KINDER KONZERTS™ HISTORY
In the early years of Kinder Konzerts™ (1979-1984), ensemble musicians (in the quartet or quintet) created the music for the stories by improvising on a text written by Joanna Cortright. These early story pieces included The Little Engine That Could, Three Billy Goats Gruff, and Goldilocks and the Three Bears. The wind quintet performed a reduced arrangement of Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf during one of the early years.
In 1983, Kinder Konzerts™ made two significant changes. First FRIENDS expanded the ensemble to include eight musicians representing all four instrument families. This step provided young listeners a chance to hear a wider variety of orchestra instruments at each concert.
The second was the exciting move to commission composers to write new story pieces for the mixed ensembles. Libby Larsen, then composer in residence with the Minnesota Orchestra, recommended Janika Vandevelde as the first composer who would create a Kinder Konzerts™ commission for young children.
Over the years, some story compositions drew their text from an existing children’s book and others were based on public domain tales.
HISTORY OF KINDER KONZERTS™ COMMISSIONED STORY PIECES
A LEGACY IS BORN: KINDER KONZERTS™ HISTORY
Ara Burwell brought the idea of Kinder Konzerts™ to FRIENDS after attending an American Symphony Orchestra League conference (now know as the League of American Orchestras) and becoming inspired by an idea of concerts that connect music to children. Discussions within FRIENDS led to a proto-type concert in the spring of 1977. Kinder Konzerts™ was officially launched in the 1978-79 season with four concerts of small ensembles—(1) string quartets, (2) wind quintets, (3) brass quartets and (4) a percussion trio.
Over time, folk tales and picture books have been central in Kinder Konzerts™ programming. Composers have written music for each story, 18 commissions in all, and played by an ensemble of musicians. Their instruments represent the four instrument families in an orchestra.
Outreach programs have included Kinder Konzerts on the Road™ for under-resourced schools. A visiting artist does a residency with teachers and children in Pre-K and kindergarten, culminating in a performance of the Kinder Konzerts™ ensemble at their school.
In 2019 the pandemic necessitated closing down the school trips and live performances at Orchestra Hall. Our creative team developed Virtual Kinder Konzerts™. Online lessons and the companion school boxes for 20 children and family boxes for 3 children became the way to keep the magic of music and literacy alive. Libraries throughout the state opted for bags of the book, music and literacy activities to accompany the online learning.
A related pandemic program, "Out and About,” was developed by education consultant Katie Condon. She visits schools and libraries to share the Kinder Konzerts™ book and music with young children. We expanded the reach to communities out of the Twin Cities.
After a three-year hiatus, Kinder Konzerts™ will return in February of 2023! We will continue to strive to meet the needs of children’s musical curiosity. We have hosted over 1500 Kinder Konzerts™, serving more than 160,000 4-and 5-year old children.
According to Joanna Cortright, it’s the children’s open curiosity and delightful expressions that make each Kinder Konzert™ concert unique: engagement, honesty, amazement, oohhs for the size of the double bass, aahhs for the low, low sound of the double bassoon, giggles when the oboe reed squawked, and outright laughter when brass players show the silly noises they make on their mouth pies. No wonder this program continues to thrive and multiply.
WHY HAS THIS PROGRAM PROSPERED FOR SO LONG?
The keys, I think, have been the willingness to work to “get it right,” the high-quality partners (Mn Orch musicians, composers, outstanding volunteer organization), a clear mission, and a commitment to CHANGE when it helped us better realize that mission.
Of course, we all remember Sound Factories and concerts that didn’t flow as smoothly as we wanted; or a particular KK day with a short staff – or times when we had to deal with a rude adult…
And who can forget some of the answers - turn it on, get some batteries, get your mother to show you. AND we can remember and celebrate the gratitude expressed by teachers and parents who know that KK does make a difference for children and teachers – and for the quality of music education in the region.
25 years; at least one thousand concerts! Over 100,000 children listening to music inside our favorite house for music, Orchestra Hall, hundreds of volunteers, thirteen commissions, and thousands of new friends for the Minnesota Orchestra.
BRAVO!
TIMELINE OF COMMISSIONED WORKS
18 commissioned works, 1984 to present
