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Classical Kids Series

Dramatizations about the lives of composers are performed by adult and child actors. Done through the eyes of children, each title uses pieces by the composer to illustrate the story. The stories are fictional, but listeners gain insights into the life of the composer depicted as well as the time period through events, places and people who are real. Recordings are about 45 minutes each.

In addition to cassettes and CDs, we carry Teacher's Notes bundled with their corresponding CD (they are no longer sold by the publisher individually). They are 36-43 pages long and include additional background information, discussion topics, activity ideas and suggestions for exploring the music.

Cassettes are also in limited supply as they are no longer being made. Guides and music are designed for ages 5-12.


Mr. Bach Comes to Call -
Young Elizabeth, who is feeling musically uninspired, gets a surprise visit from J.S. Bach, a magic orchestra and boys' choir.

The series' premiere recording opens with the launch of Bach's music into space aboard the Voyager II spacecraft. Mr. Bach magically arrives and reminisces about his life and music; his twenty children, his time in jail and his devotion to the church.

Not until the very end does he reveal the reason for his visit, "Every time my music is played... I am alive."

More than 28 musical excerpts include Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring, Brandenburg Concerto #5, Air on the G-string, Flute Sonatas and Badinerie, Goldberg Variations, minuets and preludes, organ music and Cantata #78.

The Teacher's Notes presents a step-by-step strategy for incorporating classical music across all subject areas: social studies, math, science communications, and other arts. Includes facts, activities, and thought-provoking questions. The Teacher's Notes is only available bundled with the corresponding CD. 39 pages.

CD: #407X $16.98 $13.99


DVD: #6406 $21.98 $19.99 
Beethoven Lives Upstairs - Young Christoph is convinced his mother has rented out the upstairs room to a madman. That boarder is Ludwig Van Beethoven who is busy composing his Ninth Symphony, one of his greatest works. The boy and the cantankerously eccentric deaf composer eventually meet and Christoph begins to see the softer side of Beethoven as his music begins to win the boy over.

The Teacher's Notes presents a step-by-step strategy for incorporating classical music across all subject areas: social studies, math, science communications, and other arts. Includes facts, activities, and thought-provoking questions. The Teacher's Notes is only available bundled with the corresponding CD. 36 pages.


Cassette: #4320 $10.98
$4.99 Limited copies available.

CD: #4061 $16.98 $13.99

DVD: #2582
$24.98 $19.99

Interactive CD-ROM: #0042 $29.99 (Out of print, one copy available. Windows format only.)
On the CD-ROM:
Learn all about music and musical instruments - including tone, rhythm, pitch, expression and composition; how to read a score - even play Beethoven's piano! Paint your own original pictures while listening to the CD-quality soundtrack of Beethoven's greatest hits. Capture all the music, artwork and writing you create in your own personal journal.A Classical Kids Music Gallery featuring more than 50 minutes of music. Choose from a variety of arcade style musical games that are certain to inspire play and advance learning.Features scenes from the Emmy Award-winning video, Beethoven Lives Upstairs.

Beethoven habite a l'etage -
French version of Beethoven Lives Upstairs
CD: #3325
$16.98 $13.99 One copy available.



Hallelujah Handel! -
Katarina, first introduced in Vivaldi's Ring of Mystery, has left Venice for England with her grandfather. At an elegant - though rather bizarre- party in London, she meets the great composer George Frideric Handel. Katarina and Maestro Handel are drawn together by the haunting voice of Thomas, a young boy brought by his keeper to sing for the assembled guests. Katarina and Handel are filled with compassion for the boy and gradually unravel his strange past. Through the kindness of Katarina, the generosity of the famous composer and the power and majesty of Handel's music, Thomas's heart is healed, unlocking the voice of an angel.

Hallelujah Handel! brings to life the soundscapes of 18th century London and is filled with more than two dozen excerpts of Handel's most glorious music including the Sarabande in D-, Water Music, Music for the Royal Fireworks, Arrival of the Queen of Sheba, and of course, Messiah.

The Teacher's Notes presents a step-by-step strategy for incorporating classical music across all subject areas: social studies, math, science communications, and other arts. Includes facts, activities, and thought-provoking questions. The Teacher's Notes is only available bundled with the corresponding CD. 40 pages.

