Music Review: A Child's Celebration of Classical Music
Rated by 1 member
What Parents Should Know
This album is supposed to celebrate classical music with
children--but three of the seven tracks aren't really classical
music, and one rendition of a true classical composition is
quirky at best.
Furthermore, the liner notes don't provide information about
the composers, the instruments played in each piece, or the
history of the compositions. Listeners who wish to learn
something about this music are left in the dark.
This CD hosts an impressive medley of celebrity orchestras and artists, playing ageless classical compositions alongside more obscure and contemporary selections.
The Boston Pops Orchestra performs a dramatic piece from Norwegian composer Edward Grieg's Peer Gynt. A brief piano solo from Sleeping Beauty, composed by the French composer Maurice Ravel (famous for Bolero), is preceded by Meryl Streep's skillful narration.
Carol Channing narrates a fifteen-minute story ("Gerald McBoing Boing") about a boy whose voice produces only the sounds of musical instruments. Along with the instrument sounds, the story is adorned with an unmelodious musical arrangement. Conversely, Bobby McFerrin performs an entire piece with his versatile voice, and the Symfunny Orchestra offers an unconventional rendition of Handel's "Water Music." (The liner notes provide the composer's first name only.)
The highlight is Prokofiev's "Peter and the Wolf," performed by the Philadelphia Orchestra and narrated by David Bowie. Almost as enchanting is Danny Kaye's charming presentation of "Tubby the Tuba," which quickly attracted the attention of one four-year-old listener.
Common Sense Media is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing information to help parents make media and entertainment choices for their families.
