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Works

Five Children's Songs

1960

Scored for

children's choir (unisono) and piano

Duration

5 min

© Universal Edition AG, Wien

Short description

At the beginning of his path as a composer, in 1950s and 1960s, Pärt wrote many children’s songs, piano pieces, and music for plays and animated films. During those years he was involved with several children’s studios and theatres, being the piano accompanist and musical designer. Most of his music for children came about by way of direct improvisation at rehearsals and were only later given their more polished forms. Therefore, they possess the spontaneous, playful spirit amid which they were born.

Five Children's Songs were published in 1963, but the manuscript of the cycle, titled Tykes' Songs, dates from 1960. However, all songs were composed during the years 1956-1960, when Pärt worked as a piano accompanist to the theatre club of the Tallinn Pa…

At the beginning of his path as a composer, in 1950s and 1960s, Pärt wrote many children’s songs, piano pieces, and music for plays and animated films. During those years he was involved with several children’s studios and theatres, being the piano accompanist and musical designer. Most of his music for children came about by way of direct improvisation at rehearsals and were only later given their more polished forms. Therefore, they possess the spontaneous, playful spirit amid which they were born.

Five Children's Songs were published in 1963, but the manuscript of the cycle, titled Tykes' Songs, dates from 1960. However, all songs were composed during the years 1956-1960, when Pärt worked as a piano accompanist to the theatre club of the Tallinn Palace of the Pioneers (now the Kullo hobby centre). He came to the theatre at the invitation of Salme Lauren, who was then director of the theatre club and for whose translated, written, and staged plays Pärt composed a large amount of music in those years. "Firefly's Song", "Frogs" and "Ladybird's Song" are originally written for Lauren's paly Adventure in the Woods. 

I Am Already Big and The Doll Has No Name were written for the youngest section of the Estonian Radio children’s ensemble, conducted by Eda Neider. Pärt, who worked as a sound director at Estonian Radio from 1958–1967, was also the piano accompanist for the children’s ensemble for a while, naturally often performing along with the children in the first radio recordings of his songs. Both songs were recorded in 1959. 

 

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Parts

  • 1. Mina olen juba suur / I Am Already Big
  • 2. Jaaniussi laul / Firefly's Song
  • 3. Konnad / Frogs
  • 4. Lepatriinu laul / Ladybird's Song
  • 5. Nukul pole nime / The Doll Has No Name

Completion year

1960

Dedication

"to my mother"

Scored for

children's choir (unisono) and piano

Duration

5 min

Publishers

Universal Edition , Arvo Pärt Centre

Language

Estonian

Vocal text

1. I AM ALREADY BIG
Lyrics by Silva Kaputikjan, translation into Estonian by Juhan Saar
Translation into English by Paul Hillier

I go to kindergarten,
No longer just a kid!
And at home I now hearten
Across the table peek.

I am no little baby,
I work as hard as men.
I dye and paint and glue, too,
Fine pictures just for you.

I put my doll, her dresses
All into the big press.
And when I cry, not messy,
No! – On with work I press.

I am no little baby
…

I go to kindergarten,
No longer just a kid.
And at home I now hearten
Across the table peek.


2. FIREFLY'S SONG
Lyrics by Salme Lauren, translation by Paul Hillier

In the forest dim and dark
Tiny fires brightly spark.
Even though it’s very late,
We are all still full awake.

Diligent…
1. I AM ALREADY BIG
Lyrics by Silva Kaputikjan, translation into Estonian by Juhan Saar
Translation into English by Paul Hillier

I go to kindergarten,
No longer just a kid!
And at home I now hearten
Across the table peek.

I am no little baby,
I work as hard as men.
I dye and paint and glue, too,
Fine pictures just for you.

I put my doll, her dresses
All into the big press.
And when I cry, not messy,
No! – On with work I press.

I am no little baby
…

I go to kindergarten,
No longer just a kid.
And at home I now hearten
Across the table peek.


2. FIREFLY'S SONG
Lyrics by Salme Lauren, translation by Paul Hillier

In the forest dim and dark
Tiny fires brightly spark.
Even though it’s very late,
We are all still full awake.

Diligently every night
In the wood the way we light.
But when dawn breaks in the east
You no longer us can see!


3. FROGS
Lyrics by Salme Lauren, translation by Reet Sool

When it is raining drip, drip, drop,
The earth gets wet just flop, flop, flop,
The frogs then party in a line
And praise the weather that’s so fine.

The pools are large and everywhere
The frogs there have just one big care
To splash in every one of these
And have a good time that won’t cease.

Head forward to the pool hop-hop,
The water’s boiling plop-plop-plop.
It is the best fun that we know,
The life of frogs is one great show!


4. LADYBIRD'S SONG
Lyrics by Salme Lauren, translation by Paul Hillier

I know that you find me lovely,
You are always quick to catch me.
I am really very small,
Do not hurt me, not at all.

My home is in big deep forests,
In the gardens full of flowers.
I am really very small,
Do not hurt me, not at all.

My coat’s red and very glossy,
Prettily with black dots spotted.
When you let me off your hand,
You will see it from the land.

From which side the guests are coming,
Promptly be there with your welcome.
I will bring you luck, my friend,
Do not hurt me in the end.


5. THE DOLL HAS NO NAME
Lyrics by Arne Jõger, translation by Paul Hillier

Malle’s dolls are all so fancy,
One is Jaak, the other Juku.
Mother gave her as a present
Just this afternoon a third one.
How to name the brand-new dolly,
One must think hard, it’s no folly.
Tiiu, Viiu, Hille, Lille,
Or, perhaps, is finer Pille?

In the evening quickly, quickly
To the bed both Jaak and Juku.
Hurry, hurry, our Malle
Goes to bed with all her dollies.
But she lies awake, it’s no game
For the new doll still has no name.
Tiiu, Viiu, Hille, Lille,
Or, perhaps, is finer Pille?
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