Cassette: #4967 $10.98 $4.99 Limited copies available

Mozart's Magic Fantasy - A young girl falls into a production of Mozart's great opera The Magic Flute. Sarah, Prince Tamino and a faint-hearted dragon embark on a magic journey from the dark realm of the Queen of the Night to Sarastro's enchanted castle, with only a magic flute and bells to guide them to the princess Pamina. Together they reunite Prince Tamino with his Princess and help the birdman Papageno find his Papagena.

This recording includes the most popular themes and arias from the original opera, all freshly translated and recorded using child-appropriate verse. Lyrics included.

The Teacher's Notes presents a step-by-step strategy for incorporating classical music across all subject areas: social studies, math, science communications, and other arts. Includes facts, activities, and thought-provoking questions. The Teacher's Notes is only available bundled with the corresponding CD. 39 pages.

Cassette: #4363 $10.98 $4.99

CD: #410X $16.98 $13.99

Teacher's Notes with CD Combo #2726  $32.99



Mozart's Magnificent Voyage -
The Dream Children are about to be written out of Mozart's most famous opera. Hoping to change their fate, they enlist the help of the composer's young son Karl. Together the children embark on an incredible journey that takes them back in time to Mozart's childhood as well as far into the future. Along the way, Karl learns much about his father and comes to understand his legacy of timeless music.

Features more than 24 excerpts of Mozart's most important and engaging works including Symphony No. 1, Clarinet Quintet, Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, plus excerpts from Mozart's most famous operas including The Marriage of Figaro, Don Giovanni and The Magic Flute.

The Teacher's Notes presents a step-by-step strategy for incorporating classical music across all subject areas: social studies, math, science communications, and other arts. Includes facts, activities, and thought-provoking questions. The Teacher's Notes is only available bundled with the corresponding CD. 40 pages.

Cassette: #9689 $10.98 $4.99

CD: #9697 $16.98 $13.99


Song of the Unicorn
(Classical Kids recording, narrated by Jeremy Irons). When a young queen falls ill, her children are sent in search of her only cure: the unicorn. The magician Merlin helps them on their quest. With riddles and the unicorn's song, the children travel to the magical isle of Avalon for the cure.

Features more than two dozen excerpts of pre-Baroque music, including traditional English songs like Greensleeves and Early One Morning, Gregorian Chant, Celtic songs, Medieval dances plus a journey into the future of music with Bach, Beethoven and beyond. The CD has pictures and activities you can play on your computer and includes Internet links. Approximately 45 minutes. Ages 5-12.

The Teacher's Notes presents a step-by-step strategy for incorporating classical music across all subject areas: social studies, math, science communications, and other arts. Includes facts, activities, and thought-provoking questions. The Teacher's Notes is only available bundled with the corresponding CD. 43 pages.

Cassette #045X $10.98 $4.99

CD #0468 $16.98 $13.99

Teacher's Notes with CD Combo #2795 $32.99



Tchaikovsky Discovers America - The great composer Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky arrives in New York for the grand opening of Carnegie Hall. It's all aboard for fun as two children join the composer on a musical journey to Niagara Falls. The children set the stage for the story to reveal much about Tchaikovsky -- his life in Russia, his love of music and his fears of conducting. In the end, both the composer and the children discover something about courage -- and about themselves.

This recording features more than 24 of Tchaikovsky's best-known and best-loved works including The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, the First Piano Concerto, String Serenade and 1812 Overture. Also included is a musical mosaic of well-known American music of the time, including ragtime, spirituals and popular folk classics.

My favorite Classical Kids recording!

The Teacher's Notes presents a step-by-step strategy for incorporating classical music across all subject areas: social studies, math, science communications, and other arts. Includes facts, activities, and thought-provoking questions. The Teacher's Notes is only available bundled with the corresponding CD. 44 pages.

Cassette: #4533 $10.98 $6.99 Limited quantities available!

CD: #4673 $16.98 $13.99



Vivaldi's Ring of Mystery - In this touching tale, a gifted young violinist is sent to study music at the Pietà orphanage in Venice with the great composer Antonio Vivaldi. It's Carnival time, magic is in the air and mystery unfolds as Katarina enlists Giovanni, the gondolier, to help in her search to discover her origins.

In a climactic scene, a masked stranger reunites Katarina with her family and she must make an important choice between staying with her music at the Pietà or entering the world.

