Children’s Concert Music for Narrator and Orchestra
We recommend pairing one or more of the following works curated from Wise Music Classical’s music rental catalogue with The Snowman in Concert or Mimi and the Mountain Dragon in Concert, to create a full-evening program.
Longer Works (15-30 minutes)
Composer: Sergei Prokofiev
Author/Text Writer: Sergei Prokofiev
Duration: 35 min
Narration Languages: English, French, Spanish
Version 1: Narrator + 1.1.1.1/3.1.1.0/timp.perc/str
Version 2: Narrator + Piano
The Beatles Guide to the Orchestra
Composer: The Beatles
Arranger & Orchestrator: Sam Hyken
Duration: 28 min
Narration Languages: English, Spanish
Orchestration: Narrator + 2+pic.2+ca.2+bcl.3(cbn)/4.3.3.1/timp.3perc/pf(cel)/hp/str
Paddington Bear’s First Concert
Description: A collaboration between Chappell and Michael Bond, author of the Paddington Bear stories, who have also collaborated on a Paddington-themed stage musical, multiple cartoons, and television specials.
Composer: Herbert Chappell
Author/Text Writer: Michael Bond
Duration: 28 min
Narration Languages: English
Orchestration: Narrator + 2(pic)2(ca)2(asx)2/2200/2perc/hp/str
Description: A princess loses her golden ball in a well and strikes a deal with a “frog” to retrieve it. Different families of instruments are used cleverly to highlight distinct sections of the narrative.
Composer: Victoria Bond
Author/Text Writer: Brothers Grimm
Duration: 24 min
Narration Languages: English
Full Orchestra Version: Narrator + 2(pic)22(bcl)2/4331/timp.3perc/str
Chamber Orchestra Version: Narrator + 1111/3110/timp.perc/str
Wind Quintet Version: Narrator + fl, ob, cl, bn, hn
Description: In seven movements, this musical fable brings to life the excitement and danger of the firefighter’s job, evoking vividly the sound of alarms, the heat and crackle of fire, and the joy of a good old-fashioned “hosedown.”
Composer: Morton Gould
Author/Text Writer: Morton Gould
Duration: 18 min
Narration Languages: English
Orchestration: Narrator + 3(pic)232/4331/timp.3perc/str; (optional hoses, fire tools, cutouts, projections)
Symphonic Fairytale for Children (Drakestail)
Description: An undersized duck sets off to the palace to confront an evil king. He survives various trials, and ultimately becomes king himself.
Composer: Mario Lombardo
Author/Text Writer: Adele Lombardo
Duration: 18 min
Narration Languages: English
Orchestration: Narrator + 3(III:pic).2+ca.2+bcl.2/4.3.3.1/timp.perc/cel.hp/str
Description: Beatrix Potter’s beloved creation told with humor and sensitivity and with the added attraction of the tuba, front and center.
Composer: Luigi Zaninelli
Author/Text Writer: Beatrix Potter
Duration: 18 min
Narration Languages: English
Full Orchestra Version: Narrator, Tuba + 2(pic)22(bcl)2/4330/timp.perc/pf(cel).hp/str
Chamber Orchestra Version: Narrator, Tuba + 1(pic)11(bcl)1/1100/perc/pf.hp/str (5.4.2.3.0)
Shorter Works (14 minutes and under)
Tubby the Tuba (available for rental in Europe & South Africa only)
Composer: George Kleinsinger
Duration: 14 min
Narration Languages: English
Orchestration: Narrator + 2(2pic)12(bcl)1/2211/timp.2perc/cel(pf)/str
Composer: Arthur Knecht
Duration: 14 min
Narration Languages: English
Orchestration: Narrator + 3333/4230/timp.perc/str
Musical Dreamer (Scenes from the Life of Stephen Foster)
Composer: Arthur Knecht
Duration: 14 min
Narration Languages: English
Orchestration: Narrator + 2322/4231/perc/hp/str
A Boy and His Melodies (Scenes from the Life of Young Mozart)
Composer: Arthur Knecht
Duration: 13 min
Narration Languages: English
Orchestration: Narrator + 2222/4230/timp/hpd/str
On Wings of Song (Mendelssohn and His Music)
Description: Stresses the importance of a singing style in all of Mendelssohn’s compositions and teaches children a small vocal line that accompanies the orchestra at the piece’s conclusion.
Composer: Arthur Knecht
Duration: 12 min
Narration Languages: English
Orchestration: Narrator + 2222/4230/timp.perc/hp/str
Jabberwocky (from Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found)
Description: A seven section work setting text from Lewis Carroll’s 1871 sequel to Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.
Composer: Paul Campbell
Duration: 5.5 min
Narration Languages: English
Symphonic Version: Narrator + 2(pic).2.1+bcl.2(cbn)/4.2.3.1/timp.3perc/str
Chamber Version: Narrator + 1(pic).1.0+bcl.1(cbn)/1.1.1.1/timp(perc).perc/str
