Learn To Love Classical Music In 2000 or 2001 or 2002...!Disney w/o for Em

You are reading a contribution to the Disney ~*~ When You Wish Upon A Star Write-Off!

Emily Rose, the young daughter (15 months old) of fellow Epinion member,
ImAmes, is battling Retniblastoma (a form of cancer, which is found in the eye).

Special thanks to hosts: lisa_j and opalman.
Also, special thanks to shurie for the Write-Off link host.
For rapid access to all entrants please visit:
http://www.isparkl.com/epinions/write_off_easy_reader.asp?id=1

Thank you!
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My introduction:

I had never seen Fantasia so I had no idea how much I would enjoy Fantasia 2000 until one day in the spring I was asked to sub in a music class. Since I know little about teaching music, I watched Fantasia 2000 all day long as each class came to their music room expecting to learn about music. Most of them didn't understand that they were learning about classical music. Personally I am not a fan of classical music. It is almost impossible not to be enthralled with the pieces in this video even if you think that classical music is not for you.

Video Introduction:

~Fantasia was released in 1940 and was meant to be a work in motion. Walt Disney wanted this to become “a continually evolving showpiece” using animation – the combination of art and technology. Fantasia 2000, which is 74 minutes long, is a film where Fantasia left off with 7 new segments.

~Roy E. Disney, Walt’s nephew, is now in charge and he has a great introduction in this film. The film is done with the collaboration of more than 1200 artists and technicians. The video comes with a wonderful commemorative booklet. I really enjoyed reading the booklet, which among other things, explains the technical tools and innovations, used to create what I think is incredible imagery.

~I, as well as the children enjoyed seeing stars such as Steven Martin and Bette Midler who introduced each piece. I must admit I don’t know who one of the stars is, although the children all knew him!

~Fantasia 2000 was named the number 4 boxed set DVD for the year 2000. http://disney.go.com/disneyvideos/animatedfilms/fantasia2000/flash/interface.html

Promotion:

If you buy Fantasia on DVD and Fantasia 2000 you will get a $5.00 rebate. You can print this coupon at http://disney.go.com/disneyvideos/animatedfilms/fantasia2000/flash/interface.html

The music and animation:

1. Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 – In this piece you will see abstract designs like triangles that float like butterflies and flutter to the music. The colors are fantastic and the triangles become a light show. The theme in this piece is between good and evil and you’ll hear (or not hear!) silence and then music. The silence helps to separate musical ideas in the same way that spaces between words separate thoughts.

2. Respighi’s Pines of Rome – You will see whales with water splashing and birds flying. There are a lot of ominous sounds, which go along with the whales slowing down and at that time the visuals become darker. There are various tempos in this piece, for example, the first section you’ll find easy to skip to, the second is slow motion, the third symbolizes resting and the last is a march.

3. Gerswhin’s Rhapsody in Blue – The visuals to this music start with lines being drawn to the music with the end result being a building. There are a lot of funny scenes in this piece and you’ll hear your child giggling. There is a cat spilling milk and then jumping into the bottle and there are very funny scenes, which take place in a ballet class.

4. Shostakovich’s Piano Concerto No. 2 – This is the story of a brave tin soldier who manages in spite of a lot of obstacles to rescue the ballerina from the evil Jack-In-The-Box and, of course, the tin soldier wins her heart!

5. Saint-Saens’ Carnival of The Animals – I think this was the children’s favorite among all the classes. I could have rewound this piece and they would have watched it repeatedly. It is funny with bright colors used to ask the question, “What would happen if you gave a yo-yo to a bunch of flamingos?” Many of the children had seen Fantasia 2000 and knew this one by heart. It is a mix of classical ballet and slapstick comedy that your children will love. This piece as many of them truly mesmerized the children. They won’t even realize they are becoming cultured!

