1. The Fox and the Crow (featuring
Trumpet and Contrabass)
2. The Dog and his Reflection
(featuring
Trombone and Violin/Harp/Percussion)
3. The Tortoise and the Hare (featuring
Contrabassoon and Clarinet)
Letter from Philadelphia Orchestra's Music Director Wolfgang Sawallisch
following his premiere of the orchestral version of Three Fun Fables
The 3rd fable, THE TORTOISE AND THE HARE is often performed separately.
The original Minnesota octet version is scored for Clarinet, Bassoon doubling Contrabassoon, Trumpet, Trombone, Violin, Bass, Percussion, and Harp (which is the Histoire du Soldat ensemble plus Harp).
The orchestration was commissioned and premiered by the Philadelphia Orchestra with music director Wolfgang Sawallisch conducting. Performances of just THE TORTOISE AND THE HARE have been given by the Baltimore Symphony, Detroit Symphony, Indianapolis Symphony, and many other orchestras.
Because Aesop's stories, as well as the music, work both on childlike and more adult levels, THREE FUN FABLES is equally suitable for "grownup" concerts and has been performed to great response on the Chicago Symphony's chamber series.
Each movement of THREE FUN FABLES is a study in musical contrasts, particularly THE TORTOISE AND THE HARE, and each character of each fable has a clearly recognizable theme and instrument. For this reason, pre-concert preparation can address these educational objectives.
See who else has performed THREE FUN FABLES
See reviews of the complete CD
Rossen Milanov conducts the Symphony in C, featuring Ann Crumb and Ukee Washington as narrators in Blast Off!, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Billy and the Carnival, and Three Fun Fables.
Dorff's narrated stories entertain adults as well as children and are frequently performed at concerts around the world, while introducing young listeners to the sounds of an orchestra. Perfect for holiday and birthday gifts, music education classes, and plain old enjoyment!
1) The crow singing proudly (featuring Kurt Muroki on the amazing bass solo)
2) The fox planning how to get the cheese from the crow
– AUDIO EXCERPTS - THE DOG AND HIS REFLECTION (octet version)
1) The dog...
2) ... and his reflection
– AUDIO EXCERPTS - THE TORTOISE AND THE HARE (octet version)
1) Introducing the tortoise and the hare
2) The hare falls asleep...
– AUDIO EXCERPTS from the Philadelphia Orchestra premiere:
from Mvt 1
from Mvt 2
from Mvt 3
Carl Lewis narrating the orchestral premiere of
The Tortoise and the Hare with the Haddonfield Symphony,
Daniel Hege conducting