Prokofjew: Peter And The Wolf/Symphony No.3 [Import]

On this CD:

1. Peter and the Wolf, children's tale for narrator & orchestra, Op. 67
Composed by Sergey Prokofiev

Conducted by Ferdinand Roth

2. Symphony No. 3 in C minor, Op. 44
Composed by Sergey Prokofiev

Conducted by Jean Martinon

Tracks:

March Of The Tin Soldiers - Leon Jessel
Variations On 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Star' - Walter Klien
The Nutcracker: Dance Of The Reed Flutes - Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky
The Nutcracker: Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairy - Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky
The Sorceror's Apprentice - Paul Dukas
Peter And The Wolf (Extract) - Brandon de Wilde
Invention No. 8 In F Major - Christiane Jaccottet
Invention No. 11 in G Minor - Christiane Jaccottet
Invention No. 13 in A Minor - Christiane Jaccottet
Prelude And Fugue No. 21 In B Flat Major (Book 1) - Christiane Jaccottet
Sonata For 2 Pianos In D Major, K. 448, 1st Mvt. - Rudolf Firkusny
III. Allegretto - Walter Klien
Kinderszenen: Of Strange Lands And People - Walter Klien
Kinderszenen: Curious Story - Walter Klien
Kinderszenen: Entreating Child - Walter Klien
Kinderszenen: Perfect Happiness - Walter Klien
Introduction And Royal March - Marylene Dosse
The Elephant - Marylene Dosse
Kangaroos - Marylene Dosse
The Aquarium - Marylene Dosse
Cuckoo In The Woods - Marylene Dosse
Birds - Marylene Dosse
Fossils - Marylene Dosse
The Swan - Marylene Dosse
Finale - Marylene Dosse

Customer Reviews:

Children's Favorites a solid purchase.......2006-03-09

This CD mostly delivered what was expected of it. The only critique I have is that some of the tempos could have been cleaner, and that it should be cross-referenced by the other composers besides J. S. Bach.

The perfect package.......2005-10-23

This is the most wonderful collection to have on 1 CD. Children from birth on up can benefit from this musical collage.
Songs from the "Nutcracker" are familiar and comfortable for many children. What child wouldn't love "March of the Tin Soldiers?"
Selections from Saint-Saens' "Carnival of the Animals" is a must in my creative movement library. Every child should be exposed to this music. Well,I believe every age should be.

A Wonderful Introduction to the Classics.......2003-03-11

With total playing time clocking in at 78:04 minutes of music, you'll be paying about 6-cents/minute, which is a better bargain than long distance phone calls, and often more rewarding!

This disc is far superior than most other "Classics for Kids"-type recordings I've sampled for a number of reasons:

1) This album was expertly engineered. The production quality on this disc is first-rate from start to finish with crisp, clear sound.

2) The pieces were expertly picked. There is wonderful sonic variety here, spanning hundreds of years of wonderful melodies. There are orchestral pieces, harpsichord pieces, solo piano, and a piano concerto, capped off with Saint-Seans whimsical Carnival of the Animals. What kid (or adult) wouldn't love that?

3) The performances are, without exeption, expert! The pieces were definately screened for quality as well as content. Many are simply a joy to behold. Walter Klein is a particular stand-out, almost giddily prancing through Schumann's pieces. Believe it or not, he sounds even more impressive when backed up by the always inspiring Minnesota Orchestra on Mozart's Piano Concerto #17.

Tracks:

Overture To 'Tannhauser'
Domna, Pos Vos Ay Chausida
We Don't Merely Use Instruments, We Play On Them. And They Play On Us.
Hungarian Dance No.7
The Violin Is One Of The Most Tender And Beautiful Instruments Ever Invented.
Violin Concerto In D Major (Adagio)
But For A Long Time It Was Seen As The Instrument Of The Devil.
The Soldier's Tale: Triumphal March Of The Devil
The Manipulative Seductiveness Of The Gypsy Violin.
Csardas Music
The Violin And The Initiation Of Nature
The Four Seasons (Spring, Mvt 1)
Birds Are Again Evoked In The Second Concerto, Especially Music's Natural Favourite.
The Four Seasons (Summer, Mvt 1)
Like The Devil, The Violin Is A Master Of Disguise.
Old Viennese Dance No.3 'Schon Rosmarin'
The Menacing Sensuality Of Ravel's Tzigane: A Very Different Side Of The Violin:
Tzigane
Do We Now Have The True Measure Of This Instrument? Not Just Yet.
Caprice No.24
The Many Effects Of The String Tremolando: Brandenburg Concerto No.4 (Last Mvt)/From Joy To Fright/Quartettsatz In C Minor/The String Tremolo Practically Spells The World Agitato.
Variations On A Theme Of Frank Bridge (No.7)
Prokofiev's Tremolo In Romeo And Juliet Should Not Be Heard Just Before Bedtime.
Romeo And Juliet: Act IV
Vivaldi Use It To Illustrate The Shivering Of Travellers Crossing The Ice.
The Four Seasons (Winter, Mvt 1)
The Violin Muted
Clair De Lune
The Gentleness Of Muted Strings Persists Even When A Whole Orchestra Plays.
Piano Concerto No.21 In C Major, K.467 (Slow Mvt)
The Pizzicato Violin
Pizzicato Polka
In Prokofiev's Second Violin Concerto, The Accompaniment Is Pizzicato.
Violin Concerto No.2 In G Minor (Slow Mvt)
Varieties Of Pizzicato: Colas Breugnon (The People's Feast)/Now A Drier, Leaner, Hungrier Pizzicato. There's Not A Lot Of Comfort Here./Capriol Suite (Tordion)/The Use Of Pizzicato As 'Percussion'/Romeo And Juliet (Act I)/Mahler Used Pizzicato...
The Planets (Mars - The Bringer Of War)
The Technique Of Double-Stopping Enables The Violin To Play Duets With Itself./Sonata No.3 In C Major For Unaccompanied Violin (Fugue)/Now A Later Example Of The Same Technique
Hungarian Dance No.4
Double-Stopping Is A Standard Feature Of A Lot Of Folk Music.
The Four Seasons (Autumn, Mvt 1)
Now The Same Technique, But The Sound Might Have Come From Another World.
Bolero
Double-Stopping Can Only Approximate The Sound Of A Real Violin Duet.
Cadenza To The Violin Concerto By Brahms
Now Compare That With A Real Violin Duet.
Forty-Four Duos (No. 1: Teasing Song)
Another Duo By Bartok, Demonstrating The Violin's Rich Lower Register
Forty-Four Duos (No.2: Maypole Dance)
And Now What May Be The Most Beautiful Accompanied Violin Duet In History
Concerto In D Minor For Two Violins (Largo)
The Soul Of The Violin Is In Song; But What About This Weird Passage?
Violin Concerto No.1 In D Major (Mvt 2)
The Use Of Harmonies In The Orchestra Can Be Both Magical And Unsettling.
Symphony No.1 'Titan' (Mvt 1, Opening)
Tchaikovsky's Use Of Harmonics In The Sleeping Beauty Is Both Strange And Darling.
The Sleeping Beauty (Act II, No.15: Entr'Acte)
Ravel's Harmonics In Mother Goose Effect A Magical Transformation.
Ma Mere L'Oye - Mother Goose (Beauty And The Beast)
Stravinsky's Harmonics In The Firebird Transport Us Almost Into Another World./The Firebird (Introduction)
The Natural Upper Notes Of The Violins Have A Unique Emotional 'Grab'.
Also Sprach Zarathustra (Of The Afterworldsmen)
Still In Their Upper Register, The Violins Unleash The Energy Of A Young Colt.
Variations On A Theme Of Frank Bridge (No. 4)
Elsewhere, Britten Uses The Same High Register To Create A Very Different Mood.
Four Sea Interludes (Dawn) From 'Peter Grimes'
To End This Outing With The Violins, A Charming Little Elfin Dance
Elfenreigen

