For Narrator Children's Choir And Instrumental Accompaniment (Piano Version)-Following on the success of her two operatic works for children and teens – Douce et Barbe Bleue Les Fables Enchantées Little Thummie and Cendrillon (based on Perrault) as well as the adaptation of Maupassant’s short story The Dumpling (2014) – Isabelle Aboulker once again hits the bull’s eye with Myla And The Boat-Tree a commission from the Villecroze Music Academy. In 2015 this musical tale for Narrator Children’s Choir and Instrumental Accompaniment was awarded the “Music for Young Performers Prize” by the French Music Publishers Association. Both in the French version and MarciMeth’s excellent English translation it provides the material for an enthralling educational adventure in which children between the ages of five and eight are invited into their first experience of opera and choir singing. With her trademark finesse and sensitivity the composer tells the story of a little girl dealing with the death of a person she’d cherished above all: her grandfather. Written for choir in unison this tale wafts shimmering melodies over an instrumental accompaniment suffused in turn with gentle melancholy and light humour. An art that speaks from an open heart. The work was written in three versions: for Narrator Children’s Choir and Piano (AL30732) for Narrator Children’s Choir and Trio (Clarinet in Bb Cello and Piano: AL30733) for Narrator Children’s Choir and Instrumental Ensemble (Flute Oboe Clarinet in Bb Bassoon Horn Trumpet in C Trombone Percussion 2 Violins Alto Cello Bass: AL30734) Choral score: AL30743 Listen to Isabelle Aboulker talking about “Myla and the Boat-Tree”:

Sleep Little Boy is a Christmas song for Unison voices and Piano with text by Jack Fuller. This song is an extract from Herod Do Your Worst a Nativity Opera.

Rolling Down To Rio first appeared in The Beginning of the Armadillos one of the Just So stories by Rudyard Kipling. It was set to music in 1903 by Edward German arranged for unison or solo Voice with Piano accompaniment. The arrangement has remained highly popular ever since.Edward German was an English musician and composer of Welsh descent best remembered for his extensive output of incidental music for the stage and as a successor to Arthur Sullivan in the field of English comic opera. While French influences are clearly apparent in his music all in all his style is usually considered to be‘quintessentially English’.

Raymond Walker (music) and William Beaumont (dialogue). An opera for schools in three acts based on Rossini?s ?La Cenerentola?.