MUSIC FOR CHILDREN'S CONCERTS by Daniel Dorff

Music by Daniel Dorff

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MUSIC FOR CHILDREN’S CONCERTS

NEW!! THE TORTOISE AND THE HARE & OTHER TALES is now available at the Bridge Records shopping cart as well as amazon.com and other leading retailers!

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 (including The Fox and the Crow, The Dog and his Reflection, and The Tortoise and the Hare).

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!

More information and mp3 clips follow below!

NARRATED CHILDREN’S STORIES

The Tortoise and the Hare for Narrator with Chamber Orchestra (5½')
A comical telling of the Aesop fable, featuring Contrabassoon and Clarinet as the Tortoise and the Hare. Themes are exaggeratedly low/slow and high/fast to illustrate contrasts in music. Re-scoring of Minnesota Orchestra octet commission.
World premiere narrated by Olympic track star Carl Lewis.
Here’s an audio clip of Carl Lewis’s premiere with the Haddonfield Symphony conducted by Daniel Hege (25 sec., 398K MP3) (Used by permission)
See below for more clips from the new CD!
Also performed by Philadelphia Orchestra, Baltimore Symphony, Detroit Symphony, Indianapolis Symphony, and others.
Click here for program notes.
Rental from MMB - 1112(Cbn) 1110 Hp 1-2Perc Strings.
CD available: Ann Crumb narrating, Rossen Milanov conducting the Symphony In C, now available from Bridge Records!

Three Fun Fables (11')
1. The Fox and the Crow (features Trumpet and Bass)
2. The Dog and His Reflection (features Trombone and Violin/Harp/Percussion)
3. The Tortoise and the Hare (features Contrabassoon and Clarinet)
Each character is portrayed by an instrument, allowing for pre-concert illustrations to help instrument recognition, musical contrasts, and familiarity with the story and music.
1) Narrator with Chamber Orchestra
Orchestral version commissioned by the Philadelphia Orchestra; premiered April 29, 2000 with Wolfgang Sawallisch conducting, Susan Spafford narrating.
Here are audio clips of the Philadelphia Orchestra performance:
Mvt 1: (30 sec., 476K MP3)
Mvt 2: (29 sec., 446K MP3)
Mvt 3: (29 sec., 448K MP3) (Used by permission)
Rental from MMB - 1112(Cbn) 1110 Hp 1-2Perc Strings.
2) Narrator with Clarinet, Bassoon/Contrabassoon, Trumpet, Trombone, Harp, 1 Percussion, Violin, Bass
Commissioned for Minnesota Orchestra's KinderKonzerts - 52 performances in 1996-97 season and another 52 performances in 2003-04 season.
Click the links below to download some mp3 samples from the CD!
THE FOX AND THE CROW
1) The crow singing proudly (featuring Kurt Muroki on the amazing bass solo) (48 sec.)
2) The fox planning how to get the cheese from the crow (47 sec.)
THE DOG AND HIS REFLECTION
1) The dog... (20 sec.)
2) ... and his reflection (30 sec).
THE TORTOISE AND THE HARE
1) Introducing the tortoise and the hare (26 sec.)
2) The hare falls asleep... (33 sec.)
Click here for program notes.
Rental from MMB.
CD available: Ann Crumb narrating, Rossen Milanov conducting the Symphony In C, now available from Bridge Records!

Billy and the Carnival: A Children’s Guide to the Instruments
for Narrator with Orchestra (14')
Commissioned by Sacramento Symphony for 26 performances. Other performances include the Pittsburgh Symphony.
Narrated guide to instruments based on an original story - a boy goes to his local park and is surprised to meet musicians coming to a concert there. As he meets musicians they play their instruments, so demonstrations of each instrument fit the story.
         Click the links below to download some mp3 samples from the new CD!
        1) The opening orchestral jam session (37 sec.)
        2) "A trumpet can play strong and exciting music, and it sounds like this!" (37 sec.)
        3) From the lullaby featuring clarinet and then cello, over the strings (39 sec.)
Click here for program notes.
On rental from Theodore Presser Company - 2(Picc)222-2210 Timp 2Perc Strings
Companion coloring book published by Presser; A special printing with your orchestra's name on the cover is available for orders of 500 copies or more.
CD available: Ukee Washington narrating, Rossen Milanov conducting the Symphony In C, now available from Bridge Records!

Blast Off! for Narrator and Orchestra (9½')
Commissioned by Lockheed Martin and the Haddonfield Symphony for NASA Astronaut Kenneth Reightler, Jr. to narrate.
Travelog of a child’s journey to outer space - episodes feature various sections of the orchestra to add music educational value.
Premiered March 31, 2000.
       Click the links below to download some mp3 samples from the CD!
        1) "Have you ever looked up at a bright, shiny, full moon?" (41 sec.)
        2) The brilliant and blazing sun, portrayed by the brass section with percussion (29 sec.)
        3) The ride back home and landing (33 sec.)
More sound clips and an interview are featured on ASOL's www.playmusic.org Mars Millenium website.
Study score published by Presser (416-41237, $25.00)
Philadelphia Orchestra performances October 14, 2003.
Click here for program notes.
Large score and parts on rental from Presser - 2(Picc)2(EH)22(Cbn)-4331 Timp 3Perc Hp Strings.
CD available: Ukee Washington narrating, Rossen Milanov conducting the Symphony In C, now available from Bridge Records!