Tracks:

Introduction To The Viola
Viola Concerto (Mvt 1)
Khatchaturian Gets A Very Different Sound From It: Fuller, Fruitier, More Exotic.
Gayane Suite No.1 (Armen's Solo)
Very Nearly The Whole Of The Violin's Upper Register Is Also Available To The Viola.
Passacaglia, Op.33b From 'Peter Grimes'
The Viola Can Bring A Special, Rich Twanginess To Pizzicato That The Violins Lack./Don Quixote/Berlioz Drew Sounds From It That Retain Their Metallic Strangeness Even Today.
Harold In Italy (Mvt 4)
The Muted Viola: Intimate, Gentle, Poignant In Dvork
Cypresses (No.9)
The Massed Violas Of The Modern Symphony Orchestra In Mahler
Symphony No.4 (Mvt 3)
The 'Period' Viola In Bach
Brandenburg Concerto No.6 (Last Mvt)
The Cello: A Voice Of Unique Nobility
Suite No.1 For Unaccompanied Cello (Prelude)
Brahms And The 'Soul' Of The Cello
Piano Concerto No.2 In B Flat Major (Mvt 3)
Most Orchestral Composers Tend To Emphasize The Cello's Lower Register.
Cantata 'Herz Und Mund Und Tat Und Leben', BWV 147 (Soprana Aria: Bereite Dir, Jesu)
In The Time Of Beethoven The Cello Remained As Fundamental As Ever.
Symphony No.3 'Eroica' (Finale)
But The Cello Is Not Condemned To Spend Its Life In The Basement.
Elfentanz, Op.39
Not Only In Recital Showpieces Like That Is The Cello Is Used In Its Highest Register.
The Protecting Veil (Opening)
A Cello With An Identity-Crisis: The Pizzicato Flamencan
Flamenco
Double-Stopping In The Lower Reaches Of The Cello's Range
Solo Suiet For Cello And Piano (Sardana)
It's In The Middle Register That The Cello Really Comes Into Its Own.
Oriental Dance, Op.2 No.2
It Was To The Cellos That Beethoven Gave Two Of His Most Famous Themes./Symphony No.5 (Mvt 2)/Still More Famous Than That Theme Is This One From The Ninth Symphony.
Symphony No.9 (Finale)
Introduction To The Double-Bass
The Carnival Of The Animals (The Elephant)
But The Double-Bass Can Be Intensely Expressive And Graceful.
Elegy No.1 In D Major
The Range Of The Double-Bass Is The Greatest Of All The String Instruments/Allegro Di Concerto, 'Alla Mendelssohn'/And It's Also Capable Of Very Considerable Virtuosity.
Capriccio Di Bravura
Double-Bass Solos In Orchestral Scores Are Rare But Often Memorable./Symphony No.1 'Titan' (Mvt 3)/In His Third Symphony Mahler Makes A Very Different Use Of The Instrument./Symphony No.3 (Mvt 1)
The Double-Bass Muted In Prokofiev/Lieutenant Kije Suite (Kije's Wedding)/In Another Work Prokofiev Uses The Double-Bass To Enhance The Winds./Romeo And Juliet (Act III)/And He Combines The Bass Clarinet With A Shivering Tremolo From The Double-Basses....
Symphony No.5 (Mvt 3)/So Much For The Strings/On Now To The Winds

Tracks:

The Antiquity And Magic Of The Flute
Prelude A L'Apres-Midi D'Un Faune
The Versatility And Agility Of The Flute
Orchestral Suite No.2 In B Minor (Badinerie)
The Flute In Fifteenth-Century Spain
Sa'Dawi
Other Flutes: The Bass And Alto
Chamber Music No.II
The Piccolo - Aptly Named
La Naissance D'Osiris (Mvt 6)
From A Piccolo Of The Eighteenth Century To One Of Its Descendants In The Twentieth
Suite No.1 For Small Orchestra (Valse)
A Variety Of Techniques
Chamber Music No.II
Flutter-Tonguing. But Tchaikovsky Got There Eighty Years Before.
The Nutcracker (Act II, No.2: Scene)
From The Transverse To The Vertical: The Baroque Recorder
Recorded Suite In A Minor (Menuet II)
An Unfamiliar, Early Vision Of The Instrument
Naelden, Naelden
The Bachian Oboe
Cantata 'Ein Feste Burg Ist Unser Gott', BWV 80 (No.7: Duetto)
Introduction To The Cor Anglais Or 'English Born'
Symphony No.9 'From The New World' (Mvt 2)
The Loneliness Of The Cor Anglais
The Swan Of Tuonela
The Cor Anglais Joins The French Horn In Haydn.
Symphony No.22 'The Philosopher' (Opening)
Introduction To The Oboe D'Amore, Beloved Of Bach - But Also Of Ravel
Bolero
The Clarinet Family: Boxing The Compass, From The Depths Of The Bass Clarinet.../The Egyptian (Violence)/...To The Raucous And Squealy.../Taras Bulba (The Death Of Ostap)/...To The Shrill And Complaining...
Petrushka (No.8: Peasant With Bear)/...To The High Sprits Of A Playful Puppy./Symphonie Fantastique (Last Mvt)/And To The Downright Jazzy/Romeo And Juliet (Act II)
As The High Clarinets Tend To Be Loud, So The Bass Tends To Be Soft:
Gayane Suite No. 1 (Mvt 5)
The Bass Clarinet Is Used By Most Composers Mainly As A Colouring Agent.../Petrushka (No.4: The Blackamoor)/...But It Does Occasionally Get A Whole Tune To Itself./Iberia (Almeria).
The Range Of The Normal Clarinet Parts Goes Quite High...
The Snow Maiden (Scene 5: Melodrama)
...And Quite Low.
Peter And The Wolf (The Cat)
The Clarinet As Concerto Soloist
Clarinet Concerto In A Major (Rondo)
But That's Not The Instrument Mozart Wrote It For; This Is:
Clarinet Concerto In A Major (Rondo)
Introduction To The Saxophone
Hary Janos Suite (Mvt 4)
The Soprano Saxophone Has Quite A Different Feel To It.
L'Arlesienne Suite No.1 (Minuet)
The Little Sopranino Sax Goes Even Higher.
Bolero
The Most Famous Use Of The Saxophone Is In An Orchestration By Ravel.
Pictures At An Exhibition (The Old Castle)
The Saxophone Can Be Quite Contagiously Good-Humoured.
Sax-O-Phun
The Puffa-Puffa Image Of The Bassoon
Peter And The Wolf (Grandfather)
The Bachian Bassoon, In Accompanimental Mode
Cantata 'Weichet Nur, Betrubte Schatten' ('Wedding Cantata'), BWV 202 (Aria No.1)
Bizet Leaves The Puffa-Puffa Image Out, Allowing The Bassoon To Sing./Carmen Suite No.1 (Les Dragons D'Alcala)
And Ravel, Also In Spanish Mode, Does Likewise.
Bolero
The Bassoon As A Voice Of High Seriousness, Indeed Desolate Loneliness
Symphony No.3 (Opening)
The Eerie Bassoon In Its Highest Register
The Rite Of Spring (Opening)
Stravinsky Now Draws On Its Lowest Register, Lonely And Melancholy.
The Firebird Suite (1919, Berceuse)
The Bassoon As Concerto Soloist, Avoiding All Exaggeration
Bassoon Concerto In G Minor (Finale)
The Deep-Voiced Contra-Bassoon, As A Fairy-Tale Beast
Ma Mere L'Oye - Mother Goose (Beauty And The Beast)
The French Horn Under Its Woodwind Hat
Wind Quintet, Op.43 (Last Mvt)
Now A More Prominent Role, In A Woodwind Quintet From An Earlier Era
Wind Quintet In A Minor, Op.100 No.5 (Mvt 2)
The Horn In Harmonious Blend With Strings In Another Quintet
Horn Quintet, K.407 (Finale)

