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Friday, February 17, 2012

"The Soldier's Tale" from Maestro Classics CD {Giveaway - Ends 3/2} (CLOSED)

This giveaway is now closed. Congrats to the winner listed below!



Here is another great children's music CD from Maestro Classics "The Solider's Tale". I have really enjoyed all the Maestro Classics CDs that we had tried, like the "My Name is Handel" CD. This is a great way to introduce your children to classical music. It's something that the whole family can listen to together.  



THE SOLDIER’S TALE
from 
MAESTRO CLASSICS
A Stories in Music CD, featuring Members of the London Philharmonic Orchestra
Stephen Simon, Conductor

Stravinsky’s L’Histoire du Soldat with an Engaging, New, Kid-Friendly Text


“If your little ones are past the age of getting their classical music from Baby Einstein, here is the perfect next step.” –Entertainment Weekly
“You don’t have to love classical music to fall under the enchanting spell of Stephen Simon’s magical production.” – Parents' Choice
® Awards

WASHINGTON, DC (October 27, 2011) – Maestro Classics™, winner of 50 prestigious awards for its Stories In Music™ CD series, is dedicated to creating recordings that offer memorable listening experiences for the whole family -- albums where uncompromisingly great performances are woven into enchanting narratives, supplemented by expanded commentary and activities in beautifully illustrated, 24-page program booklets. Maestro Classics proudly announces the December 6 release of the company’s ninth CD, a sparkling rendition of Stravinsky’s masterpiece for narrator and chamber ensemble, L’Histoire du Soldat, retold for today’s young audiences as The Soldier’s Tale (Maestro Classics, $16.98, for ages 8+ and families, run time 55 minutes).

L’Histoire du Soldat, is one of a handful of the most important and distinctive musical works of the 20th century.  No child should grow up without getting to know this music, and parents who care about their children becoming culturally literate will want to take advantage of this remarkable CD.  As produced by Maestro Classics, The Soldier’s Tale surmounts the stereotype that classical music is boring and 20th century music unapproachable.  This album is most definitely not boring, and it is unquestionably “listener-friendly.”  
The story opens with a soldier named Joseph stopping to rest by the roadside as he walks home to his village. Joseph has just taken out his violin and begun to play when an old man appears, offering to trade a mysterious book that can reveal the future in exchange for the violin. When the old man, who is really the Devil in disguise, convinces Joseph that the powers of the book can be used to gain great wealth, the soldier agrees, and the inexorable wheels of this Faustian morality play begin to turn. Joseph eventually recognizes that he has lost his family and friends, and that money does not bring happiness.

With eminent conductor Stephen Simon directing members of the London Philharmonic Orchestra and narration by Yadu (a.k.a.Dr. Konrad Czynski), The Soldier’s Tale is much more than your typical “classical music for kids” CD.  Stephen Simon presents valuable information that enhances the meaning of the music. Stravinsky’s music is so accessible that it really isn’t necessary to know anything about the way it was composed in order to enjoy and appreciate its very unique sound.  However, with a little background from the Maestro, young listeners can learn a great deal about how this music connects to history and culture. Even though Stravinsky was still a young man when he composed L’Histoire du Soldat, he had traveled widely, spending time in most of the cultural capitals of Europe and Russia, and had already composed music that was world famous.  Maestro Simon not only paints a portrait of Stravinsky and his times, he also expands upon exactly what was in Stravinsky’s music that created so much discussion and is still so relevant to what we hear in concert halls today.

Maestro Classics recordings are available at maestroclassics.comamazon.com, and other major distributors and retailers.  In addition to The Soldier’s Tale, the Stories in Music series includes My Name is Handel: The Story of Handel’s “Water Music,” Peter and the WolfThe Tortoise and the HareThe Story of Swan LakeThe Sorcerer’s ApprenticeMike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel,Casey at the Bat, and Juanita the Spanish Lobster (also available in Spanish).





We really enjoyed the "The Soldier's Tale" from Maestro Classics CD. Listening to the London Philharmonic Orchestra is such a fun experience. You can definitely get lost in the music. It's nice and relaxing for my son at bedtime. And not only can we enjoy the music, but we also get to enjoy the fun story of "The Solider's Tale" inserted into the music.


All of the Maestro Classics are great to have in your house. You can purchase the "The Soldier's Tale" from Maestro Classics CD from their website listed above or on Amazon.


I also have one copy of this CD to giveaway. You can enter in the Rafflecopter form below.




a Rafflecopter giveaway



*Disclaimer: I received this product for review. All opinions are my own.*