Favourites,
Gifts for...Children (and grandchildren)
In our latest gift guide, you'll find the perfect presents to introduce children to the wonderful world of classical music. We've selected some great albums and collections featuring some of the most popular works for children (from Peter and the Wolf to Carnival of the Animals), family-friendly ballets to watch together, and entertaining and informative books introducing the history of music as well as fun musical games and activities to play with your children.
CDs and Collections Introducing Classical Music
This 2017 recording, narrated by presenter Alexander Armstrong, features Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf, Saint-Saëns's Le carnaval des animaux and Alan Rawsthorne's setting of six poems from T.S. Eliot's Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats. Vasily Petrenko conducts the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra in invigorating performances of these popular pieces.
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
Not Now, Bernard and other stories
Alexander Armstrong (narrator), Orchestra of the Swan, Tom Hammond
The broadcaster, singer and comedian narrates on world premiere recordings of three settings of modern children’s stories by Bernard Hughes (b. 1974): David McKee’s Not Now, Bernard and Isabel’s Noisy Tummy, and James Mayhew’s The Knight Who Took All Day. The album also includes John Ireland’s setting of Edgar Allan Poe’s final poem Annabel Lee (and arranged here by Hughes) and Judith Weir’s Thread!, inspired by the Bayeux Tapestry and premiered in 1981.
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
The original soundtrack from the 1952 film features songs including Thumbelina, The Ugly Duckling, The King’s New Clothes, and The Inch Worm, and has been remastered for this release; the album also includes Paul Tripp’s two Tubby the Tuba stories (narrated by Kaye) and two songs by Sylvia Fine: There's a Hole at the Bottom of the Sea and Uncle Pockets.
Available Format: CD
Naxos's Children's Classics series includes some of the most popular pieces of classical music for younger listeners. With narration from British actors including Bernard Cribbins, Brian Cant, Dame Edna Everage and Prunella Scales, this 7-CD box set includes Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf, Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker, Poulenc's L'histoire de Babar and Dukas's The Sorcerer's Apprentice among others.
Available Format: 7 CDs
Family-friendly Ballet and Opera on DVD/Blu-ray
Raymond Briggs's book The Snowman has become a seasonal favourite, and Howard Blake's enchanting score adds to the charm of this magical story. Now running for decades, the 80-minute stage show version has become a festive must-see, and is now released on DVD and Blu-ray - so you can relive the magic at home.
Available Format: DVD Video
This unique collection brings together four jewels of the Royal Ballet repertoire that will delight and captivate viewers of all ages. Included in the set are full performances of Tchaikovsky's festive treat The Nutcracker, the enchanting Tales of Beatrix Potter, Joby Talbot's imaginative treatment of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, and a beguiling production of Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf.
Available Format: 4 DVD Videos
This abridged version of Mozart’s masterpiece offers young, very young and not-so-young audiences a first taste of the fascinating world of opera. Papageno guides us through the work, recounting his adventures with Prince Tamino, who has fallen in love with Pamina and decides to rescue her from Sarastro’s empire …
Available Format: DVD Video
Books about Music for Children
Why do we make music? Which instruments make up an orchestra? How does music affect our emotions? These are just some of the fascinating questions addressed in this book, which takes children on a musical journey around the world. Readers will meet along the way a diverse cast of composers, musicians and performers who all make music in a variety of different genres, from Bach to Billie Eilish, Mozart to Miriam Makeba.
Available Format: Book
With questions such as How do you write a song? and Can you play music in space?, this book is perfect for encouraging an interest in music. Lift the flaps to discover instruments from around the world, and hear them come to life by listening to the book's playlist on Usborne Quicklinks.
Available Format: Book
Musical Games and Activity Books
A wealth of games, activities and ideas for creative and enjoyable musical play, divided into chapters according to how parents would actually use them during the busy, sometimes stressful days with pre-school children. Every suggestion also nourishes natural musicality and confidence, preparing the way for more independent thinking and other creative pursuits later on
Available Format: Book
Music is key to early childhood development and contributes to socialisation, speaking, motor skills and more. This book is packed full of fun and accessible ideas for singing, creating instruments from recycled materials, exploring sounds and making music together. From making maracas, tambourines and rainsticks in the music workshop to beatboxing, singing, stomping and even writing rhythms, every activity uses easy-to-source equipment or no equipment at all.
Available Format: Book
Sound Story Books
Children can discover the magic of Beethoven by pressing the buttons in this delightfully illustrated novelty book. The animal orchestra travel from place to place, playing different pieces of Beethoven's music and telling us a little bit about the composer's extraordinary life.
Available Format: Book
Bring the magic of music into your home with this interactive book, which features a wind-up mechanism that sounds just like a musical jewellery box. Wind and play the Waltz of the Flowers as you share the enduring joy of this classic ballet story.
Available Format: Book
Chris O'Reilly - Chief Executive