Tracks:

The Trumpet As Virtuoso Soloist
Brandenburg Concerto No.2 (Last Mvt)
The Special Brillance Of Paired Trumpets
Concerto In C For Two Trumpets, RV537 (Mvt 1)
The Ceremonial Trumpet
Fanfare For The Common Man
Trumpets And Drums - An Incomparable Alliance
Messiah (The Trumpet Shall Sound)
The Versatility Of The Trumpet, From The Most Public To The Most Lonely
Piano Concerto In F (Slow Mvt)
The Trumpet As The Voice Of The City/An American In Paris/The Trumpet As Recruitment Officer/The Soldier's Tale (The March)/The Trumpet As Swaggerer
Carmen Suite No.2 (Habanera)
The Trumpet As The Voice Of Strength And Courage
Carmet Suite No.2 (Toreador's Song)
The Trumpet Muted/Petrushka (No.4: The Blackamoor)/Lieutenant Kije Suite (Opening)/The Trumpet As The Voice Of Weariness
Billy The Kid
The Trumpet As Character Actor
Pictures At An Exhibition (No.6)
The Trumpet As The Voice Of God
Mass In B Minor ('Et Exspecto')
The Birth Of The Trombone
Aenmerckt Nu Hier
The Birth Of The Brass As A Family
Canzon 12 In Double Echo
The Trombone In The Eighteenth Century
Trombone Concerto In B Flat Major (Finale)
The Tone Of The Tenor Trombone/Romance For Trombone And Organ/The Memorable Voice Of The Bass Trombone/Requiem (Mvt 2)/But The Bass Trombone Is More Than An Instrumental Bullfrog.
Hosannah
The Trombones Become Part Of The Orchestra.
Symphony No.5 (Finale)
The Wagnerian Trombone:/Overture To 'Tannhauser'
The Trombone As Caricaturist
Pulcinella (No.19: Vivo)
The Trombone As Raspberry/Concerto For Orchestra (Intermezzo)
The Horn And The Hunt
Horn Concerto No.4 In E Flat, K.495 (Finale)
The Challenging Horn Of The Baroque
Abaris Ou Les Boreades (Menuet)
The Scarcity Of First-Rate Players In Handel's Time
Walter Music (Minuet 1)
The Horn As Magician/The Firebird Suite (1919, Finale)
Horns And The Sound Of Nobility
Overture To 'Tannhauser' (Opening)
The Special Sound Of The Horn In Its Higher Register
Mass In B Minor ('Quoniam Tu Solus Sanctus')
The Trumpet-Like Sound Of Massed Horns
Symphony No.3 (Mvt 1, Opening)
The Tuba - Unfairly Maligned?
Symphony No.6 (Mvt 3)
The Tuba Perfectly Cast By Ravel
Pictures At An Exhibition (Bydlo)

Tracks:

Introduction. And We Begin With A Bang.
Fanfare For The Common Man/The Bass Drum On The Battlefields/Wellington's Victory, Op.91 (Opening)
At The Opposite Extreme Is The Triangle.
Piano Concerto No.1 In E Flat (Scherzo)
Categories Of Percussion: Tuned And Untuned. The Side Drum
Overture To 'La Gazza Ladra' - The Thieving Magpie (Opening)
The Side Drum In An Effective But Unexpected Role/Clarinet Concerto (Mvt 1)
The Tambourine. One Of The Oldest Instruments In The World
Den Hoboecken Dans
Even Older Is The Originally Oriental Gong.
Ma Mere L'Oye - Mother Goose (Laideronette)
No Single Instrument Can Match The Gong In Evoking The Breaking Of Waves./Passacaglia, Op.33b From 'Peter Grimes'/But Gongs Don't Have To Be Struck To Be Effective.
Gymnopedie No.2
The Cymbals Are Generally Discovered Early In Life./The Sanguine Fan/And They Do More Than Clash Together Loudly. They Can Be Clashed Together Softly./Studio Example: But They Needn't Be Clashed Together At All/Studio Example: They Can Be Lightly...
Other Untuned Percussion Instruments Include The Whip.: Piano Concerto In G Major (Opening)/And Here Are No Fewer Than Twenty, Cracked By Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker (Act I, Scene 5)
More Versatile Than The Whip Are The Wood Blocks.../Studio Example/...Which Crop Up All Over The Place In Twentieth-Century American Music.
Rodeo (Hoe-Down)
Related To The Wood Blocks, By Sound, Are The Castanets./Jota Aragonesa/But The Castanets Were Also Used By Monteverdi Back In The Seventeenth Century.
Scherzi Musicali (Damigella Tutta Belle)
A Still Earlier Example From Fifteenth-Century Spain
Yo M'Enamori D'Un Aire
The Birth Of The Bongo
Symphonic Dances From 'West Side Story'
From The Streets Of New York To The Blacksmith's Shop/Il Trovatore ('Anvil Chorus')
Desert-Island Decibels: Grand Canyon Suite (On The Trail)/Arcana
From One Vegetable To Another: The Humble Squash, Or Marrow/Huapango
Onwards To The Tuned Percussion. First, The Timpani
Also Sprach Zarathustra (Introduction)
But The Drum Roll Can Be More Effectively Frightening Than The Big Bang.: Symphony No.2 'Resurrection' (Mvt 3)
Not One Drum Roll, But Many/Grand Canyon Suite (Sunrise)/Symphonie Fantastique (Last Mvt)
Taking Advantage Of Tunability
Music For Strings, Percussion And Celeste (Mvt 2)
The Russian Composer Rodion Shchedrin Takes A Downward Turn./Carmen Suite (Changing Of The Guard)/Tuned, Yes; But For The Truly Melodic We Must Look Elsewhere.
Introducing The Glockenspiel/Carmen Suite (Carmen's Entrance And Habanera)
Saint-Saens And The Xylophone
The Carnival Of The Animals (Fossils)
Ravel And The Xylophone
Ma Mere L'Oye - Mother Goose (Laideronette)
Introducing The Marimba/Carmen Suite (First Intermezzo)
Introducing The Vibraphone
The Treasure Of The Sierra Madre (Narange Dolce)
The Vibraphone Goes Russian.../Carmen Suite (Carmen's Entrance And Habanera)/...And Is Joined By The Marimba./Carmen Suite (Carmen's Entrance And Habanera)
Introducing The Hungarian Cimbalom
Folk Dances
The Cimbalom And The Symphony Orchestra
Hary Janos Suite (Mvt 3)
Introducing The Tubular Bells
Hary Janos Suite (Viennese Musical Clock)
A More 'Up-Front' Approach From Rodion Shchedrin
Carmen Suite (Introduction)
But The Bells Can Also Make The Sinister Even More Sinister./Symphony No.7 'Sinfonia Antartica' (Mvt 1)
Introducing The Celeste
The Nutcracker (Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairy)
Magic, In The Use Of Collective Percussion
Miroirs (La Vallee Des Cloches)
Plucked Instruments: The 'Undercover Percussion'/Carmen Suite (Scene)
A Prime Case In Point Is The Harp, Irresistible To The Romantics./The Nutcracker (Act II, No.1: Scene)/The Non-Solo Harp As An Integral Part Of The Orchestra/Hungarian Rhapsody No.1
The Traditionally Subservient Role Of The Harpsichord In The Baroque Orchestra
Brandenburg Concerto No.2 (Slow Mvt)
The Piano: King Of The Tuned Percussion/Symphony No.3 'Organ' (Mvt 3)/And A Quarter Of A Century After That:
Petrushka (Russian Dance)
The Anti-Romantic Piano As An Integral Part Of The Orchestra
Music For Strings, Percussion And Celeste (Last Mvt)

