Tchaikovsky Discovers America: National Symphony Orchestra Family Concert

Classical Kids LIVE!

75 Musicians Led by One Conductor At today’s concert, conductor Courtney Lewis will lead the 75 members of the National Symphony Orchestra in playing the music.

The conductor is a person who leads the orchestra. Conductors generally use their right hand to tell the orchestra how fast to play and use their left hand to tell the musicians how loud or soft to play. Some use a slender white stick called a baton as they conduct. At the concert, watch how the conductor communicates with the musicians so that the music and the spoken words always work together.

A Good Audience… n

S tays seated (and doesn’t get up to gather papers that might drift off the stage!).

n

Stays quiet.

n

Watches and listens carefully.

n

Claps at the end.

Wait! There’s More!

Musical Instrument “Petting Zoo” One hour before the concert, enjoy hands-on fun with the instruments that the musicians will play on stage.

A project of the Women’s Committee for the NSO.

Kids’ Chat After the 3 p.m. performance, stick around to ask questions of the concert artists on stage.

Upcoming Family Concerts

Family Concert

David M. Rubenstein Chairman Michael M. Kaiser President Darrell M. Ayers Vice President, Education

Christoph Eschenbach Music Director, National Symphony Orchestra The Macy*s Foundation and Washington Gas are the proud sponsors of the NSO Family Concerts.

Additional support for Performances for Young Audiences is provided in part by Adobe Foundation; The Clark Charitable Foundation; Mr. James V. Kimsey; The Max and Victoria Dreyfus Foundation, Inc.; The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation; Park Foundation, Inc.; Paul M. Angell Family Foundation; an endowment from the Ryna and Melvin Cohen Family Foundation; U.S. Department of Education; and by generous contributors to the Abe Fortas Memorial Fund, and by a major gift to the fund from the late Carolyn E. Agger, widow of Abe Fortas.

Produced by Classical Kids Music Education Based on the original work

by Douglas Cowling

Tchaikovsky Discovers America Light design by Paul Pement Production Stage Management & Technical Coordination by Paul Pement Dramaturge & Music Timing by Paul Pement Costume Design by Alex Meadows The theatrical concert version of Tchaikovsky Discovers America is an adaptation of the best-selling and award-winning Classical Kids audio recording, Tchaikovsky Discovers America, produced by Susan Hammond and originally directed as a staged concert by Peter Moss with additional direction by Dennis Garnhum. Classical Kids ® is a trademark of Classical Productions for Children Ltd., used under exclusive license to Pement Enterprises, Inc., and produced by Classical Kids Music Education, NFP. All Classical Kids CD and DVD recordings are marketed by The Children’s Group.

Actors and Production Stage Manager are members of Actors’ Equity Association.

Paul Pement, director, producer, and stage manager Susan Hammond, series creator Roger Anderson and Nicole Hren, actors Presented in the Kennedy Center Concert Hall

Courtney Lewis, conductor

Please plan to join us for the next NSO Family Concert, which will be performed on the following Sunday by the full orchestra: May 19, 2013— The Cricket in Times Square The NSO also presents full orchestra Young People’s Concerts for school groups in the Concert Hall each season during the school day for grades 3 through 6.

www.kennedy-center.org/artsedge

Cuesheets are produced by ARTSEDGE, an education program of the Kennedy Center.

For more about NSO education programs, see www.kennedy-center.org/nso/nsoed

Learn more about Education at the Kennedy Center at www.kennedy-center.org /education

Orchestra Interactive

The contents of this Cuesheet do not necessarily represent the policy of the U.S. Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement from the Federal Government.

Enjoy an interactive exploration of orchestras, their instruments, and their music at the Perfect Pitch Web site at: artsedge.kennedy-center.org/perfectpitch

© 2013 The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

Please recycle this Cuesheet by sharing it with friends!

David and Alice Rubenstein are the Presenting Underwriters of the NSO. Performances for Young Audiences is made possible by

The Composer and the Little Ballerina

Music! Dance! Chocolate! Take a magical train ride with the man behind The Nutcracker and other classical music hits.

About the Story

About the Performance

Stay On Your Toes

In 1891, famous Russian composer and conductor Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (PYO-ter ILL-ee-itch cheye-KOFF-skee) travels to New York City to conduct his music on a brand new stage called Carnegie Hall. Taking a break from rehearsals, Tchaikovsky catches a train to Niagra Falls, where he meets an American girl named Jennie. Together, Tchaikovsky and Jennie discover a few things about the history, culture, and music of each other’s homeland.

Today’s performance will include two actors who will guide you through the story. The show will also feature some of Tchaikovsky’s best-loved music played by the National Symphony Orchestra (NSO). Though the tale of Tchaikovsky’s meeting with Jennie is made up, the composer was a very real and very lively person.

Like many famous composers, Tchaikovsky spent much of his time writing longer pieces for orchestra known as symphonies (SIM-fuh-neez) and concertos (kun-CHAIR-toes). However, Tchaikovsky is perhaps best known for his ballets, massive works that acted as the soundtrack to a story told through dance.

