Peter And The Wolf

Peter and the Wolf was written in 1936 by Sergei Prokofiev as a children's story. This work includes both music and text. The symphony is the accompaniment to the narrator, who reads the spoken parts during the work. Prokofiev was born in Sochovka, Russia on April 23, 1891. The music Prokofiev is most famous for, is the music he composed for Peter and the Wolf. Prokofiev’s composing days began during his youth, eventually leading him to study music at the St. Petersburg Conservatory. In 1918, Prokofiev left Russia and headed to the United States, where he would eventually settle. During his time in the United States, Prokofiev gained a tremendous amount of popularity. However, Prokofiev ended up moving to Moscow and settling in 1936. After …show more content…
The texture of the work is polyphonic due to the simultaneous melodies. The tempo of the work ranges from moderato to vivace, depending on the situation occurring during the work. Throughout the piece, consonance and dissonance are both used. Dissonance is present to help build up suspense, while consonance is used to settle the dispute caused by the suspense. When it comes to melodic range, both high and low are present within the work. This variation is shown greatly between the characters. For example, the wolf has a low melodic range while Peter has a higher melodic range. Due to the work being smooth and connected, the articulation of the work is legato. The type of dynamics within the work range from piano to fortissimo, depending on the situation that is occurring. Crescendo and Decrescendo dynamics are also used throughout the work. The timbre are essential in bringing Peter and the Wolf together. There is a wide range of instruments used to make Peter and the Wolf possible. The strings used within the work are violins, violas, violoncellos, and double basses. The woodwinds used within the work are a flute, an oboe, a clarinet, and a basson. The brass instruments used within the work include a trombone, a trumpet, and three horns. The percussion instruments used within the work include a triangle, timpani, tambourine, cymbals, castanets, a snare drum, and a bass drum. Many of the instruments …show more content…
Tulga praises Prokofiev’s work by saying, “Peter and the Wolf was an immediate success and has been loved by children all over the world. The music is sophisticated enough to be enjoyed by adults, even through repeated hearings. And its moral — you can't be a hero if you don't take risks — delights children as it must have cheered the composer.” Peter and the Wolf is a fantastic work that is also easy to comprehend, making it apparent as to why it was a huge success among both children and adults. I enjoyed watching Peter and the Wolf as well as listening to all of the different musical elements. Prokofiev used different musical elements to make the work run smoothly whether there was a rising conflict or the settling of a conflict. Prokofiev was extremely successful in exceeding my as well as other expectations. Peter and the Wolf became so successful that Prokofiev most likely overreached his own expectations and goals. When I started watching Peter and the Wolf, I did not think that I had heard any of the score. After I watched and listened for a while, I realized that I had heard parts of the score in the movie A Christmas Story (1983). It amazes me how I have heard parts of the score in many other things, without even realizing what I was listening to. Prokofiev made this work a classic and I believe that it will continue to gain popularity over the years because it is so enjoyable.