! You're time is
pouncing...no response...tries again!...


no response...finally, musters her best
menacing howl/roar/growl/wolf-sound
of attack.

  

Repeat as needed Menacing (q =104)
    


  
Pno.
 
    
 17

   

146 mp
  

3

Wolf                 


up, Lit -tle Lamb! I'll make a tas - ty meal out of you. But, since I'm a

    

Pno. mp
     
    
 
     

    
149

LL            

  
   
Oh no! Oh no!

 
Wolf                  


good sport, right now I'll close my eyes and then you'd bet -ter run! That's right!

    
              
        
Pno.
 mf  
                   

        
  


     
152

3

     
3

LL                  
What I meant was I cer - tian - ly un der - stand. I learned a bout the food chain last

  

Wolf       


What?!


  
      
    
    
Pno.
   
    
 
18

 
155


3 3

LL              



week. When you get hun - gry, you've got to eat some - one.

  
      
 
    
  
  
Pno. 3

         

 
157 3 3

LL  
                    
 
I know it's the way of things. So please go a - head and eat me. I'm read - y.

Wolf
      


But, but,


           
     
  
Pno.
    
           
 

 
160

LL                    
That won't be ne - ces - sar - y. But, as the one con - demned to die, I
(a whine of disappointment,



like a dog who wants a biscuit)


Wolf           


Wolf's toughness melts
you're sup - posed to run! into the demeanor of Hmmmm!
a two-year-old about

         
to throw a tantrum.
  
Pno.
  
     
 19

    
           
163 3

LL     
do be - lieve I'm en - tit - led to one last re - quest.
Wolf is a little bewildered. She has never heard this sort of reaction before.
She tries to sound somewhat official.

short
  3


Wolf             


Yes. Well, what is your last re - quest?

   
    

  
       
   
Pno.
        
 
   
 

 
167

LL                    

      
Umm... Uhh... Well... I need a min - ute to de - cide... Well...
  



Wolf        
Well hur - ry up I'm get - ting hun - gry!
     
  
Pno.
       
 
  
  


171 LL has an idea! Freely

   
 
LL       
 

I, I would like to hear some mu - sic.
 

       
Wolf



Wolf's demeanor [spoken:] Well... then you're in for
changes completely. luck that I came to eat you today...
Freely
   
   

Pno.
     
  
  
 
20 Beautiful and flowing (q = 120)


(pretty music)


rit.

174

                  

Wolf           


I am an as - pir - ring mu - si - cian! [Ah's]
Beautiful and flowing (q = 120)
rit.
     
 
        
            
Pno.

    
 

   

     
           

LL breaks out in rapturous applause,


178
as if her life depended on it. She
encourages the audience to join in.
LL     
[spoken:] Bravo! Bravo!
         

Wolf     
     


      
Faster

 
       
Pno.
          
          
   
   


182

LL   
Oh I truly am fortunate that you came to eat me today!


Wolf  


[spoken:] Thank you, thank you

       
       
      
Pno.
            
 21


(The WOLF continues in a raucous,


184 half-canine round of musical noise.)
   


Wolf     


And for my next selection...

  
  
    
      
     
          
       




Pno.
              


        
Tempo di Queen of the Night, but not her best Night (q = 136)
188


             

Wolf    




Tempo di Queen of the Night, but not her best Night (q = 136)

                         
        
Pno.
                                


192 Once again,

  
thunderous applause
 
LL  
 
               
    
    
Wolf



                   
       

Pno.
         

22

 
196 Slower

LL    
[spoken:] Beautiful! Please, go on!

   


Wolf
[spoken:]And now, a piece I used to perform with my sister...
Slower
          
rubato!

                
    
Pno.
   
Like petals falling from a blue lotus blossom...deep fried in schmaltz.
   
      
          
con pedale 

           

199 rit. Tempo di Dôme épais (c. q = 60)
    

Wolf  


Tempo di Dôme épais (c. q = 60)
            
rit.
    
                 
Pno.
        
             
    
 

 23

NARRs tiptoe in holding their ears; they gesture


furtively, indicating that LL is in trouble and they
203 must go tell the shepherdess!
Narr. 1     

LL                      

Baa! Baa! Baa! Baa!
Baa!

                  


     


Wolf

                    

     
     
     
       
Pno.
             
           
   



They get SHPDS' attention

   

207 On a mission (q = 120) by prodding her.
           
Narr. 1  

   
We must tell the shep - her - dess! BAA BAA
   
Narr. 2  
LL and WOLF continue their musical escapades in BAA BAA


pantomime as we see NARRs 1 & 2 fetching the SHPDS.
LL            
Baa!
       

