Winter really makes me want to pull out the classical stuff. There’s not a lot of great Chanuka music that appeals to my taste, but we still want a change of pace to go with the short days and cold weather and cocoa.

Camille Saint-Saens composed the Carnival of Animals in the late 19th century and only played them once in a while for friends, feeling that he wouldn’t be taken seriously if they were played in public. Too much fluff. Now they are pretty much his most famous work. Kids love them. You can guess which animals the movements are about. Older kids can hear familiar music in Fossils ( Twinkle, Twinkle and the aria from Barber of Seville) if you listen closely.

If this all sounds familiar, you’re right. Warner Brothers did a Bugs Bunny Carnival of Animals in the 70’s - typical Bugs and Daffy Duck classical music silliness. Also, Aquarium is used in the trailer to the new Charlotte’s Web movie, but I’m not gonna give you the Youtube for that. Easy enough to find. It does look cute and Andre Benjamin is voicing a crow. But, they don’t need more advertising here, I don’t think.

Enjoy and pop a marshmallow in the cocoa!
--deb in sf

thursday am - links fixed, I think

Aquarium from Le Carnaval Des Animaux

Kangourous from Le Carnaval Des Animaux

Fossiles from Le Carnaval Des Animaux