These four appealing pieces, written for a children’s theatre, are as humorous as they are poetic. For the first two dances Pärt took stories from the brothers Grimm: Puss in Boots and Little Red Riding Hood. The characters and themes of the stories are so amusingly depicted in the piano writing they could be used as an accompaniment to actors. The poetic third dance, Butterflies, with its delicate fluttering effect in the right hand contrasts wonderfully with the last piece Dance of the Ducklings. After a happy and effortless swim the ducklings climb onto dry land and waddle about trying to dance. Intermediate pianists will find these early pieces of this most significant contemporary composer very worthwhile and thoroughly enjoyable.