Clips from five performances for young audiences.
Example of a typical program
We first introduce each of the instruments of a woodwind quintet, explain how
the tone is produced and demonstrate how they sound.
by Paul Dukas, arranged by James Christensen. This piece was made more famous by
MickeyMouse and his struggle with brooms, water buckets, and magic. It sets the table for
"Hansel and Gretel" where the main concern is not a magician but a witch.
"Hansel and Gretel" with narrator
The themes from the opera by Engelbert Humperdinck are masterfully orchestrated for
woodwind quintet by Helen Mills. This fairy tale from the Brothers Grimm tells the story of
two siblings and their scary and nearly disastrous run-in with a witch. Each instrument is
highlighted at different times and the narrator tells the audience what to listen for.
"The Ant and the Grasshopper" with narrator
Aesop Fable about a carefree grasshopper and an important lesson learned thanks to an
industrious ant. This wonderful arrangement by Rebecca Oswald features the oboe as the ant
and the bassoon as the grasshopper.
The members of the quintet and the narrator set this time aside to answer questions about
any part of the performance.
"Swingin' in the Hall of the Mountain King"
This arrangement for quintet by Jeanie Murrow is based on "In the Hall of the Mountain
King'' from Edvard Grieg's Peer Gynt Suite #1 and will demonstrate the difference between
"straight" eighth notes, introduced by the clarinet in the first two measures, and "swing"
eighth notes played by the oboe in the next two measures. The "swing" eighths win the
contest and are picked up by all the instruments.
The flute starts a lively conversation with the instruments which sets up a playful rhyme
about animal babies. Music by Anthony Plog; Poem by Ogden Nash.