Many of the Tchaikovsky ballets you’ll hear today are based on fairy tales— fanciful stories where toys come to life (like in The Nutcracker), evil sorceresses cast wicked spells (Sleeping Beauty), and beautiful maidens turn into swans (Swan Lake).

“Old” World and New

Greatest Hits from Russia and America

Around 1900, many people like Jennie’s father were moving to the United States—a younger, “newer” country—from places like Russia, which had an older, more traditional culture. Though he still loved his Russian home, Tchaikovsky found much of this new American world delightful…especially its indoor electricity! “Amazing people, these Americans,” he once said. Americans thought he was pretty amazing too, perhaps in part because he was influenced by familiar folk tunes and musical styles from the old world, but was able to combine them and make new and beautiful sounds.

At today’s performance, you’ll hear excerpts of many of Tchaikovsky’s greatest works, from his sweeping and magnificent Piano Concerto No. 1 to his light and lovely waltzes and his big, bold, and brassy 1812 Overture. Keep your ears open, though. In addition to Tchaikovsky’s music, you’ll also be introduced to some uniquely American music styles like rhythmic ragtime, an early relative of jazz. Some traditional American songs like “Amazing Grace” will also make an appearance, so listen closely!

Tchaikovsky and Jennie inspire each other by telling stories, sharing dreams and ideas, and listening to different kinds of music.

Starting in the mid-1800s, millions of people travelled across the Atlantic Ocean to start a new life in America. In 1891, there were 405,664 immigrant travelers received in New York City alone.

Tchaikovsky’s Troubles Though Tchaikovsky is sometimes recognized for his lyrical (tuneful and beautiful) and bouncy tunes, his life was full of tragedy and he was often extremely fearful.

His composing was frequently interrupted by fits of nervousness, and he was terrified of conducting before an audience. Yet in 1891, despite periods of sadness and homesickness, he overcame his many worries and conducted several triumphant performances at the opening of Carnegie Hall.

n

Listen for… music that sou

of somethin nds like or makes yo u think g steaming c other than just notes up of tea, th (hint: a e the sweetn ess of suga tingling of silver, r plums) n music that sound s cheerful or spooky n instrum ents you m ig ht re piano) and instruments cognize (violin, you may n heard befo ever have re (like the celeste!) n sound effects tha t help tell th train whistl e story like es

© Classical Kids Music Education. Performance with the New Jersey Symphony. Actors pictured: Roger Anderson and Tempe Thomas

The Composer and the Little Ballerina

Music! Dance! Chocolate! Take a magical train ride with the man behind The Nutcracker and other classical music hits.

About the Story

About the Performance

Stay On Your Toes

In 1891, famous Russian composer and conductor Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (PYO-ter ILL-ee-itch cheye-KOFF-skee) travels to New York City to conduct his music on a brand new stage called Carnegie Hall. Taking a break from rehearsals, Tchaikovsky catches a train to Niagra Falls, where he meets an American girl named Jennie. Together, Tchaikovsky and Jennie discover a few things about the history, culture, and music of each other’s homeland.

Today’s performance will include two actors who will guide you through the story. The show will also feature some of Tchaikovsky’s best-loved music played by the National Symphony Orchestra (NSO). Though the tale of Tchaikovsky’s meeting with Jennie is made up, the composer was a very real and very lively person.

Like many famous composers, Tchaikovsky spent much of his time writing longer pieces for orchestra known as symphonies (SIM-fuh-neez) and concertos (kun-CHAIR-toes). However, Tchaikovsky is perhaps best known for his ballets, massive works that acted as the soundtrack to a story told through dance.

Many of the Tchaikovsky ballets you’ll hear today are based on fairy tales— fanciful stories where toys come to life (like in The Nutcracker), evil sorceresses cast wicked spells (Sleeping Beauty), and beautiful maidens turn into swans (Swan Lake).

“Old” World and New

Greatest Hits from Russia and America

Around 1900, many people like Jennie’s father were moving to the United States—a younger, “newer” country—from places like Russia, which had an older, more traditional culture. Though he still loved his Russian home, Tchaikovsky found much of this new American world delightful…especially its indoor electricity! “Amazing people, these Americans,” he once said. Americans thought he was pretty amazing too, perhaps in part because he was influenced by familiar folk tunes and musical styles from the old world, but was able to combine them and make new and beautiful sounds.

At today’s performance, you’ll hear excerpts of many of Tchaikovsky’s greatest works, from his sweeping and magnificent Piano Concerto No. 1 to his light and lovely waltzes and his big, bold, and brassy 1812 Overture. Keep your ears open, though. In addition to Tchaikovsky’s music, you’ll also be introduced to some uniquely American music styles like rhythmic ragtime, an early relative of jazz. Some traditional American songs like “Amazing Grace” will also make an appearance, so listen closely!

Tchaikovsky and Jennie inspire each other by telling stories, sharing dreams and ideas, and listening to different kinds of music.