Goldilocks and the Three Bears (8')
1) for Narrator with Flute, Clarinet, Bass Trombone, Harp, 1 Percussion, Violin, Cello, and Bass
Commissioned by the Minnesota Orchestra Volunteer Association for Kinder Konzerts.
51 performances, 2000-2001 season; 50 performances scheduled for 2006-07 season.
"An absolute delight!" - Marvin Rosen, Classical Discoveries, WPRB-FM, February 20, 2008.
        Click the links below to download some mp3 samples from the CD!
        1) "Once upon a time, there were three bears." (40 sec.)
        2) The entrance of Goldilocks (21 sec.)
        3) The happy ending (24 sec.)

2) for Narrator and Orchestra (same music as the octet with more instrumentation)
Premiere of orchestra version December 2001, Susquehanna Symphony Orchestra conducted by Sheldon Bair.
Performance by the Philadelphia Orchestra scheduled for June 13, 2009.
Click here for program notes.
Rental from Presser - 1111 111(Bass)0 1-2Perc Hp Strings.
CD available: Ann Crumb narrating, Rossen Milanov conducting the Symphony In C, now available from Bridge Records!

The Adventures of Mary’s Little Lamb
VERSION A for Narrator with Contrabassoon, Horn, Violin, Viola, and Piano (3½')
Commissioned by the Philadelphia Orchestra for 5 performances on its Sound All Around series, May 2002.
VERSION B for Narrator with Bassoon, Trombone, Violin, Percussion, and Piano (3½')
Commissioned by the Philadelphia Orchestra for 5 performances on its Sound All Around series, April 2006.
Available from Theodore Presser Company.

Take the Orchestra Out to the Ballgame
VERSION A for Narrator with English Horn, Trumpet, Percussion, Bass, and Piano, (4')
Commissioned by the Philadelphia Orchestra for 5 performances on its Sound All Around series, March 2003.
VERSION B for Narrator with Chamber Orchestra (4')
Available from Theodore Presser Company.

The Bear Went Under the Mountain for Narrator with Flute/Piccolo, Bass Trombone, Cello, Percussion, and Piano (6')
Commissioned by the Philadelphia Orchestra for 5 performances on its Sound All Around series, April 2004.
Available from Theodore Presser Company.

The Three Little Pigs for Narrator, Violin, and Cello (10½')
Commissioned in 2004 by the American Composers Forum community partnerships for the Auricolae ensemble and Strings in the Schools.
CD recording forthcoming in 2006.
Available from Theodore Presser Company.

INSTRUMENTAL

Say Hey! Homage to William Mays, for Percussion Trio with Baseball Bats and Audience Participation (4')
Commissioned by the Haddonfield Symphony for November 2002 in-school programs, southern NJ.

Philly Rhapsody for Orchestra (11')
Commissioned for Philadelphia's Creative and Performing Arts H.S.
Homage to The Sound of Philadelphia (Philly International Records' rhythm & blues style) and "The Philadelphia Sound" of the Philadelphia Orchestra, as a hybrid of these two traditions.
On rental from Theodore Presser Company - 3(Picc)23(Bcl)2 4331 Pno Hp DrumSet 3Perc (no Timp) Strings [Ob2, Bn2, Hn3&4 may be omitted].

It Takes Four to Tango
for String Quartet (1990, this version 1998) 2½ min.
Published by Theodore Presser Company (114-40942, $7.50)
for String Quintet (1990, this version 1998) 2½ min.
Performances include Colorado Symphony’s outreach concerts.
Published by Theodore Presser Company (114-41060)
for String Orchestra (1990, this version 1998) 2½ min.
Published by Theodore Presser Company (116-40040)
Here’s an audio clip of the Harmo Saxophone Quartet playing the sax version, from their Meister CD
(29 sec., 452K MP3)

SOLO INSTRUMENT FEATURED

Allegro Volante for Solo Xylophone and Orchestra (4')
A dazzling showpiece in the style of a Russian galop, with jazzy American harmonies.
Here's an audio clip of xylophonist Dean Witten's premiere with the Haddonfield Symphony, conducted by Alan Gilbert (30 sec., 469K MP3) (used by permission)
On rental from Theodore Presser Company - 2(Picc)222-4331 Timp 3Perc Hp Strings

Summer Solstice for Solo Clarinet and String Orchestra (Movement 3 only, 5')
This final movement stands on its own as a jazz waltz, ideal for teen and youth concerts.
Performers have included Chicago Symphony’s John Bruce Yeh, Colorado Symphony's Bil Jackson. Jazz great Eddie Daniels is also available.
Here's an audio clip of clarinetist John Bruce Yeh with the Haddonfield Symphony, conducted by Alan Gilbert (25 sec., 388K MP3) (used by permission)
Rental from MMB.

Sunburst for Solo Violin with String Orchestra (3')
Commissioned by the Colorado Symphony’s Up Close and Musical series for 20-30 performances (1998-2000 seasons), to demonstrate sounds and colors of the violin.
Rental from Presser.

Concerto for Contrabassoon with Clarinet, Horn, and String Orch. (12')
Louisville Orchestra and Charlotte Symphony have featured excerpts on their children’s concerts.
Rental from MMB.

OPERA FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES

Stone Soup: An Operatic Fable in One Act
for SATB Soloists, optional Chorus, with Piano or Chamber Orch. (c.35')
Commissioned by Young Audiences’ Philadelphia chapter for ongoing in-school use since 1983. Continuous run for 16 seasons.
Over 1000 performances. A light-hearted comical interpretation of the fable, in which a Solider (T.) is hungry and lost, but with the help of children and Mayor (A.), he convinces the Vegetable Lady (S.) and Butcher (B.) to contribute food to his soup. The musical refrain “It Takes All Kinds of People to Make Up a Happy Town” is echoed by the story's use of all kinds of food to make the most delicious Stone Soup, and to celebrate community and diversity.
Rental from Presser; piano accompaniment or 1111-1110 Pno Hp 1Perc Strings.

last updated 12/7/07