The three-CD set may require parents to have some familiarity with classical music in order to get children involved. Otherwise, for young ears, there will simply be some interesting piano, march and dance music and some of less interest. Parents with knowledge of the works included on the CDs will be better able to choose ones their kids will enjoy. For instance, Mozart's "Variations on a French Song" for piano is actually variations on the tune known in English as "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star," while Beethoven's "FÃ¼r Elise" is a perennially popular work often taught to young piano students. The CD of marches may be even more accessible, including such super-popular tunes as Sousa's "The Stars & Stripes Forever" and Gounod's "Funeral March of a Marionette. " And the CD of dances will be the most... well, danceable: here are Tchaikovsky's "Russian Dance" from The Nutcracker, a ballet that many children may already have seen, plus Khachaturian's highly melodious waltz from his Masquerade Suite, and much more. There are two dozen "Piano Time" tracks, 22 for "March Time" and 18 for "Dance Time," all of them complete and uncut, so parents who are not highly involved in classical music, but who know enough so they can initially introduce their children to a few familiar pieces, will have plenty of opportunities to expand both their kids' musical interests and their own. And there is more fun for kids here than just the three-plus hours of music: the packaging includes three coloring sheets, six colored pencils with which to draw on them, and three sheets of stickers all nice bonuses to keep small hands busy while small ears are occupied with the music.

Tracklist:

For Children, BB 53, Vol.1 & 2: Nos.1-3. Children At Play (Allegro) - Children's Song (Andante) - Quasi Adagio
For Children, BB 53, Vol.1 & 2: Nos.22-25. Allegretto - Dance Song (Allegro Grazioso) - Andante Sostenuto - Parlando
Lieder Ohne Worte (Songs Without Words), Book 6, Op.67: Lied Ohne Worte (Songwithout Words) No.30 in Amajor, Op.62, No.6,"Fruhli
Lieder Ohne Worte (Songs Without Words), Book 6, Op.67: Lied Ohne Worte (Songwithout Words) No.34 in C Major, Op.67, No.4,"Spinn
Lieder Ohne Worte (Songs Without Words), Book 6, Op.67: Lied Ohne Worte (Songwithout Words) No.36 in E Major, Op.67, No.6
2-Part Inventions Nos.1-15, BWV 772-786: Invention No.14 in B Flat Major, BWV 785
2-Part Inventions Nos.1-15, BWV 772-786: Invention No.13 in A Minor, BWV 784
Children's Corner: I. Doctor Gradus Ad Parnassum
Children's Corner: VI. Golliwogg's Cake-Walk
Children's Corner: III. Serenade For The Doll (Serenade A La Poupee)
12 Variations On Ah, Vous Dirai-Je, Maman, K.265
4 Piano Pieces, WoO 59-61a: Bagatelle in A Minor, WoO 59,"Fur Elise". Bagatelle, WoO 60. Allegretto Quasi Andante, WoO 61a. Alle
Le Piccadilly
Jack-In-The-Box
Piano Pieces For Children: No.1. Breeze
Piano Pieces For Children: No.2. Clouds
Waltz No.6 in D Flat Major, Op.64, No.1, "Minute"
Waltz No.11 in G Flat Major, Op.70, No.1
Carnaval Das Criancasbrasileiras: II. O Chicote Dodiabinho (The Little Devil'sWrap)
Album For The Young, Op.39: No.17. German Song (Chanson Allemande)
Album For The Young, Op.39: No.13. Peasant Prelude (Le Paysan Prelude)
Album For The Young, Op.39: No.9. Waltz (Valse)
Kinderszenen (Scenes Of Childhood), Op.15: III. Hasche-Mann (Catch-As-Catch-Can)
Kinderszenen (Scenes Of Childhood), Op.15: I. Von Fremden Landern Und Menschen (Of Foreign Lands And People)
Einzug Der Gladiatoren (The Entry Of The Gladiators), Op.68, "Triumph March"
Babes In Toyland: March Of The Toys
Nobles Of The Mystic Shrine
Marche Funebre Dâ€™une Marionnette (Funeral March Of A Marionette)
Radetsky March, Op.228
Powhattan's Daughter
Governor Bradford March
Jeux D'enfants: I. March
The Nutcracker, Act I: March
Children's March, "Over The Hills And Far Away"
Jazz Suite No.2 (Suite For Stage Variety Orchestra): I. March
Bojarernes Intogsmarsch (Entry March Of The Boyars)
The Thunderer
A Century Of Progress
Chicken Reel
Die Lustige Witwe (The Merry Widow): March
The Atlantic City Pageant
Manhattan Beach March
Marche Persanne (Persian March), Op.289
The Love For 3 Oranges Suite, Op.33bis: III. March
Fatinitza March
The Stars And Stripes Forever
Fruhlingsstimmen (Voices Of Spring), Op.410
Masquerade Suite: I. Waltz
Giselle, Act I: Waltz
Romeo And Juliet, Op.64: Act I. Dance Of The Knights
Romeo And Juliet, Op.64: Act I. The Young Juliet
Brandenburg Concerto No.4 in G Major, BWV 1049: I. Allegro
The Sleeping Beauty, Op. 66, Act I: Valse
The Nutcracker Suite, Op. 71a: IV. Russian Dance, "Trepak"
Gayane Suite No.2: VI. Sabre Dance
Waltz Suite For Orchestra, Op.110: VI. Happiness
Coppelia, Act I: Mazurka
21 Hungarian Dances, WoO 1: Hungarian Dance No.18
Zolotoy Vek (The Golden Age), Op.22, "The Age Of Gold", Act I: Soviet Dance
Aladdin, Act I: A Marketin China. Temptation Dance
Faust: Waltz
Die Fledermaus (The Bat): Overture
Lady In The Dark. Symphonic Nocturne: V. Dance Of The Tumblers
Babes In Toyland: IX. March Of The Toys

UPC: 747313320431
Label: Naxos
Release Date: 9.30.08
Format: CD

Panda Classics Box Set - Panda Classics Box Set (3 CD)