Scored for
children's choir and instrumental ensemble or children's choir and piano
Duration
2.25
Short description
In the 1960s, Pärt was a musical designer at the Estonian State Puppet Theatre, writing music for altogether seven productions. The brisk Road to School is from Dagmar Normet’s children’s play Treasure Hunters (1961), which featured characters hailing from different books and ages – such as Kiir and Toots from the classic Estonian novel Spring by Oskar Luts, Tom Sawyer, and others.
World premiere
06.10.2015
Center of Russian Culture, Tallinn, Estonia
Composer's recital: Arvo Pärt "Lapsepõlvelood" / "Songs from Childhood" CD promotional concert
Sten Lassmann (piano), Madis Metsamart (percussion), Kadri Hunt (conductor), Children's Music Studio of Estonian Radio , Meelis Vind (clarinet), Henri Zibo (accordion)
Completion year
2015
Original version
1961
Dedication
"to my mother"
Scored for
children's choir and instrumental ensemble or children's choir and piano
Arranger
Tauno Aints
Duration
2.25
Publishers
Arvo Pärt Centre , Universal Edition
Language
Estonian, English, German
Instrumentation details
instrumental ensemble: clarinet in B, accordion, xylophone, marimba, snare drum, piano
Vocal text
ROAD TO SCHOOL
Lyrics by Dagmar Normet
Translation by Paul Hillier
All around the wide world there are roads
Where I'd like just this once for to wander;
And blue waters are calling to me
Saying come to our beaches far yonder.
Off to school! Off to school!
It's the finest road of them all!
There your friends are waiting for you
So don't dawdle I implore you.
Hurry up my dear, for school is cool!
If you are clever and wish to be wise
Then spread your wings
And don't act like a fool.
All your friends – you will see –
You'll surprise them,
Striding proudly the road to school.
Off to school! Off to school!
…
What shall I be when I grow up?
There are so many fine things to choose from!
Cure the sick, plough the fields, or set sail
O’er the seas with the night sky to muse on?
…
Lyrics by Dagmar Normet
Translation by Paul Hillier
All around the wide world there are roads
Where I'd like just this once for to wander;
And blue waters are calling to me
Saying come to our beaches far yonder.
Off to school! Off to school!
It's the finest road of them all!
There your friends are waiting for you
So don't dawdle I implore you.
Hurry up my dear, for school is cool!
If you are clever and wish to be wise
Then spread your wings
And don't act like a fool.
All your friends – you will see –
You'll surprise them,
Striding proudly the road to school.
Off to school! Off to school!
…
What shall I be when I grow up?
There are so many fine things to choose from!
Cure the sick, plough the fields, or set sail
O’er the seas with the night sky to muse on?
…