Sergey PROKOFIEV (1891–1953)
Peter and the Wolf [25:03]
Camille SAINT-SAËNS (1835–1921)
Carnival of the Animals [28:24]
Francis POULENC (1899–1963)
The Story of Babar, the Little Elephant [26:12]
Richard Briers (narrator);.David Coram (organ); David Owen Norris (piano)
rec. Romsey Abbey, 1 April 2011; Turner Sims Concert Hall, University of Southampton,
9 April 2011 (Poulenc)
CATHEDRAL CLASSICS CCCD 101 [79:39]
I have six grandchildren; so I know a bit about the target audience for this
recording. It contains three of the Top Ten on anyone’s list of the best classical
compositions for children.
Peter and the Wolf was written in 1936, with music and words by Prokofiev,
as a commission from the Moscow Central Children’s Chorus. Although its premiere
was poorly attended, it did succeed in the long term in achieving its sponsor’s
aim of “cultivating musical tastes in children from the first years of school”.
It is usually heard with narrator and full orchestra, but here the orchestra
is replaced by the organ. This rearrangement works in some ways, and not others:
for example, the bird as flute, and the duck as oboe, are convincing, but
bassoon for Grandfather and horns for the wolf are less so. And it’s jarring
to hear the word “diapasons” used in a description of Peter, aimed at a five-year-old.
On the other hand, replacing the orchestra with the organ opens up access
to many more audiences, at more reasonable cost. This is precisely what the
principals on this album plan to do during a 2012 tour.
Carnival of the Animals is a piece that Saint-Saëns was embarrassed
about from its debut in 1886, worrying that it would damage his reputation
as a serious composer. Ironically it has become one of his best known and
loved works. It was written to show young people the range and playfulness
of orchestral instruments, and it succeeded. One reason for its success is
that Saint-Saëns borrowed great tunes freely: Berlioz, Offenbach, Rameau and
himself. Another is that in 1949 the American poet Ogden Nash wrote droll
verses to accompany each of the 14 movements. Most performances and recordings
today feature the music with the poetry. Saint-Saëns’ original version uses
two pianos prominently with orchestra, so in this recording the piano is essential
with organ.
The Story of Babar, the Little Elephant, was written in French in 1933
by Jean de Brunhoff. It spawned a series of books and videos to which his
son has further contributed. Poulenc’s three-year old cousin Sophie was vacationing
with him outside Paris in the summer of 1940, when she become bored with his
composing. Legend has it that she placed her Babar storybook upside-down on
the piano stand and said “Play this!” He improvised between sections of the
story, and later wrote down the music, dedicating it to Sophie and the other
neighbourhood children who thronged to hear it. The English translation used
in this recording is different from that in the first Random House publication,
and leaves out major sections of the story. Even so, the result comes in at
just less than half an hour, a challenging attention span for a child.
The actor Richard Briers narrates all three pieces. His face and voice are
familiar from British TV and stage. He is able to call up gravity, impishness
or breathlessness as these stories and poems require.
An act of love created this album – or rather two acts. The first act created
the label. This is the first release from a new label – Cathedral Classics
- from the team of Matthew Dilley and Richard Bland. The latter recorded,
edited and produced this album. Their discography includes many recordings
in the chapels on the Cambridge and Oxford campuses. An even greater contribution
to the recording, including personal investment, came from the organist, David
Coram, who clearly loves the instrument, and believes in its power to communicate
with children. He arranged the first two pieces here for organ. He also wrote
the accompanying booklet which is aimed perfectly at his young audience -
with a note to parents warning them of the references to firearms in the Peter
and Babar stories, in case even younger ones might be frightened. The booklet
cover and the CD feature cute drawings of the stories’ characters .by Mike
Brownlow.
If you have children on your gift list, this album will be gratefully received
and enjoyed.
Paul Kennedy
If you have children on your gift list, this album will be gratefully received
and enjoyed.