Music by DANIEL DORFF |
 |
| Three Fun Fables for Narrator and Orchestra (or Mixed Octet) | |
| Duration: c. 11' 1. The Fox and the Crow (features Trumpet and Bass) 2. The Dog and His Reflection (features Trombone and Violin/Harp/Percussion) 3. The Tortoise and the Hare (features Contrabassoon and Clarinet) ORCHESTRATION: 1112(Cbn) 1110 Hp 1-2Perc Strings OCTET VERSION: Clarinet, Contrabassoon, Trumpet, Trombone, Violin, Bass, Percussion, Harp Each character is portrayed by an instrument, allowing for pre-concert illustrations to help instrument recognition, musical contrasts, and familiarity with the story and music. "THE TORTOISE AND THE HARE" may be performed separately (Duration: 5½') DETAILS (Octet version) COMMISSIONED by the Minnesota Orchestra Volunteer Association for Kinder Konzerts. PREMIERED by the Minnesota Orchestra's Kinder Konzerts with 52 performances in the 1996-97 season; encored for 50 performances in the 2003-04 season, and another 48 in the 2010-11 season. PERFORMANCES also include the Chicago Pro Musica, Aspen Music Festival, and Parlance Chamber Concerts (members of the Metropolitan Opera orchestra). DETAILS (Orchestra version) COMMISSIONED by the Philadelphia Orchestra. PREMIERED by the Philadelphia Orchestra April 29, 2000 with Music Director Wolfgang Sawallisch conducting, Susan Spafford narrating. AVAILABLE on rental from Lauren Keiser Music. TEACHING/CURRICULUM USE: Three familiar stories use humor, irony, and contrast, to illustrate "opposites" in music, and introduce characteristic sounds and moods of the instruments. RECORDED on Bridge Records by Symphony In C conducted by Rossen Milanov, featuring Ann Crumb as narrator. Instrumentation makes this a perfect companion for L'Histoire du Soldat performances.
YOUTUBE of The Fox and the Crow |
 Letter from Philadelphia Orchestra's Music Director Wolfgang Sawallisch following his premiere of the orchestral version of Three Fun Fables
|
PROGRAM NOTES THREE FUN FABLES is a suite of humorous Aesop tales, commissioned by the Minnesota Orchestra's Kinder Konzerts series which has performed the suite over 150 times. The 3rd fable, THE TORTOISE AND THE HARE is often performed separately. The original Minnesota octet version is scored for Clarinet, Bassoon doubling Contrabassoon, Trumpet, Trombone, Violin, Bass, Percussion, and Harp (which is the Histoire du Soldat ensemble plus Harp). The orchestration was commissioned and premiered by the Philadelphia Orchestra with music director Wolfgang Sawallisch conducting. Performances of just THE TORTOISE AND THE HARE have been given by the Baltimore Symphony, Detroit Symphony, Indianapolis Symphony, and many other orchestras. Because Aesop's stories, as well as the music, work both on childlike and more adult levels, THREE FUN FABLES is equally suitable for "grownup" concerts and has been performed to great response on the Chicago Symphony's chamber series. Each movement of THREE FUN FABLES is a study in musical contrasts, particularly THE TORTOISE AND THE HARE, and each character of each fable has a clearly recognizable theme and instrument. For this reason, pre-concert preparation can address these educational objectives. REVIEWS "I was very pleased to have the opportunity to conduct this work in a Philadelphia Orchestra Family Concert in April of 2000. Mr. Dorff's work is exciting, engaging, and funny for the children, as well as containing some very good learning experiences from the wonderful Aesop's fables. It is very skillfully written for the orchestra, and uses the instruments in a most effective way. I can recommend this work with great enthusiasm for a Family or Children's Concert." – Wolfgang Sawallisch, Music Director, Philadelphia Orchestra "The hit of the show... more fun for adults than children" – Donald Peck, principal flute Chicago Symphony, April 19, 2001 "a delightful romp" – The Chicago Tribune (Ted Shen), April 12, 2001 | |
|
| |
last updated May 9, 2026 home |
|
