Nursery Songs for soprano, baritone, oboe and piano

Date: 

June 1979

Duration: 

12 minutes

Instrumentation: 

  • Voice & Ensemble

Forces: 

Soprano, Baritone, Oboe (or Flute), Piano

Nursery Songs were written in June 1979 for Paul and Christine Barker, who gave the first performance at the Edinburgh Festival that summer. The texts are traditional English verses. 

1) Tom, the Piper’s Son

2) A Sequence: A Man in the Wilderness; Caution; Jack Jingle; In the Dumps; An Old Woman; Whose little pigs are these?

3) Over the Water

4) Little Miss Muffet

5) The Quaker’s Wife

I clearly remember my father writing this sequence of Nursery Songs in his study which was at that time at the top of the house in a tiny converted attic space. We used to laugh together at the surprise that terrifies Miss Muffet. I used to love listening to my father working out phrases on the upright piano as he composed.” Sophie Standford

Please contact the Patric Standford Estate for further information.

Performance: