L’illa Blanca

L’illa blanca (The White Island) is a Christmas cantata for children’s choir, flute, violin, doublebass, piano and narrator, inspired in the poem by Josep Carner Balada de Nadal per a cantar-la els pirates de la mar (Christmas Ballad to be sung by the pirates of the sea). This piece tells the false legend in which the pirates are tasked with protecting the Three Wise Men in their journey to the White Island, an imaginary land where the poet tells us Jesus was born. Once there, the pirates give Jesus the presents they have made during their travels across the oceans. They stay in the island for ever, where they devote their time to making toys for all the children in the world. This cantata has an instrumental introduction, and five parts with the children’s choir singing unison. I think the music is not difficult to understand, and that the choir will be comfortable. Thorough vocal work with the choir is important. The musicians should be professionals so the whole ensemble can shine at its best.