Starting in the mid-1800s, millions of people travelled across the Atlantic Ocean to start a new life in America. In 1891, there were 405,664 immigrant travelers received in New York City alone.

Tchaikovsky’s Troubles Though Tchaikovsky is sometimes recognized for his lyrical (tuneful and beautiful) and bouncy tunes, his life was full of tragedy and he was often extremely fearful.

His composing was frequently interrupted by fits of nervousness, and he was terrified of conducting before an audience. Yet in 1891, despite periods of sadness and homesickness, he overcame his many worries and conducted several triumphant performances at the opening of Carnegie Hall.

n

Listen for… music that sou

of somethin nds like or makes yo u think g steaming c other than just notes up of tea, th (hint: a e the sweetn ess of suga tingling of silver, r plums) n music that sound s cheerful or spooky n instrum ents you m ig ht re piano) and instruments cognize (violin, you may n heard befo ever have re (like the celeste!) n sound effects tha t help tell th train whistl e story like es

© Classical Kids Music Education. Performance with the New Jersey Symphony. Actors pictured: Roger Anderson and Tempe Thomas

Classical Kids LIVE!

75 Musicians Led by One Conductor At today’s concert, conductor Courtney Lewis will lead the 75 members of the National Symphony Orchestra in playing the music.

The conductor is a person who leads the orchestra. Conductors generally use their right hand to tell the orchestra how fast to play and use their left hand to tell the musicians how loud or soft to play. Some use a slender white stick called a baton as they conduct. At the concert, watch how the conductor communicates with the musicians so that the music and the spoken words always work together.

A Good Audience… n

S tays seated (and doesn’t get up to gather papers that might drift off the stage!).

n

Stays quiet.

n

Watches and listens carefully.

n

Claps at the end.

Wait! There’s More!

Musical Instrument “Petting Zoo” One hour before the concert, enjoy hands-on fun with the instruments that the musicians will play on stage.

A project of the Women’s Committee for the NSO.

Kids’ Chat After the 3 p.m. performance, stick around to ask questions of the concert artists on stage.

Upcoming Family Concerts

Family Concert

David M. Rubenstein Chairman Michael M. Kaiser President Darrell M. Ayers Vice President, Education

Christoph Eschenbach Music Director, National Symphony Orchestra The Macy*s Foundation and Washington Gas are the proud sponsors of the NSO Family Concerts.

Additional support for Performances for Young Audiences is provided in part by Adobe Foundation; The Clark Charitable Foundation; Mr. James V. Kimsey; The Max and Victoria Dreyfus Foundation, Inc.; The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation; Park Foundation, Inc.; Paul M. Angell Family Foundation; an endowment from the Ryna and Melvin Cohen Family Foundation; U.S. Department of Education; and by generous contributors to the Abe Fortas Memorial Fund, and by a major gift to the fund from the late Carolyn E. Agger, widow of Abe Fortas.

Produced by Classical Kids Music Education Based on the original work

by Douglas Cowling

Tchaikovsky Discovers America Light design by Paul Pement Production Stage Management & Technical Coordination by Paul Pement Dramaturge & Music Timing by Paul Pement Costume Design by Alex Meadows The theatrical concert version of Tchaikovsky Discovers America is an adaptation of the best-selling and award-winning Classical Kids audio recording, Tchaikovsky Discovers America, produced by Susan Hammond and originally directed as a staged concert by Peter Moss with additional direction by Dennis Garnhum. Classical Kids ® is a trademark of Classical Productions for Children Ltd., used under exclusive license to Pement Enterprises, Inc., and produced by Classical Kids Music Education, NFP. All Classical Kids CD and DVD recordings are marketed by The Children’s Group.

Actors and Production Stage Manager are members of Actors’ Equity Association.

Paul Pement, director, producer, and stage manager Susan Hammond, series creator Roger Anderson and Nicole Hren, actors Presented in the Kennedy Center Concert Hall

Courtney Lewis, conductor

Please plan to join us for the next NSO Family Concert, which will be performed on the following Sunday by the full orchestra: May 19, 2013— The Cricket in Times Square The NSO also presents full orchestra Young People’s Concerts for school groups in the Concert Hall each season during the school day for grades 3 through 6.

www.kennedy-center.org/artsedge

Cuesheets are produced by ARTSEDGE, an education program of the Kennedy Center.

For more about NSO education programs, see www.kennedy-center.org/nso/nsoed

Learn more about Education at the Kennedy Center at www.kennedy-center.org /education

Orchestra Interactive

The contents of this Cuesheet do not necessarily represent the policy of the U.S. Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement from the Federal Government.

Enjoy an interactive exploration of orchestras, their instruments, and their music at the Perfect Pitch Web site at: artsedge.kennedy-center.org/perfectpitch

© 2013 The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

Please recycle this Cuesheet by sharing it with friends!

David and Alice Rubenstein are the Presenting Underwriters of the NSO. Performances for Young Audiences is made possible by