The Story Orchestra Books Series
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.
- Illustrated by Jessica Courtney Tickle
- Hardback
The Story Orchestra: Carnival Of The Animals
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...
ย
The Story Orchestra: Four Seasons In A Day
Follow a little girl called Isabelle and her dog, Pickle, as they take on the adventure of a lifetime. As a sign of the changing seasons, Isabelle carries a little apple tree with her, and we see it bud, blossom and lose its leaves. As you and your little one journey through the vibrant scenes illustrated by artist Jessica Courtney-Tickle, you will press the buttons to hear 10 excerpts from The Four Seasons violin concerti.
ย
The Story Orchestra: I Can Play (Vol 1)
Color and shape codes correspond to the 14 keys, soย kids can learn easy 8-bar, one-finger melodies, so even the youngest child can learn to play music with this simple method. For best results,ย playing readers the original piece first is recommendedย so children can familiarise themselves with the pacing of the tune.ย Each song includesย an enchanting illustration and description of the part of the story that the music is tellingย along with playing tips. All the favourite characters from the series are there toย encourage young musiciansย as they play their first notes withย the sound of aย piano.
ย
The Story Orchestra: In The Hall Of The Mountain
Thisย tale of a boyโs adventure through the valleys and mountains of the Norwegian countrysideย begins at a wedding feast far, far away. Peer Gynt is bored and heโs 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.ย The kingโs halls are dark and spooky, and it isnโt long before Peer is captured. How will he escape? And will he learn the importance of humility and the value of friends?
ย
The Story Orchestra: Swan Lake
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. He follows an enchanting flock of swans to a clearing by a lake, where four of the little cygnets begin to dance. The most beautiful swan transforms into the Princess Odette, who tells him that she has been cursed to turn into a swan by day and return to her natural form at night by the evil sorcerer Von Rothbart. As the prince and Odette dance, they begin to fall in love.
ย
The Story Orchestra: The Magic Fluteย
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.ย His cowardly friend Papageno comes out from his hiding place and they revive the prince. The rangers ask for one favor in return.ย Their boss, theย Queen of the Night, asks Prince Tamino to rescue her daughter, Princess Pamina, from the evil Sun King. She gives Tamino a magic flute and Papageno some magic bells to help them.ย The story follows Prince Tamino as he breaks into the Sun Kingโs palace, charms the court with his magic flute, and gets caught by the guards. Will the prince escape with the princess?
ย
The Story Orchestra: The Nutcracker
It is Christmas Eve at Clara's house. Scents of ginger, chocolate and peppermint waft through the air. Clara's parents are having a party, and her little brother Fritz is decorating the Christmas tree. Clara's godfather, a toymaker, arrives with gifts, including a very special one for her - a wooden nutcracker carved in the shape of a little man. After Fritz breaks it, the children are sent to bed.
ย
The Story Orchestra: The Planets
Thisย tale is about a brother and sister who adventure deep into our solar system.ย Our story begins one night as Helen and Tim get ready for bed in their new space rocket bunk bedsโฆ but sleep will have to wait as they magically blast up, up, up into the glittering night sky, leaving planet Earth far below them. Helen and Tim journey here, there and everywhere through our majestic solar system. They soar pastย the cold rocky surface of Mars as it rises into towering peaks and plunges into deep canyons and glide through a bumpy asteroid belt made of icy rocks.ย They blast deeper into our solar system, exploring the dazzling stars and astounding planets along the way. But now it really is time to head home!ย As the rocket speeds towards Earth, Tim and Helen watch the sun rise over their planet.
ย
The Story Orchestra: The Sleeping Beauty
Join the King and Queen as they throw a party for their new baby, Princess Aurora. But when a terrible guest arrives and places a curse on princess, the kingdom must find the one special person who can defeat it... As you and your little one journey through the magical scenes illustrated by artist Jessica Courtney Tickle, you will press the buttons to hear 10 excerpts from the ballet's music.
ย