In 1856, Abbie Burgess – the 16-year-old daughter of the lighthouse keeper on the tiny Maine island of Matinicus Rock – faced the unimaginable: one of the greatest Nor’easters of the 19th century – and she did it alone. Tending the flames of the lighthouse for nearly a month while her father was stranded on the mainland, she saved the lives of her family and of hundreds of sailors who relied upon the beacon to guide them safely to shore.
Like Prokofiev's famous "Peter and the Wolf", LIGHTHOUSE KEEPER is an exciting "musical storybook" for children and families that combines narration with thrilling classical music.
Featuring words and music by award-winning American composer Delvyn Case, this exciting piece has now come to life in a world-premiere recording by the Arneis String Quartet and narrator Jean Danton.
Originally commissioned by the Portland (Maine) Symphony orchestra, LIGHTHOUSE KEEPER has been performed for thousands of children across the US, at schools, libraries, museums, and music festivals. Thanks to this new recording, this exciting piece can now be heard by everyone around the world.
Listen to the album on Spotify below. Also available on Apple Music, YouTube, and all other streaming platforms.
Performers or presenters interested in more information about LIGHTHOUSE KEEPER, or Delvyn Case’s other “musical storybook” chamber piece, FIRE IN THE BIG-TOP!, can find more information here.
ARNEIS QUARTET
JEAN DANTON
DELVYN CASE
CECILY CASE, MIRIAM DONOVAN, ELEONORA CHANDRA HAGER, CARSON SCRIBNER, PASSION SINGLETON
LIGHTHOUSE KEEPER: THE STORY OF ABBIE BURGESS was engineered and co-produced by Doug Hammer at Dreamworld Productions, Lynn, Massachusetts in 2026.