More Music!

Last weekend, Vincent and I attended a performance of Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf performed by the Kennett Symphony. It was a free childrens' concert (donations accepted) intended to help kids appreciate classical music and the act of seeing it live.

I know - ROCK AND ROLL!!!!!

Despite it's erudite description, it was pretty fun. Members from each family of instruments came out front first to describe and perform their instrument by itself. Most did kid-oriented or funny little gags. Our faves were "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" and the tromboner's classic up and down slides. They never get old.

It took a solid 40 minutes of descriptions and short performances before the headliner got going but once it did, it had Vincent's rapt attention. Here were the key components:

Narrator: The Mayor of Kennett Square(!) and his deep, expressive (think James Earl Jones)voice describing the duck, bird, wolf, cat, grandfather, etc.

Characters: People from a local dance troupe dressed as the characters hopping about as the orchestra played their themes. Notable question of the afternoon from Vincent: "Why is Peter a girl?"

Music: The coolest part. As most of us remember, each character is "voiced" by the orchestra. Peter is the strings, the hunters are the percussion (blam! blam!), the wolf is the french horn, etc. Just a great way to break down something huge and unwieldy like an orchestra for kids to understand. Prokofiev knew his sh*t!

I was impressed that Vincent enjoyed it for as long as he did. I'd be lying if I said I didn't get a tiny lump in my throat watching him enjoy music as much as he did. Even if it was music acted out by dancers in fake beards and feathers.