1 Flute (dbl. picc.) INTRODUCTION
1 Oboe (dbl. e.h.)
1 Clarinet (dbl. bcl.)
1 Bassoon
2 Horn
2 Trumpet in c
1 Bass Trombone
Timpani
3 Percussion
Piano (celeste)
Strings
Narrator/Actor (poss. additional actors)
Audience: Families
Duration: 28′
THE MUSICAL FOREST SCORE
FULL SCORE AND PARTS: BUY $350. RENT $250.
DIGITAL $49.
The Musical Forest has been evolved to match any orchestra’s resources and facilities. It can be performed: 1] as a suite (alone, or with video and/or programbook) 2] with narration and video, or 3]* with video, voice acting, puppetry and dance. To further enhance the experience and continue the learning process beyond the concert hall, there are illustrated ‘enhanced programs’ and/or full books with audio albums to have as part of your ticket price, hand out to schools or sell at the door. In addition, there are ‘The Musical Forest Workshops’. The audio album is fully produced with orchestral music, narration and voice acting and comes free with the book as an online download. You may view the ‘workshops page’ here: https://soundartus.com/the-musical-forest-workshop/
*NOTE: This third version (only) exceeds ASCAP royalty disbursement restrictions and therefore we must negotiate a healthy performance or license fee, as defined between us. My daughter Sofia Rose and I are available as performers. For this version, performance, books and workshop fees may all be combined into one fee.
Books available HERE. GO HERE FOR THE TEACHING SYSTEM
In addition to founding Manhat Pro, Emmy Award Winning composer Joe Carroll worked extensively with Jim Henson on many projects including Sesame Street.
Modeled on Prokofiev’s ‘Peter and the Wolf’ in terms of timing and orchestral forces, Christopher Kaufman’s The Musical Forest inspires the imagination of young people, introduces music concepts and helps reconnect adults with the first time they discovered the power of classical music.
Dr. Christopher Kaufman is an accomplished composer and a teacher of young people of many years experience. Explore this site for more information about his career and accomplishments as a creative artist.
• Dr. Kaufman has designed Workshops which can precede and enhance performances.
• The program for your performance can be a short colorful illustrated book like the story description below.
• INTERACTIVITY (audience participation) can be included! A simple plan for this can be provided in your score package.
• If using your own narrator/actors: The actor(s) will be provided a script with plenty of cues – they do not have to read music – and will be given materials such as recordings with the full demo and practice tapes to work from if they 
wish. The composer has performed the ‘chamber version’ of this work many times with his 5 yr. old daughter! They may be available for your performance.
THE FORM: The work is divided into five main movements, with introduction and transitional areas, like so: Opening Song, Introduction: The Musical Forest, Mizz Lizzaaarrhd, The Bridge and Little Troll, The Songbirds, Organda, The Pond, Dragonfly and Reed Plant, Mizz Performa, Squiggle and Little Troll, The Cave of Dr. Soundartus, Home.
FOR THE STAGED VERSION OF THE MUSICAL FOREST:*
and to see what the ‘enhanced program’ or book looks like.
THE STORY: Squiggle T. Buglet adventures through The Musical Forest learning ‘Music Words’ and playing musical adventure games with her ‘teacher friends’. By playing these games she earns ‘seed pods’ (rhythm, melody, harmony and families of instruments) – all with the goal of reaching The Mysterious Cave of Dr. Soundartus and playing music on his Magic Music Wall! You may listen as you read.
1] (score pages 1-9) Song and Opening: Squiggle T. Buglet adventures in the Musical Forest. Everything in The Musical Forest makes Musical Sounds. She plays the Leaves, the Wind, the Rocks, the Water, and the Vines.
2] (score pg 12-17) THE GOAL: Squiggle is gathering Seed Pods in order to visit Dr. Soundartus in his Mysterious Cave and make music on his Magic Music Wall. To win a Seed Pod she accomplishes musical adventure games with her teacher friends. In episode one Squiggle meets up with Mizz Lizzaaarrhd and plays an adventure game which teaches Rhythm. 3] (score pg 20-24) At the end she earns the Seed Pod for Rhythm.
4] (score pg 27-34) In order to reach the Music Trees to visit the Songbirds and learn about Melody, Squiggle must cross the bridge. Little Troll pops up and Squiggle has to answer a riddle based on her adventure with Mizz Lizzaaarrhd.
5] (score pg 37-42) Squiggle adventures to the Music Trees to The Songbirds home. Ladybird and Manbird teach her about Soprano and Bass voices. She earns the Seed Pod for Melody!
6] (score pg 48-51) Squiggle enters Organda’s Valley. 7] (score pg 52-56) She learns about Harmony and earns the Harmony seed pod.
8] (score pg 59-73) Squiggle reaches The Pond, wins her way across by playing a game with a Giant Dragonly. She enters a doorway in a huge Reed Plant and descends a spiral staircase and
enters the Lair of Mizz Performa, a vast cavern under The Pond. 9] (score pg 79-87) From her Squiggle learns about the Families of Instruments and earns the fourth and last seed pod.
10] (score pg 94-98) To reach The Mysterious Cave of Dr. Soundartus Squiggle must once again cross the bridge! Little Troll pops up once more and quizzes her about what she learned from her teacher friends! Squiggle surprises Little Troll by inviting him along on her adventure to Dr. Soundartus’s Mysterious Cave. Little Troll is moved and, as fast friends, they journey forward together!
11] (score pg 99-105) They enter the Mysterious Cave. It is dark, Little Troll leads her into the darkness, a shape rises up… and turns… but then they hear the friendly voice of Dr. Soundartus! He’d had the lights turned low as he took a nap… The lights come on and everything is bright and cheery once more! He takes them to the Magic Music Wall.
12] (score pg 107-116) Squiggle drops the Seed Pods into a giant frog’s mouth next to the Music Wall. The giant loom comes to life and Squiggle performs upon it a beautiful orchestral climax. 13] (score pg 121-end) The music recedes Squiggle and Dr. Soundartus talk about the meaning of Music and the Musical Forest. Little Troll sees she is tired and leads her home. Squiggle enters her house to rest up for the next day’s adventure.
THE END
Visit the other Musical Forest pages on this site to read about the ‘Workshop’, ‘Chamber Live Show’ and ‘Book’ version of this transmedia production. One may purchase the book in the store in the side bar.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © — 2015
This includes all Art, Names, Images, Story Elements and Music which are the sole creations of Christopher Kaufman.
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