BBT and the Students of P.S 215 are glad to present to you the production:

Peter and the Wolf by Prokofiev

Production and Choreography by Ana Lejava, Irina Lapteva

Artistic Director : Irina Roizin

Prokofiev & his story

Sergei Prokofiev wrote the story and composed the music for Peter and the Wolf in 1936. It was written in two weeks for a children's theatre in Moscow. He wrote the music as a child's introduction to the orchestra with each character being represented by an instrument or group of instruments. Peter and the Wolf was an immediate success and continues to be enjoyed today by children all over the world. Prokofiev used instruments from four instrument families to tell his musical story. The four instrument families are: strings, woodwinds, brass and percussion. Discover in this story which instrument represents the main characters: Peter, the cat, the bird, the duck, the wolf, Grandpa and the hunters.

Peter and the Wolf is a piece of orchestral music written by Sergei Prokofiev. This piece contains a children’s story and as the narrator speaks, the orchestra accompanies them. The composer uses a different instrument and melodic motif for each character. This type of music is called programme music because the music specifically represents the characters and is used to make the story come to life

About the Composer

Sergei Prokofiev (born April 23, 1891, Sontsovka, Ukraine, Russian Empire—died March 5, 1953, Moscow, Russia, U.S.S.R.), 20th-century Russian (and Soviet) composer who wrote in a wide range of musical genres, including symphonies, concerti, film music, operas, ballets, and program pieces)

Prokofiev was a Russian composer who wrote his first piece of music aged 5. He went on to study music at St Petersburg Conservatoire aged 13 where he was taught by some of the best Russian composers of the time such as Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov (The Flight of the Bumblebee). Some of Prokofiev’s famous works include the ballets Romeo and Juliet and Cinderella. He also wrote operas and many works for orchestra, the violin, and the piano.

In 1936, the Children’s Theatre in Moscow asked Prokofiev to write a new symphony for children. They wanted a piece of music that would appeal to children and create an interest in orchestral music. Prokofiev wrote the story and music in just four days! It was first performed in 1936 but did not attract very much attention. Today, it is one of the most well-known and well-loved pieces of orchestral music.

For the Young Members of the Audience ……

  • Match the character to the correct instrument…

1. Peter Timpani

2. BirdBassoon

3. Duck Flute

4. Cat Oboe

5. Hunters Horns

6. Wolf Strings

7. Grandfather Clarinet

  • Answer Following Questions:

1. How would you describe Peter’s mood and movement when you hear the strings?

______

2.Describe the pitch of the bird.

______

3. Is the flute a good choice for this animal? Why?

______

4. Describe the timbre of the oboe (duck).

______

5. Why do you think Prokofiev chose the oboe for the duck?

______

6. Describe the movement of the cat (clarinet).

______

7. Describe thepitchof the bassoon. Does this suit the grandfather? How?

______

8. What atmosphere do the horns (wolf) create when they first appear?

______

9. Why do you think Prokofiev chose timpani to represent the hunters?

______

10. Which orchestral instrument would you use to represent you and why?

______