Focus on: Camille Saint-Saëns ‘Carnival of the animals’

Camille Saint-Saens was a popular French composer. He was also fascinated by animals. He listened carefully to the sounds they made and noticed exactly how they moved. In 1886 he composed a piece of music called ‘Carnival of the Animals’ for an orchestra to play. Do you remember what happens at a carnival?

1) Say out loud or write down 3 things you would see or hear at a carnival.

But this Carnival was different. It was for animals, not people! And the lions lead the way.

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2) Watch the video of the finale. What does the music remind you of? Do you recognise any instruments in the music?

Did it remind you of the music you hear at a funfair?

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3) Watch this video of some chickens. Can you copy the way they move and sound?

4) Listen to Saint-Saëns’ piece of music about the chickens at the Carnival. Can you try playing, singing or whistling the rhythm he uses to copy their sound?

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One of his most famous pieces is called Aquarium.

5) Set a timer for 60 seconds. Say or write down as many things as you can think of that you would find in an aquarium.

Now listen to the piece of music. How does Saint-Saëns make it ‘sound’ like and aquarium? What instruments can you hear? How would you describe the sound? Is it fast or slow? High or low?

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He composed another piece about an elephant practising her dancing for the carnival. He borrowed the tune from a friend, Berlioz.

6) Listen to ‘The Elephant’. Why does it sound like an elephant? Think of our musical describing words.

7) Use an instrument or hum a tune in an ‘elephant’ style. Is it fast or slow? High or low? Can you walk like an elephant as you do it?

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If you would like to watch the concert in full, here is a recent performance of it by the London Mozart Players. They performed it in lockdown and it is narrated by actress Joanna Lumley.