Cuesheet Performance Guide
The Musical Instrument “Petting Zoo” Starting one hour before each concert, stop by the musical instrument “petting zoo” for hands-on activities that let you get up close with the instruments played on stage. A project of the Volunteer Council for the NSO.
Stories in Words, Art, and Music Symphonic storytelling is words, pictures, and live music coming together in perfect harmony to bring a story to life. But what’s really special about live symphonic storytelling is the music and the way you’ll: ◆ s ee the energy and expression in the movement of the musicians as they play the instruments ear sounds more clearly and with more detail ◆h because concert halls are designed to help music sound its best ◆ f eel the vibrations, especially from the deep loud brass instruments or bass drum otice the sounds completely surrounding you, ◆n making you feel like you are in the middle of the story’s world e part of the performance yourself—your feelings, ◆b laughter, and imagination as an audience member are important for bringing a symphonic story to life!
After the show, talk with a friend or family member about which animal you would be and which instrument would best match you (like the flute matched the birds in Carnival or the trumpet matched Babar) and why. Try moving like your animal and imitating the sounds.
David M. Rubenstein Chairman
Deborah F. Rutter
Creative Conversation After the 4 p.m. performance, stick around to ask questions and hear stories in an up-close-andpersonal talk with the conductor and some of the musicians.
Upcoming Family Concerts Please plan to join us at next season’s NSO Family Concerts: October 20, 2019 — Halloween Spooktacular February 16, 2020 — Girl Power! April 19, 2020 — Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs with Ben Folds
Hello, grownups! Please see our free online grownup guide for more information and activities: https://bit.ly/2JEmZAZ
The Kennedy Center offers sensory-friendly shows for a variety of performances. To learn more: goo.gl/uAihKc
Funding for Access and Accommodation Programs at the Kennedy Center is provided by the U.S. Department of Education.
Mario R. Rossero
Major support for educational programs at the Kennedy Center is provided by David M. Rubenstein through the Rubenstein Arts Access Program.
Gianandrea Noseda Music Director National Symphony Orchestra
Emil de Cou, conductor
Additional support for the NSO Family Concerts is provided by A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation; The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation; Anne and Chris Reyes; an endowment from the Ryna and Melvin Cohen Family Foundation; the U.S. Department of Education; and the Volunteer Council of the National Symphony Orchestra.
President
Senior Vice President Education
NSO Family Concert
Kennedy Center education and related artistic programming is made possible through the generosity of the National Committee for the Performing Arts. The contents of this Cuesheet have been developed under a grant from the U.S. Department of Education and do not necessarily represent the policy of the U.S. Department of Education. You should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government. © 2019 The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
David M. Rubenstein is the Presenting Underwriter of the NSO.
WGL is the proud sponsor of the NSO Family Concerts
Presenting Sponsor of Performances for Young Audiences
elcome to the animal kingdom—also known as the Concert Hall of the Kennedy Center! Get your imagination ready because today’s concert creates a magical mix of stories, pictures, and live music performed by the National Symphony Orchestra (NSO). Read on to learn about two pieces of music that will take you off to the land of the elephants and beyond. Carnival of the Animals Babar’s Return to the Land of the Elephants Music and multi-media by Raphael Mostel Based on The Travels of Babar Book and illustrations by Jean de Brunhoff New English translation by Phyllis Rose U.S. premiere of new version for orchestra
Big Problems in Elephant Land Babar (bah-BAR) isn’t just any elephant— he’s the king of all the elephants, and a pretty well-dressed one at that. To celebrate their wedding, Babar and Queen Celeste take an adventurous honeymoon trip in a hot air balloon. Unfortunately, while they’re away, Babar’s young cousin Arthur plays a nasty trick on the leader of the rhinoceroses. When Babar and Celeste return home with their dear friend the Old Lady, they discover some serious trouble in the kingdom. Will Babar save the day? Listen and imagine as the words and pictures from the book The Travels of Babar and the orchestra’s music take turns telling the story with big pictures. Babar’s Return to the Land of the Elephants is one of two compositions by Raphael Mostel based on Jean de Brunhoff’s Travels of Babar. The other is Babar’s Honeymoon. Cover art: Original Jean de Brunhoff watercolor from the Kendra and Allan Daniel Collection, courtesy of Raphael Mostel This page: Original Jean de Brunhoff watercolor for cover of Le Voyage de Babar, 1932, from the Collection Bibliothèque national de France, courtesy of Raphael Mostel
Telling Babar’s Story with Music Are those the sounds of the rainforest? Rhinoceroses preparing for battle? A royal ceremony? The music of the story helps put you right in the middle of all the excitement. Be sure to watch and listen for how each picture you see has its own piece of music. Also listen for the… pening fanfare, lively music kicked off with a ◆o drum roll, and featuring the trumpets holding a single note. usic for the rhinoceros Rataxes, played by ◆m the cellos and then by brass instruments. usic for the troublemaker Arthur, played by ◆m the clarinet. usic for the worried old elephant Cornelius, ◆m played by the bassoons.
