I went to nursery school every day until the end of secondary school!’ Arvo Pärt says and pauses, staring slyly at his listener. ‘My mother worked at a nursery school in Rakvere, and I always went to visit her after my lessons.’ There, the future composer often sat at the piano and played or improvised for his little friends.

Arvo Pärt is a composer best known for his 'tintinnabuli' compositions. It is a lesser-known fact that in his earlier years as a composer, he also wrote children's songs and piano pieces along with music for plays and animated films. This volume, 'Songs from Childhood', contains a selection of Arvo Pärt's music for children from the period 1956-1970. In those years he was involved with several children's studios and theatres as the piano accompanist and composer. Most of his music for children came about by way of improvisation in rehearsals and was only later completed and put on paper. These pieces therefore retain all the spontaneity and playful spirit in which they were created. 'Songs from Childhood' includes a CD of the same name, providing recordings of the songs with new and colourful instrumental accompaniments in the roiginal Estonian language for your enjoyment. These new accompaniments, which are also included as backing tracks on the CD, were arranged by the composer Tauno Aints in collaboration with Arvo Pärt. The sheet music of these arrangements is also available. Full score UE36983, parts UE36984. The piano version doubles as a piano reduction.

Please note some books listed as containing CD have now been updated with an audio download. If you have a preference please contact us so we can confirm which edition is currently in use.