A Musical Tale of Friendship and Inspiration! Step into the streets of 1920s New York City where a poor newsboy has a chance encounter with the famous composer George Gershwin. A bonding friendship develops as the two explore the many sights and sounds of the city and the vast melting post of American Music. But will they discover the key to unlocking the boy’s own musical potential? Children and Adults alike will be captivated by more than 2 dozen of Gershwin’s most popular compositions from classics like Porgy & Bess, American in Paris, Cuban Overture and Rhapsody in Blue. Presenting history, drama, music and fun, this engaging story is designed to be enjoyed by the entire family.
Katarina, a young violinist, arrives at the Pietà orphanage where Antonio Vivaldi was music director. Aided by Giovanni the gondolier, she searches throughout Venice for clues to her mysterious past. Over two dozen excerpts, including Vivaldi’s best-loved Four Seasons (with real sound effects), guitar piccolo and trumpet concertos. Also featured are many of the violin pieces played by young violinists today.
With the voices of: Elizabeth Forster, Katharine Pimenoff, Barbara Budd, Richard Binsley, Colm Feore, Mary Long, Nicole Lyn and Jessica Waese. Teacher’s Notes are available at childrensgroup.com
An eccentric new boarder turns a young boy’s life upside-down. Ludwig van Beethoven has moved in upstairs! Young Christoph exchanges letters about the chaotic arrival of Mr. Beethoven and learns to appreciate and understand the great composer and his music. Over two dozen excerpts including Moonlight Sonata, Symphonies #5-9, Für Elise, Pathetique Sonata, Flute Serenade, Violin Spring Sonata and Minuet in G Major.
Beethoven Lives Upstairs is a Classical Kids production, produced by Susan Hammond and Patrick Godfrey. Teacher’s Notes are available at childrensgroup.com
Follow a young family from playtime to dream time through the nursery, the park, the streets of Olde London and off to bed. Newborns to 90-year olds will enjoy this magical mix of classical music, classic poetry and poems written and performed by children. Daydreams and Lullabies features a rich variety of the great classical lullabies, rounds for family singing and traditional English songs. Includes the music of Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, Vivaldi, Schubert, Pachelbel, Tchaikovsky and Humperdinck's Hansel & Gretel.
After the dramatic send-off of his music into space aboard Voyager II, Mr. Bach, along with his magic orchestra and choir, drops in on a little girl as she practices the piano. Over two dozen excerpts, including Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring, Brandenburg Concerto #5, Flute Sonata and Badinerie, Air for the G-string, Goldberg Variations, piano minuets and preludes, organ music and Choral Cantata #78.
A journey through The Magic Flute. With magic bells and flute, Sarah and the dragon find their way from the Queen of the Night’s realm to Sarastro’s castle. Together they help Prince Tamino find Princess Pamina and the bird-man Papageno find his Papagena. Features Mozart’s best-known arias, originally translated and freshly recorded with child-appropriate verse.
A musical journey through Medieval Times. When a young queen falls mysteriously ill, her children are sent deep into the forest in search of her only cure: the legendary unicorn. The great magician Merlin helps them on their quest. With riddles and the unicorn’s song, the children travel to the magical isle of Avalon. There, they must decide what can truly cure their mother -- King Arthur’s powerful sister, Morgan-le-Fay, or the healing touch of the unicorn. More than two dozen excerpts of pre-Baroque music, including traditional English songs like Greensleeves and Early One Morning, Gregorian Chant, Celtic songs, wild Medieval dances plus a journey into the future of music with Bach, Mozart, Beethoven and beyond.
In 1750 George Frideric Handel gave musical history’s greatest gift - his Messiah - to an orphanage in London. From that city’s dark lanes comes Thomas, a boy who sings like an angel, but will not speak. Finally, the boy is healed with the help of Maestro Handel, Katarine (from Vivaldi’s Ring of Mystery) and the power and glory of music. More than two dozen excerpts of Handel’s music, including the Sarabande in D minor, Water Music, Music for the Royal Fireworks, Arrival of the Queen of Sheba, oratorios, operas and of course, Messiah.
Tchaikovsky arrives in New York for the grand opening of Carnegie Hall in 1891. It’s all aboard for a fun-filled musical adventure to Niagara Falls. During his trip, the great composer shares stories with a young family about his music, his life and his fear of conducting. In the end, both the composer and the family discover something about courage and about themselves. More than two dozen excerpts of Tchaikovsky’s music, including The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, and Swan Lake, the First Piano Concerto, String Serenade and the 1812 Overture. Aldo included is a musical mosaic of well-known American music of the time, including ragtime, spirituals and popular folk classics.
The Dream Children are about to be written out of Mozart’s most famous opera. In the hopes of changing their fate, they enlist the help of the composer’s young son Karl. Together the children embark on an incredible journey that takes them back in time to Mozart’s childhood and ahead to the future. Along the way, Karl comes to understand his father’s legacy of timeless music. More than two-dozen excerpts of Mozart’s music, including Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, the Clarinet Quintet, Flute Quartet, Horn Concerto Symphony Number 1, Ave Verum Corpus, Piano Sonatas, Concerto K467 and “Twinkle” Variations plus several excerpts from Mozart’s best-loved Operas.