by Camille Saint-Saëns with illustrations by Mary GrandPré Let the merrymaking begin! Join all kinds of colorful creatures as they roar, hop, soar, and swim with the help of rhyming words and fun instruments. Selections include: Introduction and The Lion (all string instruments*, pianos) The Tortoise (all string instruments, piano) Elephants (double basses, piano) Aquarium (violins, violas, cellos, flute, glockenspiel (GLOK-uhn-speel), pianos) The Cuckoo (clarinet, pianos)
◆ s ounds of birds and insects created by the orchestra (especially violins, oboes, flutes, and piccolo).
Birds (all string instruments, flute, pianos)
◆ r ainsticks (percussion instruments) that create rain sounds.
Finale (all string instruments, piccolo, clarinet, glockenspiel, xylophone, pianos)
◆d ifferent music for the rhinos and elephants as they prepare for battle.
* The string instruments are the violins, violas, cellos, and double basses.
The Swan (cello, pianos)
All Carnival of the Animals illustrations by Mary GrandPré
elcome to the animal kingdom—also known as the Concert Hall of the Kennedy Center! Get your imagination ready because today’s concert creates a magical mix of stories, pictures, and live music performed by the National Symphony Orchestra (NSO). Read on to learn about two pieces of music that will take you off to the land of the elephants and beyond. Carnival of the Animals Babar’s Return to the Land of the Elephants Music and multi-media by Raphael Mostel Based on The Travels of Babar Book and illustrations by Jean de Brunhoff New English translation by Phyllis Rose U.S. premiere of new version for orchestra
Big Problems in Elephant Land Babar (bah-BAR) isn’t just any elephant— he’s the king of all the elephants, and a pretty well-dressed one at that. To celebrate their wedding, Babar and Queen Celeste take an adventurous honeymoon trip in a hot air balloon. Unfortunately, while they’re away, Babar’s young cousin Arthur plays a nasty trick on the leader of the rhinoceroses. When Babar and Celeste return home with their dear friend the Old Lady, they discover some serious trouble in the kingdom. Will Babar save the day? Listen and imagine as the words and pictures from the book The Travels of Babar and the orchestra’s music take turns telling the story with big pictures. Babar’s Return to the Land of the Elephants is one of two compositions by Raphael Mostel based on Jean de Brunhoff’s Travels of Babar. The other is Babar’s Honeymoon. Cover art: Original Jean de Brunhoff watercolor from the Kendra and Allan Daniel Collection, courtesy of Raphael Mostel This page: Original Jean de Brunhoff watercolor for cover of Le Voyage de Babar, 1932, from the Collection Bibliothèque national de France, courtesy of Raphael Mostel
Telling Babar’s Story with Music Are those the sounds of the rainforest? Rhinoceroses preparing for battle? A royal ceremony? The music of the story helps put you right in the middle of all the excitement. Be sure to watch and listen for how each picture you see has its own piece of music. Also listen for the… pening fanfare, lively music kicked off with a ◆o drum roll, and featuring the trumpets holding a single note. usic for the rhinoceros Rataxes, played by ◆m the cellos and then by brass instruments. usic for the troublemaker Arthur, played by ◆m the clarinet. usic for the worried old elephant Cornelius, ◆m played by the bassoons.
