B is for Butterfly

by Teresa Jennings

This is a very lovely song and one of our favorites, even though it only features the note B on recorder. It has a classic form: light and gentle beginning that builds to a peak in the middle and then winds down to the end. Despite that lack of complexity for recorders, we went ahead and suggested they attempt the crescendo into that peak (measure 25) and decrescendo after it (measure 33). They are even challenged a little bit to follow the ritard at the end of the piece. They will also need their listening skills to determine when their cut-off should occur. (Hint: listen to the cymbals and/or wind chimes.)

A PDF of the piano/recorder score is available as a free downloadable resource, in case you want to play this with your own live musicians or just have it as a reference.

Online extras - The free, downloadable score mentioned can be found under "Graphics and Extras" for Volume 21, No. 1 at MusicK8.com

Text is taken from Music K-8 magazine.