The Tempest – Caliban

We’re back!

We’re back in Paris, after two months of hibernation in England, during which we reached the final stages of our KinderBard project, and even found time for a pilgrimage to Stratford-upon-Avon, Shakespeare’s birthplace…

(By the way, how cool is it that Bob Dylan is releasing his new album next month to coincide with the 50th anniversary of his debut, and he’s calling this one: Tempest?)

I mention Bob Dylan because for me, he’s my other Bard, and you’ll see his influence in our song sung by Caliban (yes, coincidentally from The Tempest), which I wrote in an angry protest folk song style. We’ve already recorded the guitar (performed by the wonderful Olivier Villaudy) but we really wanted to add a harmonica, and a wonderful harmonica player returns to Paris from touring in early September, and we’ve booked him to come into the studio as soon as he returns.

Thereafter, we’re all set for our mastering session on September 3, after which all that’s left is to consolidate all our materials and send them off to the publisher.  Six to eight weeks later, you’ll see the fruits of our labour and your support, at the end of October as scheduled…

Just wanted to keep you in the loop!

Song List

We had a a rehearsal yesterday with our principal singers (they were both 4-year-olds, but yesterday Sherman turned five – the rehearsal took place after her birthday party…!) and we are so very excited for our upcoming studio session on Saturday, when we will be recording two of the most challenging songs, emotionally. They are “Alas, Poor Yorick” sung of course by Hamlet (Sohyun’s and Sherman’s favourite of all my songs so far), and “Butterflies” sung by Achilles from Troilus and Cressida, my personal favourite mostly because I think the structure and the lyrics are very elegant.

We have a feeling Julian’s going to be amazing!

So while we’re talking about songs, I thought I’d just note here the shortlist of all the songs we think will be in the album, Volume 1 of KinderBard: songs for children etc. etc. Many of you will have seen this list on our Kickstarter page, but I wanted to have it here too for posterity.

I Don’t Know What to Say sung by Cordelia from King Lear

It’s Not My Fault sung by Caliban from The Tempest

One Thing I Can’t Catch sung by Helena from A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Dirty Laundry sung by Falstaff from The Merry Wives of Windsor

I’m Going to Make You Love Me sung by Petruchio & Katherina from The Taming of the Shrew

You Treat Me Like a Football sung by Dromio of Ephesus from Comedy of Errors

A Horse with Wings sung by Imogen from Cymbeline

Alas, Poor Yorick sung by Hamlet from Hamlet

Crocodile Tears sung by Queen Margaret from Henry VI, part 2

What Is This Thing I Found? sung by the Old Shepherd & Perdita from The Winter’s Tale

Butterflies sung by Achilles from Troilus and Cressida

It’s Just a Name sung by Juliet from Romeo and Juliet

Smelly Dog sung by Launce from Two Gentlemen of Verona

I Don’t Like You, Really sung by Benedick & Beatrice from Much Ado About Nothing

Let’s Pretend (to Be Happy) sung by Rosalind from As You Like It

And here’s the video that originally accompanied this list – a little presentation about our creative process (including a sneak preview of our new song One Thing I Can’t Catch performed by Sherman)