by Camille Saint-Saëns with illustrations by Mary GrandPré Let the merrymaking begin! Join all kinds of colorful creatures as they roar, hop, soar, and swim with the help of rhyming words and fun instruments. Selections include: Introduction and The Lion (all string instruments*, pianos) The Tortoise (all string instruments, piano) Elephants (double basses, piano) Aquarium (violins, violas, cellos, flute, glockenspiel (GLOK-uhn-speel), pianos) The Cuckoo (clarinet, pianos)
◆ s ounds of birds and insects created by the orchestra (especially violins, oboes, flutes, and piccolo).
Birds (all string instruments, flute, pianos)
◆ r ainsticks (percussion instruments) that create rain sounds.
Finale (all string instruments, piccolo, clarinet, glockenspiel, xylophone, pianos)
◆d ifferent music for the rhinos and elephants as they prepare for battle.
* The string instruments are the violins, violas, cellos, and double basses.
The Swan (cello, pianos)
All Carnival of the Animals illustrations by Mary GrandPré
Cuesheet Performance Guide
The Musical Instrument “Petting Zoo” Starting one hour before each concert, stop by the musical instrument “petting zoo” for hands-on activities that let you get up close with the instruments played on stage. A project of the Volunteer Council for the NSO.
Stories in Words, Art, and Music Symphonic storytelling is words, pictures, and live music coming together in perfect harmony to bring a story to life. But what’s really special about live symphonic storytelling is the music and the way you’ll: ◆ s ee the energy and expression in the movement of the musicians as they play the instruments ear sounds more clearly and with more detail ◆h because concert halls are designed to help music sound its best ◆ f eel the vibrations, especially from the deep loud brass instruments or bass drum otice the sounds completely surrounding you, ◆n making you feel like you are in the middle of the story’s world e part of the performance yourself—your feelings, ◆b laughter, and imagination as an audience member are important for bringing a symphonic story to life!
After the show, talk with a friend or family member about which animal you would be and which instrument would best match you (like the flute matched the birds in Carnival or the trumpet matched Babar) and why. Try moving like your animal and imitating the sounds.
David M. Rubenstein Chairman
Deborah F. Rutter
Creative Conversation After the 4 p.m. performance, stick around to ask questions and hear stories in an up-close-andpersonal talk with the conductor and some of the musicians.
Upcoming Family Concerts Please plan to join us at next season’s NSO Family Concerts: October 20, 2019 — Halloween Spooktacular February 16, 2020 — Girl Power! April 19, 2020 — Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs with Ben Folds
Hello, grownups! Please see our free online grownup guide for more information and activities: https://bit.ly/2JEmZAZ
The Kennedy Center offers sensory-friendly shows for a variety of performances. To learn more: goo.gl/uAihKc
Funding for Access and Accommodation Programs at the Kennedy Center is provided by the U.S. Department of Education.
Mario R. Rossero
Major support for educational programs at the Kennedy Center is provided by David M. Rubenstein through the Rubenstein Arts Access Program.
Gianandrea Noseda Music Director National Symphony Orchestra
Emil de Cou, conductor
Additional support for the NSO Family Concerts is provided by A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation; The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation; Anne and Chris Reyes; an endowment from the Ryna and Melvin Cohen Family Foundation; the U.S. Department of Education; and the Volunteer Council of the National Symphony Orchestra.
President
Senior Vice President Education
NSO Family Concert
Kennedy Center education and related artistic programming is made possible through the generosity of the National Committee for the Performing Arts. The contents of this Cuesheet have been developed under a grant from the U.S. Department of Education and do not necessarily represent the policy of the U.S. Department of Education. You should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government. © 2019 The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
David M. Rubenstein is the Presenting Underwriter of the NSO.
WGL is the proud sponsor of the NSO Family Concerts
Presenting Sponsor of Performances for Young Audiences