Tico Tico is a Brazilian sparrow. The song that begins 'O tico tico' takes the metaphor of the sparrow in the cornmeal as a symbol of love: when you hear its call, it is time to woo. The Portuguese lyrics
Ravel wrote these three charming songs for unaccompanied chorus while waiting to be enlisted into the army during World War 1. The lyrics are Ravel's own, and offer plenty of scope for colourful composing.
The Twelve Keys Of Christmas was written as a fun and challenging version of the ever-popular, interminable carol, but with a key change every verse! Almost every major key is used, except for one