More than 24 excerpts from Vivaldi's most popular and important works have been freshly recorded, including the Four Seasons, Violin Concerto in A-, Guitar Concerto, Piccolo Concerto, and Double Trumpet Concerto

The Teacher's Notes presents a step-by-step strategy for incorporating classical music across all subject areas: social studies, math, science communications, and other arts. Includes facts, activities, and thought-provoking questions. The Teacher's Notes is only available bundled with the corresponding CD. 36 pages.

Cassette: #4444 $10.98 $6.99

CD: #4770 $16.98 $13.99
(Out of stock)

Extra Savings on Boxed Sets!

The Classical Kids Collection: Volume 1 - Boxed set of Mr Bach Comes to Call, Beethoven Lives Upstairs, Mozart's Magic Fantasy and Vivaldi's Ring of Mysteries.

4 cassette box #4495 $38.98 $19.99   

4 CD box: #4479 $66.98 $47.99 Out of stock.

 

The Classical Kids Collection: Volume 2 - Boxed set of Tchaikovsky Discovers America, Hallelujah Handel, Mozart's Magnificent Voyage and Song of the Unicorn.

4 cassette box :#0506 $38.98 $19.99  No longer available.

4 CD box: #0514 $66.98 $46.99
 

Also from Classical Kids:


A Classical Kids Christmas by Susan Hammond - Classical carols and classic poetry combine to tell the story of Christmas, just like the pageants of days gone by. Follow the Three Wise Men as they set out for Bethlehem; meet Saint Nicholas (no, not Santa Claus!); experience the traditions of Christmas around the world. It's a magical Christmas eve, the celebration of Christmas Day and rejoicing of animals at the manger. Everyone will enjoy the story of why the stork delivers babies, how the robin got its red breast and how tinsel came to decorate our trees.

Features more than 30 traditional carols and holiday songs, including:

Silent Night * O Come, All Ye Faithful * We Three Kings * O Holy Night * Go Tell it on the Mountain * God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen * Handel's Messiah * Christmas Eve is Here * Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Suite * Away in a Manger * Polish Lullaby * Angels We Have Heard on High * This Great Day * Joseph, Dearest * O Tannenbaum * Vivaldi's Winter * The Friendly Beasts * Here We Come Awassailing * and more!

Length: 45 minutes, ages 4+.

Cassette #2205 $10.98 $4.99 Limited quantities available!

Song Book Only #2221 $19.98 $14.99 Cover has some wrinkling. One copy available.
(Song Book: Everything you need to perform a Christmas Concert or Dramatic Pageant in one complete package. 21 songs in SA or SS with piano or guitar accompaniment plus optional descants for Orff or traditional instruments).

"You'll want to find room on your shelf for this one. This recording meets the high standard we expect from Susan Hammond. It's not a story, it's a Christmas pageant -- one of the nicest I've ever heard. Hammond artfully combines music and poetry, the music is elegant, and in Hammond's trademark style, it's neither too sophisticated for young minds nor too juvenile for mature ones" - Today's Parent

"This joyful and reverent blend of poetry, music and history will likely be a welcome addition to many family music collections." - Publishers Weekly



The World’s Very Best Opera for Kids
(Classical Kids) is the first recording to present 14 of the world’s best-loved opera arias performed in English by some of the world’s finest opera stars and rising stars, including:

Michael Schade, Jean Stilwell, Allan Monk, Tracy Dahl, Daniel Taylor, Suzie LeBlanc, and many more!

From the operas:

The Barber of Seville, Madame Butterfly, Rigoletto, Carmen, La Boheme, The Magic Flute, Xerxes, The Marriage of Figaro, and more!

Featuring the Budapest Concert Orchestra MÁV, directed by Tamás Gál, The World’s Very Best Opera for Kids features fresh arrangements and stunning performances, resulting in highly entertaining and singable works the whole family will enjoy.

The World’s Very Best Opera for Kids CD features:

14 best-loved arias performed in English
5 instrumental-only tracks (karaoke-style versions) so that anyone can sing-a-long as an opera star!
Complete lyrics
A synopsis of each opera setting the scene for each selection.
A short biography about each of the performers

The Teacher's Notes presents a step-by-step strategy for incorporating classical music across all subject areas: social studies, math, science communications, and other arts. Includes facts, activities, and thought-provoking questions. The Teacher's Notes is only available bundled with the corresponding CD. 39 pages.

CD: #2528 $16.98 $13.99

Teacher's Notes and CD Combo #2671 $32.99





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