The Golden Fish (1991)
Cantata for young singers, young instrumentalists, youth orchestra and narrator. c.45 minutes
Review from the Times Educational Supplement above.
first performed at the Corn Exchange, Ipswich, by South Suffolk Schools Music Association, conductor David Bramhall.
Based on a traditional Russian folk-tale, this cantata tells the story of an old and poor fisherman who catches a talking fish. The fish promises to grant his wishes if he will let it go free, and the fisherman’s wife realises that this is a golden opportunity to escape from their miserable existence, but her plans go too far! (The text may need a little updating for contemporary performance).
Scoring
Children’s singing voices in two parts
Children’s spoken voices
Recorders: Descants in 2 parts and Trebles: optional Sopraninos and Tenors
Percussion
Youth Orchestra (2,1,2,1/2,2,2/2 perc/piano/strs)
The orchestra can be replaced by a piano
Score and parts available from the composer