Dear families,
As you know, I get to do some music with our class this year - something I'm very excited about! One thing that I absolutely love to do is to tell stories along to music. Not just any stories, the stories of the music. Many pieces are based on a narrative, or at least a scene or landscape, and the music tells you what's happening, if you know what to listen for. This year, I hope to share many of my favourite musical stories with the kids. With any luck, I'll be able to tell you about them on this blog and provide you with links to the music so that you can listen to them at home with your child telling you what's happening.
However, in the off chance that I can't share anything for a while, I want to bring to your attention a few concerts that include pieces that we will surely listen to in class at some point. I very highly recommend going to any of these concerts with your musician, particularly if they have already told you that we listened to the story. Even as a serious classical music student, I still enjoy concerts SO much more, when I know the background of the piece I am listening to. All of these concerts are being put on by the Toronto Symphony Orchestra at Roy Thomson Hall. Most are in the evening, but I've also highlighted a few that are specifically for children, though kids are also welcome at the evening performances. For more information, please visit the TSO website.
Concert Title: Arabian Nights
Piece that we will be discussing: Scheherazade by Rimsky-Korsakov
Preview: Scheherazade wins the heart of the untrusting Sultan by telling him many captivating tales (including the story of Aladdin) and leaving off each night just at the most intense part of the story. The violin represents Scheherazade and helps us hear when she is present in the story. Based on the Arabian Nights.
Dates: Nov. 18-19, 8:00pm
Concert Title: Peter and the Wolf: In Support of SickKids
Piece that we will be discussing: Peter and the Wolf by Prokofiev
Preview: Peter disobeys his grandfather when he strays outside the garden walls. He meets a few little animals but gets into a little trouble... Each character is represented by a different instrument.
Piece that we will be discussing: The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra by Britten
Preview: Not so much a story, but an introduction to each section of the orchestra through listening to a fabulous piece of music!
Dates: Nov. 26, 7:30pm
Concert Title: Symphonie Fantastique
Piece that we will be discussing: movements from Symphonie Fantastique by Berlioz
Preview: A musician sees his beloved in various circumstances (e.g., at a ball). The beloved is always represented by a fixed idea in the music (idée fixe). We will probably listen to this one around Halloween since the last 2 movements can be a bit spooky!
Dates: Jan. 27-28, 8:00pm, Jan 30, 7:30pm
Concert Title: Peter and the Wolf (specifically for kids this time)
Piece that we will be discussing: Peter and the Wolf by Prokofiev
Preview: Peter disobeys his grandfather when he strays outside the garden walls. He meets a few little animals but gets into a little trouble... Each character is represented by a different instrument. *In this performance, the tale is brought to life by the Magic Circle Mime Company!
Dates: May 14, 2:00pm & 4:00pm
Concert Title: An American in Paris
Piece that we will be discussing: An American in Paris by Gershwin
Preview: Close your eyes and imagine walking down a busy street in Paris. In the music you can even hear the car horns!
Dates: June 4, 7:30pm & June 5, 3:00pm
Also, check out all of their Young People's Concerts - short afternoon concerts designed specifically for kids. Very entertaining & totally worth it!
Please let me know if you're going and how you liked it! Happy listening!