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BILLY AND THE CARNIVAL is designed to introduce young listeners to the
instruments of the orchestra through a children's story.
PROGRAM NOTES
BILLY AND THE CARNIVAL is the
story of a boy who goes to his local park and starts to meet grownups carrying
instruments and wearing fancy clothes. One by one they introduce themselves and
their instruments with solos announcing each instrument by name. Billy takes a
nap from the excitement and has a dream that a carnival is coming to his park;
when he wakes up, his dream comes true and the orchestra plays a concert at the
carnival!
An illustrated story book, and an activity/coloring book are published,
and for large orders a special edition can be printed with the name of your
orchestra (and your sponsors). The Colorado Symphony has given out thousands
of coloring books as part of their Education programs!
BILLY AND THE CARNIVAL was
commissioned by the Sacramento Symphony for 26 concerts; subsequent performances
have included the Pittsburgh Symphony and orchestras in Spain.
REVIEWS
"Billy and the Carnival serves as a child's introduction to the instruments of the orchestra. It was written on commission by the Sacramento Symphony, and was taken by that orchestra on a 25-city tour. Because of space restrictions, certain instruments (harp, percussion, some brass) had to be omitted from the narrative, but the work gives a splendid demonstration and setting for most of the main orchestral instruments, and is set in a more jazz-influenced style than the other works. This work may not evict Benjamin Britten's Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra from its place of prominence, but it is a worthwhile companion piece."
– Fanfare Magazine (Canfield), July-August 2013.
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