Järvlepp, Jan Three Stories by Hans Christian Andersen and other pieces for children ~ Bob Dean, storyteller; Stanislav Varínek, conductor; Janacek Philharmonic Orchestra; Moravian Philharmonic Orchestra ~ Navona Records nv6394
The tales of Hans Christian Andersen have been part of our culture since they were published in the early nineteenth century, but they are not as widely known as fairy tales like Snow White or The Sleeping Beauty. Why? Probably because, with the exception of The Little Mermaid, the Disney machine has left them alone.
Jan Järvlepp has adapted three of Andersen's stories for narrator and orchestra, The Steadfast Tin Soldier, The Little Match Girl, and The Emperor's New Clothes. The music for these is simple and expressive, from the martial sound of Tin Soldier to the jaunty spirit of New Clothes. The music for The Little Match Girl is sad, but not maudlin, as the story might suggest. In addition to composing the music, Järvlepp modernized the texts. All three pieces feature the robust and nuanced narration of Bob Dean.
Follow the Leader is a short item for winds and percussion. It is catchy and, like everything on this disc, is suitable for student performance. Suite for Strings is a four-movement composition. Each of its movements is meant to exercise a specific technique like changing time signatures or synchopation. Happily, the music is appealing in itself despite its didactic purpose.
The Andersen stories are accompanied by the strings of the Janacek Philharmonic Orchestra while Follow the Leader is played by the orchestra's winds and percussion. Suite for Strings is played by the Moravian Philharmonic. Everything on the disc is conduced by Stanislav Varínek.
This CD is distributed by Naxos, so even if your friendly neighbourhood record store doesn’t have it they can get it readily, or you can order it from Amazon.