Tracks:

Keyboard Instruments In The Orchestra - The Most Powerful Of Them All:
Symphony No.3 'Organ' (Finale)
But Things In Handel's Day Were Very Different.
Organ Concerto In B Flat, Op.4 No.3 (Last Mvt)
The Organ Is Difficult To Classify.
An Unexpected, Organ-related Guest
Concerto Pour Zampogna (Last Mvt)
Peasant-Fancying... And A Touch Of The Roaming Cowboy
Les Miserables (Drink With Me)
Outside Artefacts And The Power Of Association
Mahler's Sleighbells
Symphony No.4 (Opening)
A Roll-Call Of Some Unusual Guests/The Typewriter/Parade
Chains, And More/Integrales/An American In Paris/Sandpaper Ballet
Purpose-Built Oddities: Wind Machines/Symphony No.7 'Sinfonia Antartica' (Opening)
Don Quixote (Variation VIII)
National Calling Cards: The Guitar For Spain/Concierto De Aranjuez (Finale)
And The Guitar's Poor American Relative, The Banjo/Washington Breakdown
And Poorer Still, The Mouth Organ/The Treasure Of The Sierra Madre (Packing Up)
The Balalaika For Russia/Romeo And Juliet (Act II: No.14)
The Maracas For Mexico/The Treasure Of The Sierra Madre (El Desayuno)
The Bongos And Congas And A Whole Wealth Of Other Drums For Africa And Central America/Studio Example
The Sitar Of India/Evening Raga: Bhapoli
The Accordion For France (Especially Paris)/Paris Canaille
The Zither For Vienna/The Third Man (Theme)
The Cimbalom For Hungary/Folk Dances
The Guitar As An Integral Part Of The Orchestra/Rondena
There Are Whole Orchestras Of Balalaikas./Sveit Mesiats
The Effect Of The Wordless Human Voice, Used Purely As An Instrument/Symphony No.7 'Sinfonia Antartica' (Mvt 1)
Nocturnes
Instruments And the Imitation Of Nature. The Clarinet As Cuckoo
The Carnival Of The Animals (The Cuckoo)
The Flute As An All-purpose Aviary
The Carnival Of The Animals (The Aviary)
The Oboe As Duck
Peter And The Wolf (The Duck)
The Recording Of Reality. Does It Work As Well?
The Pines Of Rome (The Pines Of The Janiculum)
The Recording Of Reality Electronically Reborn In New Guises
Cantus Articus - Concerto For Birds And Orchesra (Mvt 2)
Beethoven Turns Avian: Cuckoo, Nightingale, And Quail
Symphony No.6 'Pastoral' (Andante Molto Mosso)
Some Improbable Casting: The Violin As Braying Donkey
The Carnival Of The Animals (Persons With Long Ears)
A Truly Orchestral Hee-haw To Be Reckoned With
Overture To 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'
A Thunderstorm In A Million
Symphony No.6 'Pastoral (Allegro-Allegretto)
the Instrumental Depiction Of A Silent World
The Carnival Of The Animals (The Aquarium)
Saint-Saens' Menagerie Takes A Curtain Call.
The Carnival Of The Animals (Finale)

Tracks:

The Grouping Of Instrumental Families. An Additive Approach. First, Two Violins
Forty-Four Duos (No.4)
A Great Contrast, Of Both Pitch And Character: Violin And Viola
Duo For Violin And Viola In B Flat Major, K.424 (Finale, Vars 1 & 2)/Studio Example
Arrival Of The Standard String Trio: Violin, Viola, And Cello
String Trio In B Flat (Menuetto)
The String Quartet: Two Violins, Viola, And Cello
String Quartet In F, Op.18 No.1 (Mvt 3)
The String Quintet - When The Extra Instrument Is A Second Viola
String Quartet No.5 In D, K.593 (Adagio)
The String Quintet - When The Extra Instrument Is A Second Cello
String Quintet In C (Mvt 3)
The String Sextet: Two Violins, Two Violas, And Two Cellos
String Sextet In B Flat (Mvt 2)
The String Octet: The Standard String Quaret Times Two
Octet In E Flat, Op.20 (Mvt 1)
Double The String Octet: A Fully Fledged String Orchestra
String Symphony No.2 (Finale)
The Massed Strings Of A Symphony Orchestra
Fantasia On A Theme Of Thomas Tallis
Contrasts Of Pitch And Instrumental 'Colour' In The Woodwind Section
Wind Quintet In A Minor, Op.100 No.5 (Theme)
In The First Variation It's The Horn That Gets The Lion's Share.
Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 1
In Variation Two The Torch Is Handed To The Bassoon.
Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 2
In Variation Three The Oboe Leads.
Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 3
Variation Four: Conversation Before Returning To A Solo-dominated Texture
Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 4
And Variation Five is Dominated By The Clarinet.
Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 5
The Next To Be Featured Is The Virtuoso Flute.
Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 6
Individual Farewells And A Closing Chorus
Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 7
A Mixed Group: Clarinet, Bassoon, Horn, String Quartet, And Double-Bass
Octet In F (Mvt 3)
The Early Classical Symphony Orchestra Of Haydn And Mozart
Symphony No.29 In A, K.201 (Finale)
Strings, Wind, But No Brass. What Haydn And Mozart Never Knew
Canzon 28
Beethoven's Fifth: Two Horns, Two Trumpets, And Three Trombones Join The Team.
Symphony No.5 (Finale)
From Beethoven To The Massive Orchestras Of Berlioz, Wagner, And Mahler
Beethoven Changed The Face Of The Symphony And The Orchestra Forever
Symphoy No.6 'Tragic' (Mvt 1)
The Cult Of Orchestral Elephantiasis Reaches Its Peak.
Symphony No.1 'Gothic' (VI: Te Ergo Quaesumus)
When Large Doesn't Necessarily Mean Loud: Debussy
Images (Gigues)
A Crisis Of Confidence; The Orchestra's Survival Hangs In The Balance, But It Still Develops. The Ondes Martenot:
Turangalila Symphony (Chant D'amour 1)
The Advent Of The 'Early Music' Movement Brings A New Vitality And Freshness.
Balle De Xerxes (Gavotte En Rondeau)
Computer And Synthesiser: Friends Or Foes?
Concerto In D Minor For Two Violins (Largo)
A Speculative Look Ahead/Mass In B Minor ('Dona Nobis Pacem')

Customer Reviews:

Instruments of the Orchestra - Great Reference Material!.......2007-04-04

This set lends itself to greatly enhancing one's knowledge of the orchestra, instruments in it, and their usage. I am a huge music buff, and I still picked up a great deal I previously did not know. I highly recommend this for all who wish to understand the origin of music, as well as the processes that are employed to create music!

