We perform these presentations with support from Connelly Foundation and the Philadelphia Cultural Fund.
This project was launched by 1807 & Friends in 1996 after many years of children’s concerts given at the Gershman Y in Center City Philadelphia. It is a program with interactive elements designed to engage elementary school students in an entertaining and educational program of about 50 minutes in length. We visit schools thanks to grants from the Connelly Access Program, which provides educational presentations to parochial schools in Philadelphia.
We have two programs for the 2026-2027 school year. “King David’s Harp” program – “30 centuries of music in 50 minutes” — was developed in 2024. “The World Tour” program has recently been reconfigured to represent many different musical cultures from around the world.
Our ensemble consists of Nancy Bean, violin and viola; Vivian Barton Dozor, cello; Lloyd Smith, bass; and Anne Sullivan, harp.
PROGRAM ONE:
“King David’s Harp”
Our classical music program is a hands-on experience! Students can play the ancient kinnor (King David’s harp), finger cymbals, and tambourines, and they can touch and pluck the strings of the harp and violin.
We introduce the violin, viola, and cello. The violinist plays a fast reel, “The Irish Washerwoman” on the violin and a theme from Dvorak’s “American” string quartet on the viola. Which instrument has a lower sound?
We introduce the cello. The cellist plays the opening theme from Bach’s Suite in C Major. Does the cello sound lower or higher than the viola?
Leonard Cohen – “Hallelujah” played by the viola and cello
We introduce the harp and the huge double bass. We bring the harp and the bass onstage. Usually we’re able to hide them, so there are gasps of amazement when everyone suddenly sees these huge instruments.
We have a contest between the harp and the bass — who can play highest, who can play lowest, who can hold a note the longest, how many notes can each instrument play at once?
Monika Stadler – No One Can Stop Me Now. This music uses a paper harp mute to make a North African sound on the harp. The bass plays along in this piece.
“King David’s Harp”- Music from the Psalms. Interactive segment – students come up to play the kinnor (the ancient harp Kind David played), finger cymbals, and tambourines.
Scott Joplin – The Entertainer (Ragtime). Joplin created a new kind of music about 100 years ago; its ragged rhythms eventually became jazz.
Camille Saint-Saëns – “The Swan” (from Carnival of the Animals). Interactive segment – students come up to hold “water”, a hand-puppet swan, and a surprise “guest” as students help to portray the story of a swan swimming, mostly peacefully, in a pond.
Interactive segment – Pop! Goes the Weasel!
Students can take a short lesson and learn how to pluck the violin and harp strings in this easy, traditional English song.
W. A. Mozart Eine Kleine Nachtmusik (A Little Serenade [Night Music])
This piece is one of the most famous pieces. It was written about 250 years ago, but now it has been used in TV ads, and in Baby Einstein toys.
PROGRAM Two:
“world tour”
Carlos Salzedo – Chanson de la Nuit (Song in the Night). A French/Basque composer, he taught harp in Philadelphia for many years. This piece shows the many different kinds of sounds the harp can make, including the heavenly glissando.
Luigi Boccherini – Minuet. We do a skit. The Queen of Spain commands Luigi Boccherini – an Italian composer who lived in Spain – to write some music for her dinner party. You learn about each part of a piece of music: one note, rhythm, chords, and finally a melody to complete the Minuet.
The World Tour – Music from China, Cambodia, Viet Nam, Korea, and Mexico. This tour “travels” from country to country; there is “traveling music” during which we’ll show you the name of the next country. You’ll hear music that may be unusual to your ears, but some of the music is very familiar.
WHAT OUR AUDIENCES SAY
We’ve received hundreds of letters of appreciation over the 24 years we’ve offered this program, from principals, teachers and students. They tell us how much they like our musical selections and how we play them, how much they learned, and how enjoyable it was to hear our program.
Typical thank you notes from principals and teachers are:
“It was a wonderful experience for our students to watch, hear, and listen to. They were mesmerized — all of them.”
“I thought the presentation was magnificent. It was a new experience for the students, and they were very receptive to it.”
“I felt that the performers were able to make such an ‘unfamiliar’ topic entertaining for the children, who also loved it because it was interactive. BRAVO!”
“Today you were a true inspiration to our kids. My appreciation to a wonderful group of musicians.”
More important. though. are these enthusiastic words from the students:
“I think you were the best and I hope you come back again. I like the bass.”
“I really loved the music you played for us.”
“I liked when the Queen made the composer do better.”
“You are awesome!”