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Kat. #BO-4219  ·  B-NOTE
Editions & prices
PROKOFIEV, Sergej

Peter and the wolf

A musical tale for children
B-Note says:“Peter and the Wolf is a prime example of the early Soviet era: folk-accessible in form, neoclassical and Russian in style.”
Opus
op.67
Composed
1936
Duration
ca. 26 min
First publisher
1942, Hawkes & Son, London
Instrumentation
1.1.1.1 / 3.1.1.0 / timp, perc, str, narr i
Woodwinds
Flutes1
Oboes1
Clarinets1
Bassoons1
Brass
Horns3
Trumpets1
Trombones1
Tuba0
Further timp Timpani · perc Percussion · str Strings · narr
Orchestra
Chamber orchestra
Your orchestra Available to registered customers only i Your orchestra Save your orchestra’s line-up once – by drag & drop or from a template, from chamber to full symphony orchestra. Fits – no extra players needed Nearly – additionally: 1 harp 5 extra players needed Every work page then shows at a glance whether the work fits your orchestra and which extra players you would need. Several orchestras and project line-ups are possible. The catalogue is aimed at orchestras and ensembles – once logged in, the feature is available under "My orchestra". Log in →
Symphonic poem For Children Nature

Prokofiev's "Peter and the Wolf" was composed in 1936 as a commission for Moscow's Central Children's Theater and represents a brilliant synthesis of pedagogical purpose and artistic sophistication. The work embodies Prokofiev's characteristic ability to clothe complex musical ideas in accessible, immediately comprehensible forms without sacrificing compositional substance.

The score demonstrates Prokofiev's masterful orchestration in concentrated form: each character in the fairy tale receives its distinctive instrumental identity, from Peter's lively strings to Grandfather's grumbling bassoon. This programmatic assignment of instruments serves not only illustrative purposes but also reveals Prokofiev's profound understanding of the characteristic qualities of orchestral instruments.

Stylistically, the work combines Prokofiev's neoclassical tendencies with his Russian heritage and his instinct for memorable melody. Despite its child-friendly concept, the composer does not forgo harmonic sophistication and rhythmic complexity. "Peter and the Wolf" is considered a prime example of early Soviet-era music that was intended to be both popularly accessible and artistically demanding.

„I wanted to write a musical fairy tale for children. The idea was to introduce children to the instruments of the orchestra by assigning each character in the story a specific instrument.“
— Prokofjev, Autobiographie
„This is a charming work that introduces children to the world of orchestral instruments while telling an enchanting story. Prokofiev's musical characterization is masterful.“
— Olin Downes, New York Times, 1938
Date
2. Mai 1936
Venue
Moskau, Säulensaal des Hauses der Gewerkschaften
Conductor
leer
Orchestra
leer
The work was commissioned by Moscow's Central Children's Theater to introduce young audiences to the instruments of the orchestra. Prokofiev wrote both the story and the music within a matter of weeks in the spring of 1936. Each character in the story is represented by a specific instrument: Peter is portrayed by the strings, the bird by the flute, the duck by the oboe, the cat by the clarinet, the grandfather by the bassoon, the wolf by three horns, and the hunters by timpani and bass drum.

Editions available

Item no. Description Price (incl. 7% VAT)
BO-4219.00Full score (de,en)
Hawkes & Son, London 1942de/en		€ 26,80
BO-4219.10Set of parts with strings 5.4.3.2.2
Hawkes & Son, London 1942		€ 249,00
🎵 Digital options

Digital parts for this edition are not yet available. Please log in to request digitization.

BO-4219.21Extra Str. Vl.1€ 7,50
BO-4219.22Extra Str. Vl.2€ 7,50
BO-4219.23Extra Str. Va.€ 7,50
BO-4219.24Extra Str. Vc.€ 7,50
BO-4219.25Extra Str. Bass€ 7,50
BO-4219.30Piano reduction (de,en,fr)
Hawkes & Son, London 1942en/de/fr		€ 16,80

Sample pages

Not yet available

Video

More by Sergej Prokofiev

Symphony No.1 op.25 2.2.2.2 / 2.2.0.0 / timp, str Lt. Kije – Symphonic suite op.60 2+1.2.2.2 / 4.2+1.3.1 / 3 perc, sax, pf, cel, hp, str Piano concerto No.3 op.26 2D1.2.2.2 / 4.2.3.0 / timp, perc, str, pf solo The Love for three Oranges op.63bis 2+1.2+1.3 (+1).2+1 / 4.3.3.1 / timp, perc, 2hp, str Piano concerto No.2 op.16 2.2.2.2 / 4.2.3.1 / timp, perc, str, pf solo Violin concerto No.1 op.19 2D1.2.2.2 / 4.2.0.1 / timp, perc, hp, str, violin solo
All 8 works by Prokofiev →

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