For Narrator Children's Choir And Instrumental Accompaniment (Ensemble 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?:

There are seven songs and an instrumental interlude making all together an entertainment that provides opportunity for very simple stage action and dancing: nothing at all elaborate is needed in the way of scenery and costumes.The voices are in unison throughout and their part is always doubled by instruments which should make it relatively easy for quite young children to learn their way into Davies's delightful tunes. The references to Hoy areincidental and could possibly be adapted to suit the locality of a particular performance. In any event most of these tall stories and rhymes will appeal to children everywhere.Set of instrumental parts (8 descant recorderparts 4 tuned percussion parts and 4 unpitched percussion parts).

Following Schumann?s first evidently unsuccessful attempt at composing a 'Sonata' - he only had the opening movement published under the title 'Allegro in b minor' - he tried once again in 1833. It is a well-knownfact that this sonata was composed while he was in close contact with Clara Wieck who was thirteen at the time. Individual motifs from it can be found later in Clara?s work; but by the same token individual figures can be foundin the sonata which point to Clara?s ?Pièces caractéristiques? op. 5. In addition Schumann used an almost literal adaptation of his song ?To Anna? for the second movement. We have included this in the appendix of ouredition and in so doing show the roots of this composition.