Beginner or Expert.......2007-03-12

This CD is excellent for the beginner or expert! To be able to haear the instrumets separately and then together really provides a good education. and/or refresher. The book thaty comes with the CD is alomost worth the price by itself!

Very Informative and Enjoyable.......2006-11-20

Whether you're a music novice or pro, "The instruments of the Orchestra" is a very worthwhile purchase. The 7 CDs, with a total of 8 hours, are expertly narrated by Jeremy Siepmann. He's a great speaker, very much like the late Leonard Bernstein was. Mr. Siepmann takes you on an unforgetable musical journey covering the origins and use of the various orchestral instruments throughout musical history. The balance between his narration and a wealth of musical examples, which range from snippets to entire movements, is superb. The comprehensive enclosed booklet is excellent and faithfully follows the 7 CDs in content. Even with my 40+ years of music training I still learned new things from this wonderful collection. Considering the excellence of the content, and a cost that translates to about $5 per disc, this collection is a great value. Grab it, you won't regret that you did. Five solid stars!

Frank's view.......2006-08-19

This boxed set of CD's with booklet achieved all I had hoped that it would. There are good samples of individual instruments and well done commentary on each. The only drawback was that some of the samples were too brief and could have been longer, hoiwever I guess this fits in with time constraints of the medium. It has given me a lot of clues as to future purchases of CD's for listening to individual instruments. Altogeth a satisfactory purchase and a welcome addition to my collection.

Excellent Intro for Those Not Familiar with the Orchestra.......2003-11-08

I've listened to classical music for years and am interested in composition. I bought this CD set to learn how an orchestra and its instruments work. I thought the CDs would be a nice but boring lecture. They aren't! Not only are they FUN but they are informative as well. I learned a huge amount from each CD and couldn't wait to listen to the next one.

The narrator and writer is a great speaker and holds your attention well. He is definitely knowledgeable. He provides musical examples for each point he makes, so you get to "hear" what he just talked about. I'd say the CDs are about 65% music and 35% narration. You'll learn about the range of instruments, some history, different ways to play them, how they sound, and how they are used in the orchestra. This CD set was a great learning experience and is sold at such a low price!

I recommend this CD for those who want to learn about classical music and those who know about it but are interested in learning more about the inner workings of an orchestra. You'll learn much useful information. For instance, the Rite of Spring (with that eerie start) is written for bassoon! I never knew a bassoon could sound like that but now I do.

Tracks:

Eine Kleine Nachtmusik: Allegro
The Nutcracker: Russian Dance
The Nutcracker: Dance Of The Toy Flutes
Flight of the Bumblebee
Cannon in D Major
Sabre Dance
Happy Farmer
Pictures At An Exhibition: Promenade (Excerpts)
Pictures At An Exhibition: Ballet Of The Chickens In Their Shells
On The Beautiful Blue Danube (Excerpts)
Fse
Trout Quintet In A Major (Theme & Variations) - Schubert
The Syncopated Clock
The Typewriter
Rhapsody in Blue (Excerpts)
Spring Song In A Major - Mendelssohn
Lullaby

Tracks:

Peter And The Wolf - Classics For Kids
The Toy Symphony - Classics For Kids

Customer Reviews:

My 3 yr old loves it!.......2007-03-17

This is one of my three year old's top requests for listening. She simply loves it; She hums along and can name most of the songs. I am vey pleased.

My baby loves this CD!.......2006-11-05

Of all the many CDs we were given, this is my baby's favorite. Unlike most CDs of classical music for babies, this isn't just smooth, soft music. It does have some of that, but it also has more exciting pieces like the bouncy Nutcracker music, The Flight of the Bumble Bee, and The Sabre Dance. My baby bounces and dances to this music happily. And once she's a bit older, I'm sure she's going to love "Peter the Wolf," narrated by Jack Lemmon.

A Reasonable Collection.......2004-08-11

This is a reasonable selection of works to start with as a child's introduction to Classical music. There are two main flaws - a handful of the pieces are performed rather poorly and the sound quality is muffled. But keeping the intended audience in mind and the price, it's not a bad value.

Average customer rating:

Almost really good.
An excellent primer on the iconclastic Russian composer

Prokofiev: Greatest Hits

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

Modern & 20th Century | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Cantatas | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

$6.99 and Under | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music

All Classical Music Blowout | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music

Opera & Vocal | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music

Classical Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music

Opera & Vocal | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music
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Rimsky-Korsakov: Greatest Hits
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Liszt: Greatest Hits

ASIN: B000002C5X
Release Date: 1995-11-14

Tracks:

The Love For Three Oranges: III. March. Tempo di marcia
Lieutenant Kijymphonic Suite: I. The Birth of Kij
Lieutenant Kijymphonic Suite: II. Romance
Lieutenant Kijymphonic Suite: III. Kij Wedding
Lieutenant Kijymphonic Suite: IV. Troika
Lieutenant Kijymphonic Suite: V. Kij Funeral
Romeo and Juliet, Suite No. 2, Op. 64b: The Montagues and Capulets
Symphony No. 1 in D Major, Op. 25 'Classical Symphony': III. Gavotta. Non troppo allegro
Romeo and Juliet, Op. 64: Morning Serenade
Alexander Nevsky, Cantata, Op. 78: Song about Alexander Nevsky
Overture on Hebrew Themes for Clarinet, String Quartet and Piano, Op. 34a
Peter And The Wolf, Op. 67: Introduction
Peter And The Wolf, Op. 67: 'Look out!'
Peter And The Wolf, Op. 67: 'No sooner...'
Peter And The Wolf, Op. 67: 'And now...'
Peter And The Wolf, Op. 67: 'So there's the story...'
Symphony No. 5 in B-flat Major, Op. 100: IV. Allegro giocoso

Customer Reviews:

Almost really good........2006-06-30

I love Prokofiev. But I hate Yank crap. It has spoiled a great compilation. It was beautiful, up until 'Peter and the Wolf', one of my favourite adventures. But then along came an American narrator explaining the story. Why is there this 'Disney' crap amidst some beautiful music? (All respects to Walt).
'Lieutenant Kije' is one of the best stories produced by humanity of a man who did not exist throughout his birth, marriage and death. Don't let this piece of brilliance be swamped by crap.
A good compilation, but I strongly suggest you go for untainted versions of Prokofiev.
P.S. The Daleks will eventually conquer staircases. Be warned. Three oranges are not enough.

