The Story Orchestra series brings classical music to life for children through gorgeously illustrated retellings of classic ballet, opera and program music stories paired with 10-second sound clips of orchestras playing from their musical scores. With The Story Orchestra keyboard sound books, children can play the famous melodies themselves with the sound of a real grand piano.
It is the perfect primer to introduce children to classical music.
I Can Play
While other books in the series play famous pieces of classical music, in this new Story Orchestra title, young readers can now play the tunes themselves!
Each song includes an enchanting illustration and description of the part of the story that the music is telling along with playing tips. All the favourite characters from the series are there to encourage young musicians as they play their first notes with the sound of a piano.
I Can Play:
- The Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy – The Nutcracker (Tchaikovsky)
- The Dance of the Reed Flutes – The Nutcracker (Tchaikovsky)
- Flight of the Swans – Swan Lake (Tchaikovsky)
- Dance of the Cygnets – Swan Lake (Tchaikovsky)
- Royal March of the Lions – The Carnival of the Animals (Saint-Saëns)
- The Elephant – The Carnival of the Animals (Saint-Saëns)
- The Swan – The Carnival of the Animals (Saint-Saëns)
- Spring Dawn Chorus – The Four Seasons (Vivaldi)
Readers should press firmly on the pages to activate the keys, encouraging them to explore the possibilities of making music!
In The Hall of Mountain King
This tale of a boy’s adventure through the valleys and mountains of the Norwegian countryside begins at a wedding feast far, far away. Peer Gynt is bored and he’s longing for adventure. After sneaking off from the party, he finds himself at a peaceful lake where he meets some dairy people. When he lies about his escapades riding reindeer through the sky, they dare him to go to the lair of the Mountain King, the king of the trolls.
Music from Grieg's score
Magic Flute
This classic opera, reworked for the benefit of younger readers, tells a tale of a prince, a princess and a magic flute, which begins in a mountain ridge between two magical lands. Prince Tamino enters, chased by a dragon, but three brave mountain rangers gallop past on horseback to rescue him.
Music from from Mozart’s score.
Four Seasons In One Day
From the dawn chorus to an icy sunset, follow one girl and her dog as they adventure through spring, summer, autumn and winter in just one day.
Music from Vivaldi's The Four Seasons
The Nutcracker
Follow Clara on a magical adventure in this retelling of the classic ballet story. Watch the Nutcracker battle the Mouse King, meet the Sugar Plum Fairy and journey to the Land of Sweets, where wonder and excitement await...
Music from Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker
The Sleeping Beauty
In the retelling of the classic ballet story, join the King and Queen as they throw a party for their new baby, Princess Aurora. When a terrible guest arrives and places a curse on the princess, the kingdom must find the one special person who can defeat it...
Music from Tchaikovsky's The Sleeping Beauty
Swan Lake
Discover the spellbinding magic of Swan Lake in this musical retelling of the ballet - push the button on each beautiful scene to hear the vivid sound of an orchestra playing from Tchaikovsky's score.
This tale of a prince, a beautiful swan princess and an evil sorcerer begins in a woodland clearing far, far away. It is Prince Siegfried's 21st birthday. He is playing games with his friends when his mother, the Queen, arrives to tell him he needs to stop having fun and start looking after the kingdom. Prince Siegfried dreams of running away.
Music from Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake
The Carnival of Animals
Discover the magical world of Carnival of the Animals in this musical reimagining of this celebrated suite for children - push the button in each breathtaking scene to hear the vivid sound of an orchestra playing from Camille Saint-Saens' score.
One day, two brothers discover a magical animal kingdom behind their bookcase. They are greeted by the royal lion with his shaggy mane; ask for directions from an old lonely tortoise; take a ride on some lumbering elephants; topple a skeleton of dinosaur bones; and swim among a school of shimmering fish. If only they could take them all home...
Music from Saint-Saens' music
Format: Hardback
Size: 304 x 265 x 15.24mm
Age Range: 0-5
Illustrated by Jessica Courtney-Tickle
*** Manufacturer's note: please pull the white tab out of the back of the book before use. Sound buttons require a firm push in exact location to work, which may be hard for young children. All sound clips are 10 seconds long.