Kalimba Sheet Music: Comptine d'un autre été (Amélie Poulain)

Do you love the classical piece Comptine d'un autre été composed by Yann Tiersen for the soundtrack to Le Fabuleux Destin d'Amélie Poulain? Wondering whether you can play this famous melody on your kalimba? You absolutely can—just follow the sheet music and tablature below.

Let’s jump right into it.

Play Comptine d'un autre été perfectly on your kalimba

To play the song from Amélie Poulain on your kalimba, there are two things to check first. The first is your ability to read and understand kalimba sheet music. It would be a shame to miss key details found in this type of notation. So if you feel you need it, learn how to read kalimba sheet music with our free, dedicated blog post.

Also, it’s strongly recommended to regularly check your instrument’s tuning. It’s an essential step to make sure every note is accurate and sounds harmonious, giving you the best playing experience possible.

Practice with your kalimba using a video of the song from Amélie Poulain

Have you ever found kalimba sheet music online with nothing but a series of numbers or letters? If so, you know it’s not easy to recreate the piece without a video demonstration. That’s why we always include a tutorial, so you have a clear example of what to play on your instrument.

We also recommend listening to the original version featured in Le Fabuleux Destin d'Amélie Poulain.

Make your life easier with an easy mbira score

The kalimba, also known as the mbira, is meant to be an accessible percussion instrument that even someone with no music theory background can pick up quickly. That’s exactly why simplified sheet music exists—here shown as a sequence of notes represented by numbers.

Choose sheet music with letters to learn Yann Tiersen's composition

You may have noticed that notes are sometimes written with letters instead of numbers. This notation, known as Batavian, can feel more intuitive for some players. That’s why we’re also providing a score with letters for Comptine d'un autre été just below.

Use tablature to improve your finger piano skills

Want to improve quickly with your kalimba? One of the best ways is to learn tablature, which gives you a clearer view of which tines to play, along with the length of notes and rests.

Easily print the sheet music from the film Amélie

Paper is still the gold standard for studying sheet music. That’s why we’re providing a free PDF file containing the sheet music and tablature for Comptine d'un autre été for the kalimba. You can print exactly what you need and learn this melody faster.

Who composed the song Comptine d'un autre été?

Comptine d'un autre été was composed by French musician and producer Yann Tiersen, born 23 June 1970 in Brest. Interested in music from an early age, he entered a conservatory at the age of 6 to study violin and piano. He began writing and composing in the 1990s, notably for plays and short films. He also released four albums before composing the soundtrack for Le Fabuleux Destin d'Amélie Poulain in 2001.

With the film’s massive box-office success, Yann Tiersen gained international recognition thanks to Comptine d'un autre été: l'Après-midi. The work earned double-gold certification and won the César Award for Best Music the following year, in 2002. Since then, he has performed far more frequently in concert and continues to release new albums on a regular basis.

What is the story of Amélie Poulain?

Le Fabuleux Destin d'Amélie Poulain is a romantic comedy by director Jean-Pierre Jeunet that follows the everyday life of Amélie Poulain, a 23-year-old woman played by Audrey Tautou, in Paris’s Montmartre neighbourhood. Working as a café waitress, she lives a quiet life, finding joy in small, simple pleasures.

Her life changes when she discovers an old metal box hidden behind a skirting board in her apartment decades earlier—filled with a little boy’s memories. Amélie Poulain then sets out to find the box’s rightful owner and return it to him. After she succeeds (without revealing her involvement), she realises the happiness she has sparked in a stranger and decides to keep quietly stepping into the lives of those around her to help them—seeing herself as a kind of Mother Teresa.

Boost your performance with a professional instrument

Because Amélie is one of the biggest successes in French cinema, it’s only natural that its remarkable soundtrack has become internationally known. Comptine d'un autre été is now a classic studied by many pianists. With our sheet music and tablature for this melody, you can recreate it on your 17-tine kalimba.

That said, this piece is demanding, and it’s hard to get a truly satisfying result without a quality instrument with strong acoustics. That’s why Instruments du Monde strongly recommends a professional-grade thumb piano, like this 17-tine model made from luxurious solid black walnut.

Start learning music with this kalimba by clicking on the image below:

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This melody is especially challenging on a thumb piano and does require a certain level of skill. If it feels out of reach for now, try a simpler tune like the Frère Jacques kalimba sheet music. Or explore our many other scores and tablatures for 17-tine kalimbas—you’re sure to find one that’s a great fit for your level.