Peter and the Wolf
Music by Prokofiev
Performed by the London Philharmonic Orchestra
Sample This Album
Includes activity booklet
Includes activity booklet PDF
About Peter and the Wolf
Peter and the Wolf, the greatest of all works for narrator and orchestra, joins the Maestro Classics delightful Stories in Music series as the London Philharmonic Orchestra, Grammy-nominated conductor Stephen Simon, and narrator Yadu create a magical listening experience!
Synopsis: A young boy named Peter disobeys his grandfather and climbs over the garden wall. When he encounters a wolf, with quick thinking and the help of his friends – a bird, a duck and a cat – Peter captures the wolf and it is taken to the zoo.
The Extras: CD/MP3 includes a complete orchestral recording of the music without narration, educational tracks including the conductor's explanation of how the instruments in the orchestra play different themes and represent characters in the story, and a narrated child-friendly biography of the composer, Sergei Prokofiev. Plus, a performance of Peter and the Wolf on traditional Russian instruments by Trio Voronezh!
Recommended for ages 4+ and families
Listening Guide
Track #1 is an introduction to Peter and the Wolf and explains how each character in the story is represented by an instrument in the symphony orchestra. Listen to samples below.
The Bird's Theme is played by the flute
The Duck's Theme is played by the oboe
The Cat's Theme is played by the clarinet
Peter's grandfather is represented by the bassoon
The Wolf's Theme is played by three French horns
The Hunters are represented by the
Woodwinds playing the "Hunter's March," and the Kettle Drums represent the shooting of their guns.
Peter's Theme is played by all the strings in the symphony orchestra
Why will you love this Peter and the Wolf? ...Because it's more than just the story!
CD/MP3 also includes:
• A biography of the composer, Sergei Prokofiev.
• Music lessons with the conductor, Stephen Simon
• Peter and the Wolf instrumental version, no narration.
• A Russian trio performing on traditional folk instruments.
• A dance-along track to the famous Russian folk melody.
Free Peter and the Wolf Teaching Materials
Print out this fun finger puppet activity (courtesy of the Music Institue of Chicago) and use it while you listen to the music!
After listening to the CD/MP3, download the Peter and the Wolf Curriculum Guide with:
-
Music Lessons and Activities - learn about program and absolute music
-
Art Projects - A biography on Wassily Kandinsky, a Russian painter and contemporary of Sergei Prokofiev
-
History - Learn about the Russian Revolution of 1917 and how it influenced Prokofiev
-
Language Arts - Write your own Peter and the Wolf story!
-
Science - why do some instruments in sound high, and others sound low?
-
Geography - "Prokofiev was born in a part of Soviet Russia which is now an independent country called the Ukraine..."
-
Math - Did you know Sergei Prokofiev was an avid chess player?
Montessori Music Appreciation Lessons for Peter and the Wolf and other Maestro Classics titles including Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel, My Name is Handel: The Story of Water Music, the Tortoise and the Hare, and more.
Play along with Free Peter and the Wolf Sheet Music
-
Bird's Theme for violin
-
Cat's Theme for piano or mallets
-
Duck's Theme duet for alto saxophone and marimba
-
Hunters' Theme for violin
-
Wolf's Theme for trombone
-
Peter's Theme for piano or mallets
Sergei Prokofiev
Sergei Prokofiev (1891-1953) composer of Peter and the Wolf, was born over 120 years ago. As a boy he lived on an estate which probably had wolves. He was an only child, and, clearly, if he was not like Peter, he must have wished he were. His mother was a fine pianist who played constantly. As she was practicing, she would let him play on the upper notes of the piano. She encouraged him to write down melodies that he invented. By the age of 12, Prokofiev had written the words and the music for two operas. He studied at the St. Petersburg Conservatory from the age of 13 and graduated with the highest prizes in piano and conducting. Today, most Americans know Prokofiev for his ballet music for Cinderella, his opera Love of Three Oranges, his movie score for Lieutenant Kijé, and, of course, Peter and the Wolf.
Prokofiev was born in Russia under the Czar, lived through the Bolshevik Revolution, and then spent five years in the United States and almost ten living in Paris. Finally, he decided that it was time to return to his homeland. He looked like a banker and acted like one. He neither smoked nor drank...but it is said that he loved chocolates!
Learn more about the composer with the Peter and the Wolf CD/MP3 and activity book.