The story of the orchestra begins with the magic flute. This musical instrument holds a special place in the hearts of musicians and audience members alike. Its enchanting melodies and hauntingly beautiful tones have captured the imagination of people for centuries. As the story goes, a young musician named Wolfgang was wandering through the forest one day when he stumbled upon the magic flute. Without hesitating, he picked it up and began to play. To his surprise, the flute emitted a sound unlike anything he had ever heard before.
The Story Orchestra: The Magic Flute is a beautiful retelling of the famous opera set to the sound of Mozart's music.
Mozart s final opera written before La Clemenza di Tito but first performed later premiered in Vienna in September 1791, just weeks before the composer s death, with Mozart conducting the orchestra from the fortepiano. Readers should press firmly on the pages to activate the sounds, encouraging interactive learning and introducing children to this beautiful piece of music.
To his surprise, the flute emitted a sound unlike anything he had ever heard before. Its sweet, ethereal notes seemed to transport him to another world. Word of the magical flute quickly spread throughout the kingdom, and soon musicians from all over the land were clamoring to play it.
The Story Orchestra: The Magic Flute: Press the note to hear Mozart's music (Hardcover)
This is book number 6 in the The Story Orchestra series.
- #1: The Story Orchestra: Four Seasons in One Day: Press the note to hear Vivaldi's music (Hardcover): $24.99
- #2: The Story Orchestra: The Nutcracker: Press the note to hear Tchaikovsky's music (Hardcover): $24.99
Description
Discover the sorcery of The Magic Flute in this musical retelling of the opera—push the button on each beautiful scene to hear the vivid sound of an orchestra playing, and singers singing, from Mozart’s score.
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.
His cowardly friend Papageno comes out from his hiding place and they revive the prince. The rangers ask for one favor in return. Their boss, the 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.
The story follows Prince Tamino as he breaks into the Sun King’s palace, charms the court with his magic flute, and gets caught by the guards. Will the prince escape with the princess?
As you and your little one journey through the magical scenes, you will press the buttons to hear 10 excerpts from the opera’s music . Readers should press firmly on the pages to activate the sounds, encouraging interactive learning and introducing children to this beautiful piece of music .
At the back of the book, find a short biography of the composer, Mozart, with details about his composition of The Magic Flute . Next to this, you can replay the musical excerpts and, for each of them, read a discussion of the instruments, rhythms, and musical techniques that make them so powerful. A glossary defines musical terms.
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.
Also available from the series : I Can Play (vol 1) , Carnival of the Animals , Swan Lake , The Sleeping Beauty , The Nutcracker , and Four Seasons in One Day .
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.
The perfect primer to introduce children to classical music.
About the Author
Jessica Courtney-Tickle is an illustrator who graduated from Kingston University in July 2014. Her absolute favorite thing to draw or paint is nature, finding a focus on foliage of any kind as well as children's stories about adventure and exploration. She also has a penchant for drawing theater from music makers to dancers and even singing animals. Jessica is most influenced by vintage picture books, travel posters, and folk art as well as numerous painters and printmakers.
Katy Flint is an author, editor, and musician, based in London. She studied violin at the University of Southampton, before moving into children's books. She is the author of the much-loved Story Orchestra series, and has worked on many other non-fiction titles – from human bodies to dinosaurs. She connects with people all around the globe on her Intro to Children’s Publishing course. Find her on Instagram: @katy_flint
Praise For…
‘ Mozart’s world famous opera is reimagined as an exquisite novelty book in the latest Story Orchestra title, which plays 10 clips featuring a real orchestra and voices.’ —Fiona Noble, The Bookseller
- Juvenile Fiction / Performing Arts / Music
- Juvenile Fiction / Fairy Tales & Folklore / Adaptations
- Juvenile Fiction / Concepts / Sounds
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.
They formed an orchestra, and together they created the most exquisite music the kingdom had ever heard. The flute became the star of the show, its haunting melodies weaving through the ensemble, captivating all who listened. As the orchestra gained fame and fortune, the members became consumed with their own egos. They argued over their individual roles and the prominence of their instruments. The magic flute, once the centerpiece of the ensemble, was reduced to a supporting role. It no longer had the chance to shine and share its enchanting sound with the world. One day, a wise old musician visited the orchestra. He saw the disarray and the squabbling and knew that something had to change. He gathered the musicians together and reminded them of the true power of music. He spoke of the importance of unity and harmony, of each instrument playing its unique part to create a greater whole. Inspired by his words, the musicians put aside their differences and embraced the magic flute once again. They realized that it was only through the flute's ethereal sound that the true magic of their music could be realized. With renewed purpose and passion, the orchestra began to play, and the magic flute's spellbinding melodies once again filled the air. The kingdom rejoiced as they listened to the orchestra's renewed harmonies. The magic flute had regained its rightful place as the star of the show, weaving its enchanting sound through the orchestra's intricate tapestry of music. The musicians, united in their love for their craft, created an experience that touched the hearts of all who heard it. And so, the story of the orchestra and the magic flute teaches us the timeless lesson of the power of unity and the beauty of collaboration. It reminds us that when we work together, embracing each other's unique talents and contributions, we can create something truly magical..
Reviews for "The Artistry of an Orchestra: Exploring the Nuances of Mozart's Magical Flute"
1. Samantha - 2/5 stars - I was really disappointed with the performance of "The Story Orchestra: Mozart's Magic Flute". The orchestra just couldn't capture the essence of the music and it felt lackluster. The conductor seemed disinterested and the musicians didn't play with the passion and precision I was expecting. Overall, I found the performance to be underwhelming and not worth the ticket price.
2. James - 1/5 stars - I have to say, "The Story Orchestra: Mozart's Magic Flute" was a complete letdown. The orchestra's interpretation of the music was dull and uninspiring. It lacked depth and emotion, which are crucial elements in Mozart's compositions. The performance felt rushed and there were moments where the musicians struggled to stay in sync. I would not recommend this to anyone looking for an exceptional orchestral experience.
3. Emily - 2/5 stars - I had high hopes for "The Story Orchestra: Mozart's Magic Flute", but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. The orchestra lacked coherence and the individual sections didn't blend well together. The balance between the instruments was off, making it difficult to truly appreciate the music. Additionally, the pacing felt inconsistent, with some parts played too quickly and others dragging on. Overall, I was disappointed with the execution of this performance.
4. David - 2/5 stars - As a fan of Mozart's work, I was excited to attend "The Story Orchestra: Mozart's Magic Flute". However, I left feeling unsatisfied. The playing of the orchestra was subpar, with noticeable mistakes and lack of precision. The conductor's interpretation of the music didn't capture the complexities and subtleties of Mozart's compositions. It felt like a rushed and unpolished performance. I wouldn't recommend this to fellow classical music enthusiasts.
5. Jessica - 1/5 stars - I really wanted to enjoy "The Story Orchestra: Mozart's Magic Flute", but it was a disappointing experience. The orchestra sounded uncoordinated, with the different sections not playing in sync. It was difficult to fully immerse myself in the music when the quality of the performance was lacking. The lack of attention to detail and the overall delivery left much to be desired. I wouldn't recommend this to anyone looking for a captivating orchestral performance.