Children's Songs
Chick Corea (arr. Rob Buckland)
General Info
Year: 1971-1980 / 2014
Duration: c. 13:00
Difficulty: (see Ratings for explanation)
Original Medium: Keyboard
Publisher: Astute Music
Cost: Score and Parts (digital) - £20.00
Movements
20 short movements, all entitled:
1. Children's songs no. 1
2. Children's songs no. 2, etc.
Instrumentation
Full Score
B-flat Soprano Saxophone I-II (II doubling Alto Saxophone)
E-flat Alto Saxophone
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone (optional: doubling Soprano Saxophone)
Errata
None discovered thus far.
Program Notes
Children's Songs by jazz pianist Chick Corea was originally composed for keyboard for a solo keyboard album of the same name. The collection mainly consists of short songs with simple themes that resemble the miniatures of Bela Bartok in his collection of piano pieces called Mikrokosmos. There is little development in the pieces, which capture a variety of melodies and moods.
Corea began writing the first song in 1971. In the preface of the annotated version Corea stated that he aimed "to convey simplicity as beauty, as represented in the Spirit of a child".
The version for saxophone quartet was arranged by Rob Buckland of the Apollo Saxophone Quartet.
- Program Note from Cleveland (Ohio) Winds Neo-Tessares Saxophone Quartet concert program, 21 March 2021
The Children’s Songs are the first collection of music I’ve written specifically for solo keyboard. I wrote the first song in 1971 to convey simplicity as beauty as represented in the spirit of a child. Song 1 through 15 were composed for the Fender Rhodes and 16 through 20 for the acoustic piano, although any of the songs can be played on either instrument. Songs 17 through 20 were composed during a one-month period in 1980, completing the series. The songs lend themselves nicely to various forms of expansion with orchestration.
- Program Note by composer
Media
(Needed - please join the WRP if you can help.)
State Ratings
None discovered thus far.
Performances
To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project
- Cleveland (Ohio) Winds Neo-Tessares Saxophone Quartet - 21 March 2021
Works for Winds by This Composer
- Children's Songs (arr. Buckland) (1971-1980/2014)
- Duet Suite (arr. Carrington) (1978/2018)
- Spain (Brass Quartet) (arr. Agioritis) (1973/1982/)
- Spain (Brass Quintet) (arr. Agioritis) (1973/1982/)
- Spain (Clarinet Choir or Quintet) (arr. Agioritis) (1973/1982/)
- Spain (Clarinet Quartet) (arr. Agioritis) (1973/1982/)
- Spain (Saxophone Quartet) (arr. Agioritis) (1973/1982/)
- Spain (Saxophone Quintet) (arr. Agioritis) (1973/1982/)
- Spain (arr. Marillia) (1973/1982/2004)
- Spain (arr. Murtha) (1973/1982/2017)
Resources
- Chick Corea website Accessed 20 March 2021
- Corea, C.; Buckland, R. (2014). Children's Songs [score]. Astute Music: [Sandbach, Cheshire].