Wolf   



    
On a mission (q = 120)

      
   
 
 
  
Pno.
                
         
R.H.

            
 
24


         
  
211

Narr. 1         
BAA BAA BAA BAA BAA BAA BAA BAA!!!
 
  
      
Narr. 2          
BAA BAA BAA! BAA BAA BAA BAA BAA BAA BAA!!!


Shpds.      


[spoken:] What's that girls? Well
Little Lamb's in trouble?!

   

marcato

    
               


  
        


Pno.


      
           
 
 
         




217 Tempo di Queen of the Night, and it's really getting late (q = 136)

LL     
Baa!

Shpds.     
come on girls, let's go!


       
            


Wolf    

  


Tempo di Queen of the Night, and it's really getting late (q = 136)
Mozartian
        
  
                       
Pno.  
                
 
 
 25



221

LL     

             
Baa!


Wolf   
          
 


    
                
 

Pno.
                       

    
225 Rock, quasi recitative (q = 80) f
LL      
Conks wolf on head with stick I'm saved!
Shpds.       

       
falls to ground


Wolf       


Rock, quasi recitative (q = 80)
    
    
 
 
             
        
  
    
Pno. f You are the guitar hero!
    
  


   

26


229 mf
   
Narr. 1      

       
Do you think she's dead? mf
Narr. 2     

 No, she's on - ly sleep - ing.

LL       

   

f


Shpds.    



My lit - tle

    
 
     
    
 

    
Pno.


gliss.
  
     



232
  
mp f
Narr. 1      
        


Hey! I think she'smov - ing a - again! f
   
3
Narr. 2        
Lit -tle Lamb, you like, to - tal - ly rock!


(Conks wolf on head)
Shpds.       
lamb! (drops to ground)
Wolf
       


[moan]

   
    
  

  
 
   
  
Pno.
 

 
  

  
  
 
 27


235 Conga! q = 116

Narr. 2  
       
 
You tricked the wolf!
     
f
  

    
Shpds. 


You saved the day! I just love herd - ing
Conga! q = 116
  
           
   
 
  
 
    
 
Pno.
    
   
  
   


239 mf
    
Narr. 1    
Fol - low the shep - herd
mf simile
             
Narr. 2        
Fol - low the shep - herd Fol - low the shep - herd Fol - low the shep - herd

 
Shpds.    


sheep!

        
                        
        
                   
Pno.
    
     
28

         
242 simile
     
Narr. 1       
Fol - low the shep - herd Fol - low the shep - herd Fol - low the shep - herd
           
Narr. 2         



  
f
    
LL 
We love mov - ing in a
     

Shpds.   


I just love herd - ing sheep!

            
                  

    
  
                       
Pno.    
   
 


        
245
    
Narr. 1        
Fol - low the shep - herd Fol - low the shep - herd Fol - low the shep - herd
             
Narr. 2         

   
LL         
herd! We love mov - ing in a herd!
           
Shpds.   

  
I just love herd - ing sheep! I just love herd - ing


  
(wolf howl) 3


Wolf


         
                         
      
                       
Pno.    
     
   
 
 29

      
248

Narr. 1     
Fol - low the shep - herd f
  
Narr. 2             
We love mov - ing in a

ff bright and Latin! (not operatic)

LL     
Ah - ee!
(THUNK! on Wolf's head) ff bright and Latin! (not operatic)
        
bright!

 
3
Shpds.     
sheep! Yah! Yah! Yah!_A - rri - ba! Ah -
(drops to ground)


Wolf     


         
             
      
 

          
  
       
Pno.

   
   
     

30

    
251

Narr. 1      
Oh, we love mov - ing in a


bright and Latin! (not operatic)
  3
     
Narr. 2 
 Yah! Yah! Yah!_A - - - rri - ba!

herd!
         
LL     
  
Fol - low the shep - herd We love mov - ing in a
 

Shpds.     


ee! I love my sheep, Oh!

               
        
     

             
Pno.
 
        
    
 
253

      
Narr. 1      
herd!
 
We love mov - ing in a herd!
      
Narr. 2     
 
We love mov - ing in a herd!
           
LL     
herd! We love mov - ing in a We love mov - ing in a herd!
 
(cracks wolf on head)
        
Shpds.      
I just love herd - ing We love mov - ing in a herd!
(falls to ground)


      

Wolf


Wolf begins to stagger to her feet.

  
ss.


              
gli


        
Pno.
       


  
gl


iss
.