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Peter and the Wolf facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
PeterandtheWolfColoringBook
A 1947 coloring book cover for Peter and the Wolf

Peter and the Wolf is a famous musical story created by Sergei Prokofiev. He wrote this special piece of music in 1936. At that time, he had just returned to Russia, which was then part of the Soviet Union. It is a children's story designed to teach young listeners about different musical instruments.

Prokofiev got the idea for this story from Natalya Sats. She was in charge of the Moscow State Musical Theater for Children. Her goal was to help children learn about the many instruments found in an orchestra.

Characters and Their Instruments

To make learning fun, each character in Peter and the Wolf has its own special musical theme and is played by a specific instrument. This helps you recognize them just by their sound!

  • Bird: The light and airy sound of the flute represents the bird.
  • Duck: The Oboe plays the duck's wobbly and quacking theme.
  • Cat: The sneaky cat is played by the smooth sound of the Clarinet.
  • Grandfather: The deep, rumbling sound of the Bassoon represents Peter's grumpy grandfather.
  • Wolf: Three French Horns create the scary and powerful sound of the wolf.
  • Peter: The brave boy Peter is represented by the entire String instrument section of the orchestra.
  • Hunters: The hunters' loud and strong theme is played by the Timpani (kettledrums) and the Bass Drum. (Interestingly, the hunters' theme is first introduced by woodwind instruments.)

Besides the music, a narrator tells the story. This helps listeners follow along with Peter's adventure.

Animated Version by Walt Disney

In 1946, Walt Disney created an animated movie version of Peter and the Wolf. This cartoon brought the story to life with moving pictures. There are a few small changes in Disney's version compared to Prokofiev's original work. For example, the animals in the cartoon are given names. This animated short film was later released on video tape in the 1990s, allowing more people to enjoy it at home.

Images for kids

  • Disney-PeterandtheWolf1946

    Disney's 1946 animated short

  • Peter and wolf 2007

    A 2007 production of Peter and the Wolf in Toronto, Canada

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Pedro y el lobo para niños

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Peter and the Wolf Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.