An excellent primer on the iconclastic Russian composer.......2001-08-12

I have to admit I was a bit disappointed there was nothing from Prokofiev's Piano Concerto No. 3, which is what the Amy Irving character played in the film, "The Competition." I also think it is one of the iconoclastic composer's finest works. What you will find on this collection are a lot of excerpts from his score for the film "Lieutenant Kije" and symphonic fairy tale "Peter and the Wolf." Again, I am surprised there is nothing here from his film scores for "Alexander Nevsky" or "Ivan the Terrible." My favorite "new" piece that I discovered on this CD would be the March from "The Love for Three Oranges," although I also like the excerpt from Prokofiev's Classical Symphony in D Major. Despite my personal preferences, I have to admit this collection is a very nice introduction to the music of Sergei Sergeivich Prokofiev.

Prokofiev: Peter And the Wolf/March In B Flat Major/Overture On Hebrew Themes/Classical Symphony

Average customer rating:

Peter
Plentiful Prokofiev
Sting was the only disappointment
The classical Symphony, an exercise in speed
Great fun for kids

Prokofiev: Peter And the Wolf/March In B Flat Major/Overture On Hebrew Themes/Classical Symphony
Sergey Prokofiev , Claudio Abbado , Chamber Orchestra Europe , Stefan Vladar , and Sting
Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

Modern & 20th Century | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Marches | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

Deutsche Grammophon: Music | Specialty Stores | Music
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Prokofiev: Peter and the Wolf; Saint-Saëns: Carnival of the Animals
Prokofiev: Peter And The Wolf/Saint-Saëns: The Carnival Of The Animals
Prokofiev: Alexander Nevsky / Abbado
Stravinsky Conducts Stravinsky: Firebird-Complete/Scherzo/Firework

ASIN: B000001GCF
Release Date: 1991-05-07

Tracks:

March In B Flat, op.99: March In B Flat, op.99 - Allegro
Peter And The Wolf Op. 67 A Musical Tale For Children: 'Let Me Tell You A Story'
Peter And The Wolf Op. 67 A Musical Tale For Children: 'Early One Morning Peter Opened The Gate...' Andantino
Peter And The Wolf Op. 67 A Musical Tale For Children: 'On A Branch Of A Big Tree Sat A Little Bird, Peter's Friend.' Allegro - Andantino, come prima
Peter And The Wolf Op. 67 A Musical Tale For Children: 'Just Then A Duck Came Waddling Round.' L'istesso tempo
Peter And The Wolf Op. 67 A Musical Tale For Children: 'Suddenly Something Caught Petter's Attention: He Noticed A Cat...' Moderato - Allegro, ma non troppo - Moderato
Peter And The Wolf Op. 67 A Musical Tale For Children: 'Grandfather Came Out.' Poco Piu andante - Andantino, Come Prima - Andante -Andante
Peter And The Wolf Op. 67 A Musical Tale For Children: 'No Sooner Had Peter Gone, Than A Big Grey Wolf Came Out Of The Forest...' Andante molto - Nervoso - Allegro - Meno mosso - Andante - Allegretto - Moderato
Peter And The Wolf Op. 67 A Musical Tale For Children: 'Peter, In The Meantime, Stood Behind The Closed Gate...' Andantino, come prima - Vivo - Andante molto - Vivo - Andante
Peter And The Wolf Op. 67 A Musical Tale For Children: 'Meanwhile, Peter Made A Lasso With His Rope, Carefully Letting It Down...' Poco meno mosso - Moderato (Meno mosso)
Peter And The Wolf Op. 67 A Musical Tale For Children: 'Just Then...Out Of The Woods Came The Hunters.'
Overture On Hebrew Themes Op.34b: Un Poco Allegro
Classical Symphony Op. 25: 1. Allegro
Classical Symphony Op. 25: 2. Larghetto
Classical Symphony Op. 25: 3. Gavotta: Non troppo allegro
Classical Symphony Op. 25: 4. Finale: Molto Vivace

Customer Reviews:

Peter.......2007-05-29

I like how this story talks about Peter and the Wolf with words and after they say the words, it's just music. There is one song at the beginning that doesn't have any words at all and about four songs at the end that don't have words at all, either. I like how they explain the characters and the instruments that play them.

Plentiful Prokofiev.......2006-09-16

Though at times overshadowed by fellow Russian-born composers Stravinsky, Shostakovich, and Rachmaninoff when it comes to 20th century music, Sergei Prokofiev demonstrated that he had a place in the music of that war-riddled century. This can be clearly demonstrated on this recording by Claudio Abbado and the Chamber Orchestra of Europe of four of this composer's works, two of which have always held permanent places in the repertoire.

Both the Overture On Hebrew Themes and the March In B Flat are shorter works, with the overture being the product of Prokofiev's association with fellow Russians in New York who introduced him to Jewish tunes, and the March seeming to be a concession to that great sage of Iron Curtain political correctness, Joseph Stalin. But while they are shorter pieces, and thus overshadowed by the other two works on the CD, they are fine examples of Prokofiev's experimental style and his ability to conform (whenever possible) with the desires of the Soviet state.

Of course "Peter And The Wolf" has held a place in many people's hearts because it was a work that exposed children to classical music for the first time via its story of a young boy who takes it upon himself to hunt for a dangerous wolf. Each character is represented by different instruments (or groups thereof) in the orchestra, while a narrator (in this case, former Police frontman Sting) depicts the proceedings through the medium of the spoken word.

Then there's the composer's crisp Symphony No. 1, the "Classical Symphony", so-called because Prokofiev wanted to see if he could create a 20th century symphony that utilized the capacities found in the late 18th century symphonies of Haydn and Mozart. He succeeded beyond his wildest dreams, as the symphony became one of the most popular of its type and its century.

Abbado and the Chamber Orchestra of Europe bring Prokofiev's four creations to vivid life, with Sting's narration of "Peter And The Wolf" being very lively (and matching his fellow Brit David Bowie's 1977 narration of the work with Eugene Ormandy and the Philadelphia Orchestra). The March and the Hebrew Themes overture are handled with a not insubstantial amount of wit, and the interpretation here of the Classical Symphony matches three other interpretations in my collection (Previn's L.A. Philharmonic recording of 1986; Gerard Schwarz's L.A. Chamber Orchestra recording of 1980; and Bernstein's 1968 version with his New York Philharmonic). Very highly recommended.

Sting was the only disappointment.......2005-12-12

Growing up with the 1963 DG recording of Peter and the Wolf performed by the French National Orchestra and narrated by Alec Clunes soured me on this rendition. I would say, however, that all of the performances without Sting's over-the-top narration are fabulous. The performance of the music in the story portion was on the same level as that in the older recording, but with a sound that suggested a lot of post-production level mixing (which is a bit of a turn-off in classical.) It was Sting's rewording and overacting that really killed the story portion of this album.

The classical Symphony, an exercise in speed.......2002-08-10

Prokofiev in this symphony does not try to innovate with his times but to bring classical formulas up to his times. But he uses his music to create a devilish rhythm that never stops. He uses the strings to lead the way of an everlasting hunt or chase that is so rapid and so dynamic that we are made dizzy by this infernal race. So we let ourselves go into the movement and we just enjoy the trip. We probably can say there is no inner and hidden meaning in all this running, and yet this is in perfect phase with our everspeeding world. We always go faster and run after dreams or goals that are never realized or reached. We maybe can see a slight ironical comment on our willful and powerful world that forces us into overworking, overspeeding, overliving. We kind of sigh with relief when it is all over. Could we turn off our world that takes us so fast on such accelarating and greasy rails ? A beautiful music for a trip into speedoland.

