Audio & CDs

Maestro Classics ~ My Name Is Handel {Music Review}

Classical music has been a part of my life since I was a very young girl, age 5 to be exact and probably even before that. I can remember listening to certain cassettes and records growing up, and even today certain songs bring back a ton of memories for me. Since starting to homeschool Jacob, I’ve become more keen as to what’s available in the way of musical education for my boys. Maestro Classics provides not only beautifully classic albums by great composers but albums that also contain a story, rich in history but very real to the listener.

Their newest album, released August 24, is My Name is Handel. This album focuses on the music of George Frideric Handel, sharing certain parts of his life story so that the album comes alive, somewhat, for kids. Upon first listening to the CD, I was brought back to the music of the Royal Wedding. It just had that same royal feel to it; I expected to look up and see Prince Harry stealing peeks back at the lovely bride as she walked up the aisle. Of course, this album is played by no other than the London Philharmonic Orchestra, and I must say they really do play in a grand, majestic way. They most certainly do justice to the music of Handel.

Narrated by Yadu, the story is carried along by both his voice and the music. The story and music cover about 38 minutes of the album, while after the story, you’ll also be treated to a bit of history, explanations of the music of Handel, and a sing-along. The creators of the Maestro Classics Stories in Music series are Bonnie Ward Simon and Stephen Simon, both well studied experts in the field of classical music. Stephen was the music director of the Washington Chamber Symphony at the Kennedy Center for 25 years. Bonnie has much experience in writing/musical education, also serving on the board of directors at Carnegie Hall, not to mention the Guggenheim Museum and the NYC Opera.

What songs will you find on this album? You’ll find both classical and operatic styles. The album also comes with a small, beautifully illustrated booklet that gives explanation of Handel and different musical instruments. The story you’ll hear on the CD is somewhat comical, as Handel is basically trying to impress the King in a surprise performance on the River Thames. The performance is meant as a gift to the King. I honestly could listen to the classical pieces on this album over and over again. My kids are not quite as enthused as I am, but I love the educational nature of this series and how easy it is to just pop the CD in going down the road, while we’re working on chores around the house, or even while Jacob’s working on school. Classical music is, after all, quite conducive to a good educational setting, and much can be learned through simply just listening to the music even if working on something else at the same time.

You can purchase My Name is Handel for $16.98 in CD form or for $9.98 in MP3 form. It’s geared toward ages 5+, as well as families. I definitely recommend this series. Be sure to Like Maestro Classics CDs on Facebook and Follow @MaestroClassics on Twitter.

(Disclosure: I received a copy of this CD, free of charge, from Waldmania! PR, for the purposes of review. All views/opinions remain solely my own.)

Beethoven’s Wig ~ Sing Along Piano Classics {Music Review}

When you think of the term Classical Music you probably don’t think of the type of classical music that Beethoven’s Wig offers. Richard Perlmutter has a unique way of making classical music lively and interesting for even the smallest of kids. Richard has appeared on NBC’s Today Show, as well as NPR’s All Things Considered.

The newest album, Beethoven’s Wig: Sing Along Piano Classics, features the works of composers such as Chopin, Mozart, Beethoven, Schumann, and more. All of the songs have that classical tone and feel. As I listened, I realized it was way different than any classical music I’d listened to. It was set to the level of a child, and I mean that in a good way. Richard does a great job of keeping the music classical but also adding in his own quirks and stories, so that the songs are fun, outgoing, and full of hilarious laughs. There is even some opera involved along the way.

Here is a listing of the Sing Along Piano Classics Track:

La De Da Sonata (Sonata in C Major, Mozart)
Poor Uncle Joe (Funeral March, Chopin)
My Little Chicken (Chopsticks, de Lulli)
A Piano is Stuck in the Door (The Entertainer, Joplin)
I Like Art (“Promenade” from Pictures at an Exhibition, Mussorgsky)
Minuet for My Pet (Minuet in G, Beethoven)
Mozart Makes Kids Smart (Rondo Alla Turca, Mozart)
The Pony Express (The Wild Rider, Schumann)
I Can’t Sleep (Lullaby, Brahms) (Probably one of my favorite songs)
Mary Go Round (“Vivo” from Les Cinq Doigts, Stravinsky)
S.O.S. (“Langsam” from Six Short Pieces for Piano, Schoenberg)
Bang Bang Bang (Amiable Conversation, Henry Cowell)
Voyage to the Moon (Clair de Lune, Debussy)

While some of the songs have lyrics and are rather silly in nature, catering to kids and their perspective on life, there are also songs with just the instrumental portion of the song, as well, so that kids can listen to both versions. I love that feature, as a homeschool mom, trying to educate my boys about where music has come from. I also love it because these are classical pieces, and when I might not want to listen to the silly portion of the album, I can be carried away with beautiful piano classics.