 For the "Children's Pinafore" in 1879–80 and the "Children's Pirates" in 1884, Cellier transposed the song keys to fit each individual child's voice.The choruses, especially the string parts, were rearranged so that the children's voices could be heard, and orchestral accompaniment was provided for the normally unaccompanied numbers for the support of the young male voices.The theatrical newspaper "The Era" commented that although his other commitments left him short of time for composition, as a songwriter Cellier was "very favourably known".