Ahh, I found it. My father is an avowed commie hater of the first order, but he knows good music when he hears it and knows the godless russkies have a leg up on us on good classical music. I probably listened to this thousands of times between 2 and 7. Understand that at the beginning of the album, a grandfatherly man introduces each of the instruments, and tells who they represent. I think I may have actually sat through a couple of lectures by my dad about how the poor people in Russia had nothing to bring joy into their lives except for music and vodka, and so they honed a much keener appreciation for each than us warm climate saps:)
http://www.classicalnotes.co.uk/home.htmlProkofiev Peter and the Wolf
Peter and the Wolf, Op.67
As well as writing some of the greatest 20th Century ballets (notably "Romeo and Juliet" and "Cinderella", Prokofiev was one of the most powerful symphonic statesmen of our time, composing seven superb symphonies. His music encompasses glorious melody, rich, pungent harmony, driving rhythm and sometimes savage dissonance; 50 years after the composers death it continues to speak directly to the hearts of audiences worldwide.
Nowhere in his works does Prokofiev speak to us so freely and happily as in Peter and the Wolf, Op.67. Prokofiev subscribed to the Soviet philosophy that music should belong to everyone in society, and, like his contemporaries Kabalevsky and Shostakovich, wrote music specifically for children and young people. Indeed, Prokofievs Seventh Symphony was originally written for an audience of children, but easily his most popular and successful work in this genre is the "Symphonic Tale" Peter and the Wolf, first performed in 1936. The story of Peter is wonderfully easy to follow and needs little explanation remember to listen out for Peter (the strings), his friends the Bird (flute), the Duck (oboe), the Cat (clarinet), the Hunters (drums), Peters Grandfather (bassoon) and of course the Wolf (horns). Are you sitting comfortably? Then well begin&
