When children enter the concert hall and see a table set up with mixing bowls, flour, sugar, and eggs, they may ask themselves if they have come to a concert or a live cooking show. That all these ingredients go into baking a cake is evident. But what about the ingredients of music?

The conductor turns to the front page of his musical cookbook, otherwise called “the score.” There he finds a list of equipment, that is, a list of instruments required to play the music written by the author, or the composer. Just as bowls, beaters, and spatulas make up the equipment needed for baking, musical instruments are essential to creating music.

Monique has also invited a musical baker to the concert. He is still backstage, preparing the batter for a special musical cake, and he needs the help of some children to bring him the ingredients that are on the table. So, which of the ingredients goes in first? The conductor looks into the score. “It says sugar in here!” He then explains that sugar is just like dynamics because music without dynamics is as dull as cake without sugar. While one of the children takes the sugar to the musical baker, other children come on stage to participate in a game with dynamics. When the orchestra plays forte they raise their arms in the air, when the orchestra plays piano they crouch down to the ground, and when they hear a crescendo they raise themselves slowly to the dynamic of the music.

 

Monique Mead and the orchestra join the children in this exercise, which to the fast pace of Vivaldi’s a minor “Presto” becomes an exciting demonstration of musical aerobics! The entire program proceeds in this entertaining and highly interactive style, through various ingredients of music such as rhythm, tempo, and beat. The children even get the chance to conduct the musicians on stage.

The highlight of the program comes at the grand finale when the musical baker arrives on stage with a large platter stacked with the 6 layers that go into the “Rondo Cake”. From a famous Mozart Rondo, children learn to recognize the recurring Rondo theme and wave to the musical baker, giving him the signal to lay one of the layers of onto the plate and cover it with frosting. Five helpful children come on stage, don baker’s hats and receive a jar of colored sprinkles, which they shake in between layers, when other musical themes are heard.

The audience watches with rapt attention as they listen for the familiar rondo theme, wave to the baker, and observe how the Rondo Cake grows layer by layer with every recurrence of the theme. The enthusiastic applause at the end of the program demands an encore. The decision is left up to the baker, who can think of no better ending than to “let them eat cake!”

This deliciously entertaining program with active participation and popular short pieces makes this program particularly well suited for young children and their families.

Repertoire

Fritz Kreisler: Tempo di Menuetto
Antonio Vivaldi: Presto from Violin Concerto in A Minor
Luigi Boccherini: Minuet from String Quintet Op. 13, Nr. 5
Vittorio Monti: Czardas for Violin and Strings
Wolfgang A. Mozart: Rondo from „Eine kleine Nachtmusik“
Folk Tune: Cripple Creek

Musicians*

String orchestra (or string quartet).

*Program with piano trio, violin/piano or violin/harp available upon request.

Program Summary

Interactivity: Children participate in every piece on the program. They clap rhythms, conduct the orchestra, match their movements to dynamics, and help to bake (and eat) the Rondo Cake
Musical Terms: Dynamics (piano, forte, cresc.), tempo, rhythm, beat, rondo.

Special Guests

Young Artist: A talented local young musician can be integrated as a soloist in the program.
Musical Baker: A musical baker (local professional or baking enthusiast) is the guest for the grand finale.

Program length is approx. 50 Minutes for family concerts and 30 minutes for children’s concerts.

For information regarding preparatory materials for teachers, school workshops, or activities before or after the concert, please contact Klassik for Kids at info@klassik-for-kids.de