~ September 2013
Love Music’s latest commissioned project premieres at the UNESCO City of Music Family Fun Day in Glasgow later this month, and we have taken inspiration from the much loved and often performed “old grandaddy” of children’s classical music, Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf.
In true Love Music style, we wondered if anyone had ever asked the wolf how we felt about the whole escapade? Why did he do it? Couldn’t he see there was a trap afoot?!
We got our answer when we began writing the songs.
“I am a wolf.
It’s what I do.
I’d love to spend some wolfy time with you!
Come over here
And shake a paw
And take a look inside my jaw!”
He couldn’t help himself, it was in his hairy nature.
So, we are now working on a new set of songs for younger children (4-6 year olds) that upturn the traditional narrative and tell the tale from the animals’ point of view. We’ll be teaching the songs to lots of young children in Glasgow at the Royal Concert Hall on 28th September and howling at as many passers by as possible.
The first two tales include the aforementioned Wolfy, and a slightly overweight, charmed and particularly plucky duck called Esmerelda. We’re planning two more to make up a full orchestral suite.
We’re also delighted that our friends at the Scottish Chamber Orchestra have already taken up the songs for their family concert with CBeebies presenter Chris Jarvis.
Thanks to the wonderful writer Martin Riley for inspirational lyric writing, and the lovely illustration from New York based artist Steph Becker.