Between the Lines: “Pirates of the Cherry Tree” by Penny Rodriguez

Pirates of the Cherry Tree

It's a creative day of play as kids imagine themselves pirates on a grand outdoor adventure! Contemporary poet Nanci Milam pens a colorful course and a compelling cast of characters with a detailed account of their quest. Composer Penny Rodriguez adds a jaunty compound meter, cheerful minor key, and a few sudden dynamic changes to enhance the drama and capture the spirit.

Penny Rodriguez

Penny is a pianist, composer, and recording artist who began playing piano at the age of 6 in the jungles of Peru, where her parents served as missionaries. She earned a degree in piano performance from Moody/American Conservatory of Music. She lives in the Indianapolis area with her husband, Dave, where their biggest source of joy is spending time with their grandchildren. Learn more about Penny and see a full list of her Alfred Music publications here .

What inspired you to compose Pirates of the Cherry Tree?

When I first read this poem by Nanci Milam, I was immediately transported back to my childhood! I grew up in the jungles of Peru, South America, with very little but my imagination for company much of the time. Her incredibly descriptive words vividly brought back the wonder of creating elaborate scenarios in my head, being outdoors for hours on end, climbing trees, and reading voraciously because we didn't have TV or any other distractions. It may have been an odd childhood, but I'm enormously grateful for it now when I look back! Setting the poem to music was a joy as I just tried to capture the fun and creativity expressed in the words.

What teaching suggestions do you have to share for Pirates of the Cherry Tree ?

The possibilities are endless if you want to get creative with this piece. I could see something as simple as having cardboard cutouts of some of the characters in the song that the singers hold up at different points. Or perhaps a (silent) video could be made of kids acting out the song and that could be on a screen behind the singers as they sing it. Maybe some of the kids could be in costume in front of the choir and step out during "their" part.

What message do you have for singers learning this piece?

Let this song spark your creativity! Print off just the lyrics and let your imagination run wild as you put yourself in the mind of the "child" who wrote these words. You could almost come up with a whole movie in your head!

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