6. Dukas’ The Sorcerer’s Apprentice – This is one of the 8 that isn’t new and one of my favorites in terms of the lighting. The lighting goes from light to dark as Mickey Mouse tries his own magic. When he hacks a broomstick to pieces, the scene turns black. We see that the broomsticks are still alive and the sorcerer returns to restore order to the chaos that Mickey inflicted. The light returns to normal when this happens.

7. Elgar’s Pomp & Circumstance – Even I, a classical illiterate, know this one! The video accompanying this famous piece has Donald Duck leading a procession of animals onto the Ark. He gets separated from Daisy and along with that comes confusion along with "pomp and some very funny circumstances.”

8. Stravinsky’s Firebird Suite – The theme of this piece is life/death/rebirth. Nature is represented as a Sprite who is summoned by an Elk. We have the beauty of the springtime being destroyed by the anger of the Firebird who lives in an active Volcano. It is up to the Elk and Sprite to “reawaken what lies beneath the ashes of the ravaged forest.”

Final thoughts: I absolutely loved this video and intended to rent it when my children were home, but I forgot until I went to do this review. I won’t forget again. It is really a film for all ages and after I spent the entire day watching and listening I knew I would never “hear” classical music the same way. If you want to introduce classical music to your child this is an absolutely painless way of doing so. They won’t even realize they are listening to Beethoven or Stravinsky. After the video is over, I would go through the composers with them and then watch it again. This is just my recommendation because I think either many won’t watch it if they realize that the music is classical and also, the children I observed, who were in grades 2-4, didn’t necessarily pick up on the music they were so enthralled by the visuals. You don’t want the music to get lost on your children so you may have to do a little promoting of it!

You will notice some phrases in quotes. They come from the commemorative booklet. In addition some of the thoughts come from the minds of the children. After all aren't the children what it is all about?

When you wish upon a star Epinion members on
Emily's Allstar Line-Up as of 10/15/01:

Aawehr, adjensen, AEOakley, Ahlstromomy, AinsleyJo, aiosa914, AliventiAsylum, Amyklees, AmyLEnsor, a_r_egerton, ariel10575, AshleyA, bceaglesfan, BearySweet, beecharmer, bops_mom, Candice923, CANS4US, Charlenep, char.mike, cindymairi, CjsMommy, copernicus, crazyglue, cripper, Cusnwalter , DearLadyB, Debbietipton, Donnamr, drlolipop, Dtolick, Ed.Williamson, Ellie41799, Euphscott, Eskimo101, fallyn96, flamepillar, Fostrmom2mny, Gaelkm, Gerper, Gollygumdrops, Granniemose, hjs33, imames, Jag2112, jaydee1993, Jbduckling, jdhauer, Jennifer_Gibbons, Jeremy1456, jo.com, jro26, Jubrismom , Julie42, kalt, kamel622, karmiausnic, kidhendrix, kiljoi, KimzStuffz, Klueger, KMINER, krashlite2, lauren_m, LEDOMAINE, lorace, Lisa_J~*~Hostess, lisaw1215, lizf, Maddi, mariahan, marsha32, MaryTara, Melissasrn, mike.holmes, Minamarie, Missy32, MizSass, mkp51, mom2daniel, Mom2TyZick, mrsditmer, mzemel, Nanct, Neenkena, NEGUSR, Nifer, Nwinston, Opalman~*~Host, opinionated3, pedantic, Phineaskc, prairiegirl16, rngpie, remnjava, ringorules, roxymarie, ryangamble, sbennick, sblaydes, serc, Shanny21, Shelxland, Shurie~*~Epinions Tool Specialist / Web Page Host, SMITHSWOODSIDE, sumo_rhino, Sunkah, Suzer, SweetCeCe, THOM413, three_ster, tiasmom, tomgray, vania, VBFC, viper1963, wifemommyteach , wifeofvolsfan, Writerip,
2buzy, 29th_Candidate, 77chelle

Once again a special thanks to hosts: lisa_j and opalman.

Also, special thanks to shurie for the Write-Off link host.
For rapid access to all entrants please visit:
http://www.isparkl.com/epinions/write_off_easy_reader.asp?id=1