Anastasia Todd: Carl Orff Competition 2020 There was a little boat...

There was a little boat… brings to light the morbid and somewhat melancholic nature of the original Greek folksong, regardless of its bright and upbeat melody. The sustained notes in the string parts invite us to be transported to an expanse of vast horizons, and humbles us in the understanding that so many tales are indeed lost at sea. The Orff-Schulwerk pedagogy is recognisable from the methodical introduction of the choral melody, the non-melodic rhythm-based percussion, the melodic percussion for harmonic variation, as well as the opportunity for improvisation in the final stanza. The underlying playful melody is also supported by the strings in a way, which not only juxtaposes, but also fuses the child-like and professional aspects of There was a little boat….