Dr Jacques COULARDEAU

Great fun for kids.......2001-02-16

This rendition of Peter and the Wolf is lots of fun. Sting uses different voices for each character, but I only wish we heard more from the duck (his best). As a Police fan of old, I get a kick out of hearing Sting's very proper British accent. The music is likewise wonderful, and my children enjoy chasing each other around the house playing and singing the different animals. The only complaint I have is that the range of dynamics is too broad. If you play it loud enough to hear the narration, the bird (flute), and cat (clarinet) clearly, then the wolf (horn section) is too loud for comfort. When I listen in the car, I have to keep my hand near the volume dial. Still, the overall quality of this recording is excellent, and I highly recommend it.

Average customer rating:

Prokofiev: Favourite Orchestral Suites

Manufacturer: Philips
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

Modern & 20th Century | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B000004197
Release Date: 1994-08-16

Tracks:

The Love For Three Oranges - Symphonic Suite, Op. 33 bis: Les ridicules
The Love For Three Oranges - Symphonic Suite, Op. 33 bis: Le magicien Tchelio et Fata Morgana jouent aux cartes
The Love For Three Oranges - Symphonic Suite, Op. 33 bis: Marche
The Love For Three Oranges - Symphonic Suite, Op. 33 bis: Scherzo
The Love For Three Oranges - Symphonic Suite, Op. 33 bis: Le prince et la princesse
The Love For Three Oranges - Symphonic Suite, Op. 33 bis: La fuite
Romeo and Juliet, Op. 64: Montagues And Capulets
Romeo and Juliet, Op. 64: The Girl Juliet
Romeo and Juliet, Op. 64: Masks
Romeo and Juliet, Op. 64: Minuet
Romeo and Juliet, Op. 64: Father Lawrence
Romeo and Juliet, Op. 64: Dance
Romeo and Juliet, Op. 64: Dance Of The Maids
Romeo and Juliet, Op. 64: A Scene
Romeo and Juliet, Op. 64: Tybalt's Death
Romeo and Juliet, Op. 64: Romeo And Juliet Before Parting
Romeo and Juliet, Op. 64: Romeo At Juliet's Tomb
Symphony No. 1 In D, Op. 25 'The Classical Symphony': Allegro
Symphony No. 1 In D, Op. 25 'The Classical Symphony': Larghetto
Symphony No. 1 In D, Op. 25 'The Classical Symphony': Gavotta - Non troppo allegro
Symphony No. 1 In D, Op. 25 'The Classical Symphony': Finale - Vivace

Tracks:

Lieutenant Kije - Symphonic Suite, Op. 60: Naissance de Kije
Lieutenant Kije - Symphonic Suite, Op. 60: Romance
Lieutenant Kije - Symphonic Suite, Op. 60: Noces de Kije
Lieutenant Kije - Symphonic Suite, Op. 60: Troika
Lieutenant Kije - Symphonic Suite, Op. 60: Enterrement de Kije
Peter And The Wolf, Op. 67: Peter And The Wolf, Op. 67 - A Musical Tale For Children
Ala And Lolly - Scythian Suite, Op. 20: L'adoration de Veles et d'Ala
Ala And Lolly - Scythian Suite, Op. 20: Le dieu ennemi et la danse des esprits noirs
Ala And Lolly - Scythian Suite, Op. 20: La nuit
Ala And Lolly - Scythian Suite, Op. 20: Le depart glorieux de Lolly et le cortege du soleil

Average customer rating:

clever...funny...and dare I say, rocking?

Pincus and the Pig: A Klezmer Tale

Manufacturer: Tzadik
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Russia | Far East & Asia | International | Styles | Music

General | International | Styles | Music

Israel | Middle East | International | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B0002XL2F2
Release Date: 2004-10-19

Tracks:

Introductions
Did You Hear Of Boychick Pincus?
The Duck And Birdie
Suddenly, Pincus Spied A Cat...
Zeyde Comes Out
No Sooner Had They Disappeared Inside...
So Now, This Is How Things Stood
Fly Down And Tease The Pig...
Suddenly Cossacks Sprang Out Of The Woods
Now, Imagine The Triumphant Procession
And If You Listen Very Carefully...
Scheherezade
Waltz
Gnoissienne No. 4
Mazzesinsel Strut

Amazon.com

John Zorn's Tzadik label is known for putting out, among other things, a variety of radical Jewish music projects, but there is nothing radical about Pincus And The Pig. Here the Shirim Klezmer Orchestra teams up with noted illustrator and children's book author Maurice Sendak (Where The Wild Things Are) for a decidedly Yiddish retelling of Sergei Prokofiev's Peter And The Wolf. The band (which also did Klezmer Nutcracker) plays a fun style of traditional klezmer with original instrumentation, but it's Sendak who really ups the ante by rewriting the story and narrating it with the hammed-up flair of a favorite Jewish uncle as he tosses in such colorful expressions as "Meshuga" and "Nudnik." (A booklet accompanies the album so listeners and follow along, and there's also a glossary of the terminology.) Sendak also does the artwork, which includes drawings of the characters, and kids even get stickers of the characters. Yes, the kitsch factor on this Bubeleh is up there, but everyone involved seems to be having fun with it, and so should listeners. -- Tad Hendrickson

Customer Reviews:

clever...funny...and dare I say, rocking?.......2006-08-31

The concept is quite simple--John Zorn's label, Tzadik, aside from putting out CDs of intriguing music from Japan, also devotes a whole section of its catalog to promoting contemporary Jewish music. Aside from John Zorn's own band, Masada, Tzadik has put out wonderful titles from Jewish composers and music that is deeply connected to (while advancing the cause of) Jewish culture.

This release is no exception. In this, Shirim Klezmer Orchestra work with Maurice Sendak to convert Prokofiev's "Peter and the Wolf" to a klezmer-backed Jewish folktare version, "Pincus and the Pig." The format is all the same--from the instrumental introductions, to the tale being sliced apart by musical interludes, but of course with a Yiddish edge. Sendak himself narrates in the tone of an old storyteller, and he plays with both Yiddish terms and Jewish mannerisms.

While some may look at this disc as a cheapening of Jewish culture in making it fit the form of classical music rather than staying entirely "pure," keep in mind that this is from Tzadik's Radical Jewish Culture series, the philosophy of which is to explore (and expand) the boundaries of Jewish music. This disc, taken as a musical offering rather than cultural one, is just plain fun, with Sendak telling the cossack hunters to "stop shooting everything already," and spitting out some nice Yiddish phrases. Shirim rocks out the klezmer, also in some separate tracks at the end of the CD, and keep the overall tone of this disc lively and avoidant of serious analysis--Pincus and the Pig is a fun, danceable romp even (or should I say especially) for the kids.

