small things

Maestro Classics giveaway!

Today’s giveaway is from Maestro Classics!  My children have grown to love classical music, so I was thrilled to discover Maestro Classics, and only wish I had known about their albums sooner!  If you’ve been looking for a simple way to introduce your children to classical music in a way that makes it fun and accessible, I think you will really appreciate their collection.

Stories in Music is a classical music CD series for children and families. Produced by Maestro Classics, this series of works for narrator and symphony orchestra features new, sophisticated performances with the London Philharmonic Orchestra and child-friendly, fun-filled stories and musical explanations.  Educational for adults and children alike, this series grew out of family concerts created by conductor Stephen Simon and his wife, music educator/executive producer Bonnie Ward Simon, and premiered at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC.  Rave reviews nationwide and numerous top awards have greeted this unique series of classical music CDs for kids with its signature format.

Maestro Classics’ latest release is Carnival of the Animals, one of my family’s favorites.  Today, they are offering one of you a copy of Carnival of the Animals.  I think you’ll love it!  Do you remember when I linked to a performance of Camille Saint-Saens’ “The Swan?”  That beautiful piece is from Carnival of the Animals, and happened to be the only piece from Carnival of the Animals that Saint Saens allowed to be published before his death.  He worried that the rest of the music might be considered frivolous or not serious enough.

“Lions roar, elephants dance, roosters crow at clucking hens, kangaroos leap, fish swim, wild donkeys race, xylophones clatter like fossils, clarinets cuckoo, virtuosic flutes imitate sounds of the aviary, the cello plays its famous swan song, and the tortoise does the world’s slowest can-can in Saint-Saëns’ musical picture gallery of the animal kingdom that also includes pianists practicing scales and some animals with long ears who are rumored to be music critics. The Maestro Classics recording of Carnival of the Animals features the droll verse that Ogden Nash wrote for each of the work’s fourteen movements, recited here by Maestro Classics’ beloved narrator, Yadu (a.k.a. Dr. Konrad Czynski).

With eminent conductor Stephen Simon directing the London Philharmonic Orchestra, stellar contributions by pianists Wendy Chen and Donna Kwong, a lovely interpretation of the French folk song “Au Clair de la Lune” by soprano Rachel Barham, and intriguing observations by Stephen Simon and “elucidator” Bonnie Ward Simon, in addition to a French/English interactive singing project and activities offered in a beautifully illustrated, 24-page program booklet, this recording of Carnival of the Animals, will be treasured forever by children and adults alike.”

For your chance to win, simply leave a comment on this post.  If you are interested in receiving additional chances you can:  Visit the Maestro Classics website and leave a comment sharing which album you would most like to share with your family, “Like” Maestro Classics on Facebook and leave a comment letting me know you did so, and follow them on Twitter.  Just make sure you leave separate comments for each additional chance to win!  You might also want to check out Bonnie’s blog for more musical inspiration!

Comments are closed.  The winner is Savannah:  “My Littles love  dancing to music and pretending to be animals…what a perfect combination!”

Thanks Maestro Classics!

 

 

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. I just visited their website, and I must say, I would LOVE to share the Peter and the Wolf album with my two boys, since it is one of their favourite stories, but I don’t think they’ve ever heard the music before.

  3. we just discovered the awesomeness of maestro classics (thanks to you ginny!) my kids have been enjoying them so much i am sure they would love carnival of the animals!

  15. I am so excited to check their website out! My children love music and we have all tired of our regular playlist. Thanks for the chance to win!

  20. This couple is genius at bringing beautiful music by exquisite composers to children. Stephen and Bonnie, THANK YOU for getting my children to engage with pieces at an intimate level. I cannot tell you how often my children walk around and sing,”My name is Handel, George Fredrick Handel…”, or “…its name was Swa-ha-ha-han Lake. LOL! I could go on. Personally, I love the history and music theory lessons tucked into the composition.
    Thank you, Ginny for gifting someone the opportunity to have one of these gems. They are diamonds in the rough!

  22. Saint Saens has always been a favorite, The Swan especially. Would love to share this with my children.

  35. I have been coveting Maestro Classics ever since you wrote your first review! What a fun Christmas gift this would be for my littles. Thanks for being such a lovely hostess! xoxo

  49. We’ve listened to a few of these and they are wonderful! Juanita the Spanish Lobster is our favorite. I’d love to win!