David Tennant - Peter and the Wolf and Jazz! on CD

Description

Narrator David Tennant invites you to share in a strange and wonderful adventure: a jazz big band adaptation of Prokofiev s famous tale. Jazz instruments take the place of the classical orchestra in this innovative adaption and in addition The Amazing Keystone Orchestra introduce listeners to the sound of the big band and to the history of jazz. The booklet relates the story in a series of magnificently realised illustrations (by Martin Jarrie). Commissioned by the Festival Jazz a Vienne where it was first performed on June 28th 2012, this 'non-classical' Peter and the Wolf aimed to introduce children to all forms of jazz. In 1936 the composer of Ivan the Terrible offered an introduction to the instruments of the classical orchestra. Three-quarters of a century later, this new recording allows listeners to explore the sounds of a big band, along with the history of jazz and improvisation through its evolution and its various genres. This artistic initiative uses a formation very close to the typical Duke Ellington band: 2 alto saxes, 2 tenors, 1 baritone, 4 trombones, 4 trumpets and the rhythm section made up of the only strings in the group: piano, double bass and guitar. The only addition to this classic big band line up, indispensible for the bird, is the flute and, replacing the fourth bass trombone, the tuba. Review 'what the three arrangers have done on this is that they ve stuck with all the traditional music, but they ve reworked it, re-harmonised it, put a different twist on it and it s totally recognisable, but they ve done it with such great taste and such great musicality that I listened to it three or four times in a row, I just thought it was magnificent ... I think it s for children of all ages ... it s a brilliant introduction to the music and to the sound of the orchestra and what it can do ... every era is represented and the whole piece is just incredibly enjoyable; it s the sort of thing where even if you haven t really listened to much jazz you could have a ball listening to it ... amazing playing, every one of them ... it s very clever, it s very enjoyable and of course it s very educational, it works' The CD is very good at showing how a story can be told entirely in music. Music is like a universal language that everyone can understand, so this is not just for children but is for everyone who wants to learn more about orchestral music. I'm learning to play electric guitar with my dad and the CD showed me how to create moods and to use the same musical idea lots of different ways. 4 STARS 

Tracks

1.
Overture
2.
Introduction to the Characters
3.
Early One Morning Peter Opened the Gate
4.
On the Branch of a Big Tree
5.
Just Then a Duck Came Waddling Round
6.
Suddenly, Something Caught Peter's Eye
7.
Look Out! Shouted Peter
8.
Grandfather Came Out
9.
No Sooner Had Peter Gone
10.
In a Twinkling the Cat Climbed Into the Tree
11.
And Now, This Is How Things Stood
12.
In the Meantime, Behind the Closed Gate
13.
Peter Said to the Bird
14.
Meanwhile, Peter Made a Lasso With His Rope.
15.
Just Then, Hunters Came Out of the Woods
16.
Imagine the Triumphant Procession!
17.
Above Them Flew the Bird, Chirping Merrily
18.
Bird's Tweets. Presto Leggiero
19.
Soulful Cat. Maligno Affamato
20.
Elegy for a Duck. Andante Piangendo
21.
Hunter's Blues. Allegro Resoluto
22.
Beware of the Wolf. Agitato Furioso
23.
Grandpa's Shuffle. Moderato Capriccioso
24.
Peter's March: Giocoso Alla Marcia