Artist	Song
London Philharmonic Orchestra	Flight of the Bumble Bee
from Three Centuries of the Greatest Hits (2006)
Goteborgs Musiken	Entry of the Gladiators, Op. 68, "Triumph March"
from Jack-in-the-Box: A Collection of Amusing and Entertaining Works by Classical Composers (2006)
St. Petersburg New Philharmonia Orchestra & Alexander Titov	The Ride of the Valkyries
from The Classical Halloween Collection for Kids (2008)
François-Joël Thiollier	Children's Corner Suite: III. Golliwog's Cakewalk
from Debussy: Clair de Lune and Other Piano Favorites (2004)
Johann Strauss Orchestra	Can-Can
from Always Vienna (2007)
Goteborgs Musiken	Liberty Bell
from Jack-in-the-Box: A Collection of Amusing and Entertaining Works by Classical Composers (2006)
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra	Barnacle Bill (Blue Peter)
from Children's Holiday Classics (2007)
Vladimir Shakin, Eteri Lamoris & Madina Venger	Cat Duet
from The Classical Music Collection for Kids (2008)
Eteri Andjaparidze	Kitten on the Keys
from Jack-in-the-Box: A Collection of Amusing and Entertaining Works by Classical Composers (2006)
Barry Wordsworth & London Symphony Orchestra	Carnival of the Animals: VII. Aquarium
from Saint-Saëns: Carnival of the Animals; Bizet: Jeux d'enfants; Ravel: Mother Goose (2005)

Comment:

Get 'em cultured-up early: that's our motto. Introducing your kids to the world's greatest classical composers needn't be half as daunting as it sounds, if you know which pieces to choose, and that's precisely the point of these Essentials. Take Wagner's "Ride of the Valkyries", which opens Act III of [i]Die Walküre[/i], and is arguably best enjoyed with arms outstretched in imitation of an aeroplane, running as fast a possible while blowing an engine-noise raspberry. Or Rimsky-Korsakov's "Flight of the Bumble Bee" which so closely matches the sound of the insect in question, it's a cast-iron source of delight. Need something a little more dainty? How about the famous pizzicato from Delibes' ballet, [i]Sylvia[/i]. Holst will get your young 'uns interested in the heavens, in Next Steps.

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