THE SNOWMAN STAGE SHOW (TWELVE-PLAYER VERSION) op.459 (September 1993)

Published by: Chester Music
Commissioned by: Birmingham Repertory Company
Instrumentation: 2 flutes (piccs),Oboe(CA), 2 clar (2=b/cl), bassoon, 2 Horns, Trumpet, Percussion, piano, synth(strings/harp)

[Key to Abbreviations]
Note on Lyrics: Music and lyrics by Howard Blake, scenario by Howard Blake, Bill Alexander and Robert North
Duration: 84 mins
First Performance: 8th December 1993 Birmingham Rep
Full score for hire
Orchestral parts for hire
All material for the Stage Show available on request from Chester Music (contact details below).

All sheet music for "The Snowman" and "Walking In The Air" since 2010 is published and available from Chester Music Ltd, part of The Music Sales Group, www.chesternovello.com It can be purchased online from MusicRoom.com, or from music retailers.

"Walking In The Air" is also available in a concert piano-only version arranged by the composer direct from Highbridge Music as part of the collection of piano pieces called "Lifecycle", available form Amazon or from Highbridge Music.

Howard Blake describes 25 years of The Snowman animated film and 10 years of The Snowman Stage Show at Sadler's Wells Peacock Theatre in London's West End and plays "Walking in the Air". View the recording here.

The classic original Columbia album conducted by Howard Blake with treble soloist Peter Auty and narration by Bernard Cribbins is available from Sony Music Entertainment CDX71116CD, Amazon and retailers.

The 2010 DVD film of The Snowman Live Stage Show narrated by Joanna Lumley is available from Sony Music Entertainment, CDR 81267; also from Amazon and retailers.

Movements

• 1: Waking to a world of snow
  
• 2: Footprints in the snow
  
• 3: Building the Snowman
  
• 4: Golden Crowns and Jewels Gleaming - christmas carol
  
• 5: Bedtime
  
• 6: The snowman comes to life
  
• 7: The Cat
  
• 8: Disco lights
  
• 9: Tropical Fruit Calypso
  
• 10: The Music Box
  
• 11: Motorbike Chase
  
• 12: Walking in the Air
  
• 13: Dance of the Snowmen
  
• 14: Father Christmas and His Reindeer
  
• 15: The Robot
  

  This movement is no longer part of the West End show.

• 16: Arabian Magic
  

  This movement is no longer part of the West End show.

• 17: Pas de deux - Love Duet
  
• 18: Cowboy Tango
  
• 19: Flying home
  
• 20: The Next Day
  

Notes

This version is now withdrawn in favour of the 5-piece orchestration made for the Peacock Theatre production in 2000

 1993 Original production directed by Bill Alexander, produced by John Stalker/Birmingham Rep, choreographed by Pat Garrett, designed by Ruari Muchison, lighting by Bryan Harris, sound designer David Tinson, musical directors Guy Woolfenden and Dane Preece.

1997 Revised production directed by Bill Alexander, produced by John Stalker, choreographed by Robert North, designed by Ruari Muchison, lighting by Bryan Harris, sound designer David Tinson, musical director Dane Preece.

1998. Reiner Moritz Associates film of the theatre production made with this team, film directed by Thomas Grimm, produced by Neil Mundy

2000 Extensively revised production in association with Sadler'Wells. Major changes to the second act, introducing The Ice Princess and Jack Frost (for whom Howard created a new music called 'The Storm Dance' in 2000).

Directed by Bill Alexander, produced by Ian Albery/Sadler's Wells/Birmingham Rep, choreographed by Robert North, designed by Ruari Muchison, lighting by Tim Mitchell, sound designer Richard Brooker, Musical director Kate Young.

2005 Directed by Bill Alexander, produced by Sadler's Wells/Birmingham Rep, choreographed by Robert North, designed by Ruari Muchison, lighting by Tim Mitchell, sound designer Richard Brooker, Musical director Jeremy Young.

Stage Show Enquiries 

+Queries in regard to The Stage Show, as performed at Birmingham Rep and The Peacock Theatre in association with Sadler’s Wells (1993-2005), should be addressed to:

Stuart Rogers or Wif Maton,
Birmingham Rep,
Broad Street,
Birmingham B12EP.
stuart.rogers@birmingham-rep.co.uk,
tel: 0121 245 2000,
fax: 0121 245 2100.

+ Queries in regard to grand right performances should be addressed to:

Chester Music Ltd,
8-9 Frith Street,
London W1V 5TZ ,
tel: 020 7432 4214,
fax 020 7287 6329
james.rushton@musicsales.co.uk
www.chesternovello.com

+ Queries in regard to other sheet music versions should be addressed to: 

anna@annamenzies.com/highbridge music ltd /or www.howard blake.com

+Queries in regard to publicity material,film rights for the original cartoon film and projection rights for use with live orchestra,merchandising,books etc are available from:

anna@annamenzies.com/highbridge music ltd /or www.howard blake.com

+ Queries in regard to licensing of media use for ‘Walking in the Air’ or ‘The Snowman’ should be addressed to:

Chester Music Ltd/ Music Sales,
11 Denmark Street,
London, WC1.
Licensing manager: Susan Tilly,
susan.tilly@musicsales.co.uk
tel:0207 636 4855

+ Any other queries falling outside these categories in regard to ‘The Snowman’ should be made direct to Highbridge Music Ltd, details on the enquiries page.  anna@annamenzies.com/highbridge music ltd /or www.howard blake.com

Performances

13th December 2007 - 30th December 2007	Edinburgh Festival Theatre (33 performances),
5th December 2007 - 6th January 2008	Sadler's Wells Peacock Theatre London (53 performances),
4th January 2007 - 18th January 2007	Full cast choreographed by Robert North and directed by Bill Alexander, Birmingham Rep Theatre, Broad Street, Birmingham
13th December 2006 - 30th December 2006	Company of dancers and orchestra, The Edinburgh Festival Theatre Choreography by Robert North, Direction by Bill Alexander,lighting by Tim Mitchell, based on the Birmingham Rep/Peacock Theatre production
8th December 2006 - 8th January 2007	Cast directed by Bill Alexander, choreographer Robert North, MD Jeremy Young, designer Ruari Murchison, lighting Tim Mitchell 9th West End season, Peacock Theatre (Sadler's Wells' theatre in the West End)

Reviews

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'Howard Blake's ballet "The Snowman" is now such a part of the Christmas Season that I am sure it certainly deserves to be produced again and again well into the 22nd century ... It is one of those rare theatrical pieces that appeals and impresses theatregoers of all ages ... Musically, the score is a masterpiece. I do not use the word lightly. Howard Blake's world famous song Walking in the Air, with which Aled Jones had such a success, is used as a basis for a virtually continuous set of symphonic variations; a subtle and fully wrought score which entrances the ears of all who are brought into the magical world it conjures up'. (Robert Matthew Walker, Musical Opinion March-April 2006)

Robert Matthew-Walker, Musical Opinion, 4/2006

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Pure magic, an hour and a half's mime, dance and music fantasy celebration of innocence, friendship and fun, with a hypnotic, dream-like quality... Howard Blake's eloquent score... is full of wit and humour as well as lyrical beauty. The lovely ballad Walking in the Air runs through it like a thread.

Ann Fitzgerald, Stage and Television Today, 13/1/1994

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