Customer Reviews

Beethoven's Wig 4: Dance Along Symphonies

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I've always been suspicious -- even cynical -- about sequels. So after the original Beethoven's Wig swept my daughter away while so engagingly reintroducing me to some favorite classics, I was pleasantly surprised when Wig 2, and then Wig 3, somehow managed to sustain the magic of Wig 1. I thought it couldn't get any better, and then here comes Wig 4. The artist may not like this, but I have to tell you to jump to the last cut first -- "Beep Beep Beep," lyricist/vocalist Richard Perlmutter's take on Beethoven's beautiful Moonlight Sonata -- to hear a mini-masterpiece of storytelling for children and adults alike. It's the perfect exclamation point at the end of what is now four Beethoven's Wig albums that seldom waiver in their enthralling ingenuity and craftsmanship. Then you and your little ones can go back and listen to all that the whole album has to offer, while knowing that "Beep Beep Beep" is waiting for you again at the end. Along the way, you'll encounter marching bands with aching feet, a comically frustrated dog owner trying to teach him to roll over, a very different look inside the circus, and stories set to spirited waltzes that will make the family want to all get up and dance together -- all while (re)discovering some of the greatest classical repertoire. How Beethoven's Wig managed to not only sustain the charm of the original but also maintain this level of artistry amazes me, and continues to delight even my(now older) daughter. Highly recommended!

There are some really fun tracks on this CD, plus there are American composers (Sousa and Joplin) for the first time.

This 4th CD is a perfect addition to the set, especially tracks 4 (Give me a midnight snack, to the tune of Bizet's "Habanero") and 12 (Beep beep beep--which gives a whole new perspective of "Moonlight Sonata"). For classical music lovers, it's really great and for those new to classical musical or who've never before thought of it as "music", the lyrics are hilarious and catchy, and help the listener think perhaps those "ancient composers" actually knew what they were doing.

Another great, funny CD. I have all 4 of this series and this is another great one. A must for all families looking to teach their children about classical music in a fun way. Also, a great rendition of Pomp and Circumstances that our recent college graduate son thoroughly related to and enjoyed!

I was disappointed in this one because there was nothing in the lyrics to educate about the piece, except its use in TV shows and movies. The other Beethoven's Wig CDs had more relevant information - history about the composer, subject matter of the song, history about the piece, or something about the instruments being played. I prefer that approach because my children learn more than just the tune then, and in an approachable way.

The "Beethoven's Wig" series of CDs present very cleverly written parodies of familiar classical works. Following the parodies (for which the words are printed), the same works are presented in instrumental form. Several people have discovered that putting words to classical works ("Songs without words, with words") is an excellent way to interest children (and some adults) in classical music and to help them remember the melodies and their composers. Few of the previous efforts have been as clever as Perlmutter's "Beethoven's Wig" series. It's a real delight.

We have all four. As grandparents, we enjoy them as much as our grandchildern do.

This is a great avenue for introducing classical music to ALL ages. A fun "listen to" adventure.

My family has all (as far as I know) four in the series. This one is their favorite, but it certainly isn't all Beethoven. The kids had us buy this one for their grandma, who had given us the first one years ago.

I was hesitant to buy this CD because some people wrote that it wasn't as good as the first two. I was pleasantly surprised at how much my kids and I enjoy Beethoven's Wig 4. The songs are fun, creative and informative. This CD was a little more diverse than 1 and 2, but Chapman's song is one of our favorites. I love that my kids are being exposed to different kinds of music in a way the whole family enjoys. I was not disappointed at all and I will take my chances on Beethoven's Wig 3, even though it received even more negative reviews than 4 did.