Saturday 19 November 2022 The Olivier Hall, St Edward’s School

Songs from Childhood

Festival Children's Chorus and Ensemble

An ARVO PÄRT…and a Littlemore event

Arvo Pärt’s Songs from Childhood are among his earliest compositions, written when he was a student and earning pocket money by doing piano accompaniments at the theatre club of Tallinn’s ‘Palace of the Pioneers’. They are a delightful collection of pieces for children and have never before been performed in the UK in this new ensemble arrangement by Pärt’s friend Tauno Aints. We are giving the UK premiere of this special version with the help of local children: several choirs will take it in turn to perform some of the songs with the Festival Ensemble, and this fun, exciting concert will also include young pianists playing some of Pärt’s more ‘unusual’ works for piano…! Arvo Pärt believes that all children should have fun singing together; we are delighted to be doing our bit!

The Festival Children’s Chorus is comprised of the following choirs:
Caritas Children’s Choir
Jericho Youth Choir and the St Barnabas Choristers
Oxford City Young Singers
Oxford Youth Choirs
West Oxford Young Singers

This concert will be signed by a BSL interpreter.