Average customer rating:

A Great Affordable Collection
Getting Past the Cover Art!
Great Music for a Long Drive

Mad About Mad About

Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Ballets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Waltzes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Compilations | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Noels | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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Mad about The Classics
Mad about Piano
Mad About Violins
Mad About Bach
Mad About Guitars

ASIN: B000001GPA
Release Date: 1994-09-20

Tracks:

Thus Spake Zarathustra: Mad About The Classics: Sunrise
William Tell Overture: Mad About Cartoons: Finale ('The Band Concert')
Eine kleine Nachtmusik: Mad About Mozart: 1. Allegro
Symphony No. 5 In C Minor: Mad About Beethoven: 1. Allegro con brio
The Four Seasons - 'Spring': Mad About Vivaldi: 1. Allegro
Adagio In G Minor: Mad About Baroque: Adagio In G Minor
Turandot: Mad About Tenors: Nessun dorma
La Traviata: Mad About Sopranos: Sempre libera
The Ride Of The Valkyries (Die Walkure): Mad About Wagner: The Ride Of The Valkyries (Die Walkure)
Mad About Violins: Zigeunerweisen (Gypsy Airs)
Symphonic Dances From 'West Side Story': Mad About American Music: Prologue
The Blue Danube - Excerpt: Mad About The Waltz: The Blue Danube - Excerpt
Intermezzo (Cavalleria Rusticana): Mad About Romance: Intermezzo (Cavalleria rusticana)
Una furtiva lagrima (The Elixir Of Love): Mad About Opera: Una furtiva lagrima (The Elixir Of Love)
Madama Butterfly: Mad About Puccini: Un bel di

Tracks:

Really Mad About The Classics: A Midsummer Night's Dream (Wedding March)
Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 In F Major: Mad About Bach: 3. Allegro assai
Mad About Movies: Canon (Father Of The Bride)
Dedication Of A Church-Chants For The Mass: Mad About The Monks: Sanctus XII
Mad About Guitars: Cavatina
'Moonlight' Sonata: Mad About Piano: Adagio sostenuto
Rhapsody In Blue: Mad About Gershwin: Andante And Finale
The Nutcracker: Mad About Tchaikovsky: Waltz Of The Flowers
Mad About Christmas: Carol Of The Bells
Grande Valse Brillante: Mad About Chopin: Grande Valse brillante
Mad About Romantic Piano: Clair de Lune
Horn Concerto No. 4 In E Flat: More Mad About Mozart: 3. Rondo
The Barber Of Seville: Mad About Movies (The Sequel): Largo al factotum
Il Trovatore: Mad About Italian Opera: Anvil Chorus
1812 Overture: Mad About The Orchestra: Finale
Peter And The Wolf: Mad About Kids' Classics: Finale

Customer Reviews:

A Great Affordable Collection.......2006-12-12

I played some selections from this CD at a meeting of some music fans. They were amazed at the quality of the selections. Classical music can be intimidating, but it can be a lot of fun, too.

Getting Past the Cover Art!.......2001-08-28

Well I'm not sure who's responsible for the CD cover art, but once you get past that, the music included on this CD is a wonderful intro to opera and classical music in general, and a wonderful reward to those who are already aficionados (hope I speeled tht write). All kidding aside, you're getting about two hours of highlights from great masters and great performers. Put this on the player and relish the sound and the glory. Relax and enjoy!! I'd have given this 5 stars, but oh my, that "mad" cover art! Sorry...just not my cup of tea. Nor coffee. But ah, the music....

Great Music for a Long Drive.......2000-08-12

This compilation of the Mad About series is a good representation of all the fine music compiled for the series. Many of the tracks selected for this "Best of Mad About" set are the more well-known ones -- tunes you'll recognize but never knew who wrote them. I recommend it for anyone who likes to listen to classical music but has a short attention span! The varied mix of styles will keep you entertained. Plus, it will give the new listener many paths to pursue in developing an interest in the classics.

Average customer rating:

A great companion to the book

Orchestral Excerpts for Flute

Manufacturer: Summit(Classical)
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Ballets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

Modern & 20th Century | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Sacred & Religious | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Masses | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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Orchestral Excerpts for Flute
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Orchestral Excerpts for Clarinet

ASIN: B0000038JW
Release Date: 1996-04-09

Tracks:

Opening Remarks
'Aus Liebe'- St. Mathew Passion
'Domine Deus'- Mass In b
Sym No.3
Sym No.4
Leonore No.3
Entr'acte From Carmen
Menuet From L'Arlesienne
Sym No.1
Sym No.4
Afternoon Of A Faun
Sym No.8
Menuet & Dance From Orpheus
Sym Metamorphoses
Midsummer Night's Dream
Classical Sym
Peter And The Wolf
Bolero
Daphnis Et Chloe'
Russian Easter Ov
Capriccio Espagnol
William Tell Ov
Carnival Of The Animals
Salome
Petrouchka
Chant Du Rossignol
Sym No.4
Closing Remarks

Customer Reviews:

A great companion to the book.......2000-10-28

I own the book of the same title of excerpts, though expensive it was worth it. I was considering not buying this CD since I have recording of the pieces anyway but I am glad I did. Not only is it convienient to have all the excerpts on once CD but Jeanne has a wonderful clear sound makes this a joy to listen to. Having it isolated to better hear what she is talking about is immensely helpful. It's not a fun to listen to recording, it is meant for study, but if you are a flutist learning your major orchestral solos it is just as good as having your teacher walk you through the piece. Perhaps more helpful as a second view is always good to know.

Average customer rating:

25 Classical Favorites

Manufacturer: Golden Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

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Similar Items:

25 Mozart Favorites

ASIN: B00013D5BM
Release Date: 2004-02-10

Tracks:

Symphony No. 5 in C Minor, Op. 67: I. Allegro Con Brio
Symphony No. 4 in a Major, Op. 90 "Italian": II. Andante Con Moto - The London Symphony Orchestra
Garcarole, From: "The Tales of Hoffmann" - Philharmonic Orchestra
Carmen Suite No. 1: Les Toror
"Four Seasons" for Violin and String Orchestra Fall, Op. 8/3 in F ... - Rainer Kussmaul, Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra
Divertimento No. 1 in B Flat Major: II. Chorale St. Antoni
Brandenburg Concerto No. 4 in G Major, BWV 1049: I. Allegro
Ave Maria (After J. S Bach)
Peer Gynt Suite No. 1 Op. 46: Morning - Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra
Excerpts from "The Nutcracker", Ballet Suite Op. 71A: II. March - South German Philharmonic Orchestra
Canon in D Major - Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra
"Hallelujah", From Messiah
Symphony No. 40 in G Minor, K. 550: I. Molto Allegro - Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra

Tracks:

Thus Spoke Zarathustra - Prelude
Barber of Seville: Overture, Excerpt - Munich Symphony Orchestra
Lovedream No. 3 in A Flat Major - Josef Bulva
Beautiful Blue Danube, Waltz Op. 314 - Vienna Opera Orchestra
Peter and the Wolf - Main Theme (Peter) & Coda
Meditation, From "Thais"
Symphony No. 9 in E Minor, "From the New World": IV. Allegro Con Fuoco - Slovak Philharmonic
Children's Corner (Suite for Piano 1908): Golliwogg's Cakewalk - Peter Schmalfuss
Swan, From: "Carnival of the Animals"
Master Singers of Nuremberg Overture
Etude No. 3 in E Major, Op. 10/3: "Tristesse" - Peter Schmalfuss
Symphony No. 5 in B Flat Major, D. 485: I. Allegro - Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra

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Music Track

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