The Show In Depth
Introduction
The Show In Depth
Introduction
The best way to find out about this high-energy, interactive show is to be there! What makes this concert so unique is the level of audience participation and the wonderful interaction between Judy & David, the orchestra, and the audience.
If you can't experience it first hand, the next best way is to ask your colleagues that have experienced the show. Feel free to contact any of the orchestras that have hosted the show so far and ask them if the show is as good as we say it is!
All that said, we will try our best to give you a feel for the show in words, images and sound clips. The sound clips are from a rehearsal CD that we provide to conductors in advance of the show to familiarize them with the songs. With midi reconstructions of the orchestral arrangements, it's not perfect but it will give you a feel for the original compositions (we trust you to guess what the Beethoven, Strauss, Bizet and others sound like!). The sound clips are in mp3 format. If your browser cannot play them, there are many free programs available to help you play them (try tucows.com or mp3.com for example). If you are still having trouble contact us and we'll make sure you get some clips in a format you can hear! Note: Sound clips will pop up in a new window. Close the window when you are done and you will be returned to this page.
The Show
The music soars and Judy & David run on to the stage, greeting their young friends with what has become their theme song...
All Together Now
...a lively sing along / clap along that welcomes the audience and invites them to add their voices to the concert. Click on the "play clip" icon on the left to hear a sample from the song.
Greetings completed, Judy & David find out that something has gone terribly wrong… David was going to help out the conductor, but when he opens the case to his magic baton, it's gone… and in its place is a note:Dear Judy & David,
One moment it’s there and then it is gone. I have stolen your magic baton.
If you want to see it before the show’s through, then you must follow every clue.
Each clue you solve will lead to a tune. Solve them fast or your baton will be doomed!
Signed, Alfred TonalThat's right. Just when you thought it was safe to go to the symphony, "A. Tonal", the criminal mastermind spoils everything. But not to worry, with some help from the audience everything may just work out all right.
Still, David is a bit worried. There aren't any clues in the box, just some big car keys… and keys, he insists, don't have anything to do with music.
Judy sets David straight about "musical keys" and then notices that these particular keys look like they belong to Judy & David's "Big Old Car".
... a highly participatory song, using the different timbres of the orchestra to mimic the many sounds of a big old car.
After the song, Judy and David have a closer look at the keys and discover another note from A Tonal…
There are so many instruments, soon you’ll know why
It’s because of the sounds that they each can supply
Some are very low, like a rumbling sky
Now look for an instrument that is very ________"Shy?" David guesses, getting it wrong as always. "How do you get a shy instrument?
Judy motions to the audience who all call out the word "high". To find the next part of the puzzle they must find an instrument that is very HIGH.
David wastes no time. He pulls out his measuring tape and walks up to the double bass, reporting that it's over five feet high.
Once again, Judy sets David straight and teaches a quick refresher on pitch. Sure enough, the piccolo provides the next clue… and brings us to our next song. David discovers that the shrill sound of the piccolo reminds him of his famous Funky Teapot.
...one of Judy & David's best loved songs, it is a funky adaptation of "I'm a Little Teapot" and invariably has the entire audience out of their seats doing the "Funky Teapot Dance".
The next clue, leads to the famous Frog song… only David is not too thrilled about singing it. In fact he'll sing just about any Frog song he can OTHER than the REAL frog song. He tries to sing the Froggie song to an excerpt from Beethoven's Fifth Symphony, to a selection from Bizet's Toreador's March and others, but Judy & the audience won't let him get away with it. Ultimately he capitulates with the "real" frog song.
...perhaps the most requested song among Judy & David fans. It is full of hand motions and an extra helping of silliness.
When the song is over, sure enough, Judy, David and the audience discover that a big plastic frog on the stage holds the next clue. From the clue we learn that music can tell stories. Judy slips out for a quick costume change and, with the help of a few volunteers from the audience, clad in bear ears and electric guitars, we meet GoldiRocks!
...a high-energy musical send-up of "Goldilocks and the Three Bears" with costumed volunteers from the audience (and sometimes a fun loving, bear-ear-clad conductor -- completely optional, of course).
In the pocket of Goldi's gold sequined jacket we find… you guessed it… another clue:Like a kid with a yo-yo, like a high-wire CLOWN
Scales go up and scales go ________"Around?" David guesses.
"Down!" the audience chimes in.
David, somewhat disheartened by getting every clue wrong leaves the stage. Meanwhile, with the help of an orchestra member, we learn all about scales. And then, to help David learn that you don't leave the stage in the middle of a concert, we play a little trick on David. Every time he says the word "up" the entire audience -- and, usually the orchestra, stands up. Every time he says the word "down" everyone sits. It's a hilarious bit of fun. And when David finally figures out what's going on, the audience joins in with the R&B sounds of Standin' Up.
...a hip tune and a fun musical game. The audience listens for the words "up" and "down" and dances along in sync with the lyrics.
With the next clue we learn about musical rests… like when we stop the music in TWISTY FREEZE… another musical dance game that, once again, has the entire audience out of their seats and dancing!
...another old-time Judy & David favorite combining "The Twist" with a freeze dance.
After the song, David is impressed with the conductor's ability to help the orchestra start and stop and stay together. On a visit to his podium he discovers the next clue…
Dynamics make music sound soft or sound loud
Soft like you’re timid, or loud like you’re proud
A loud sound like thunder that can rattle your brain
Or a soft sound like pittering pattering ________
David fumbles, "Um…drain…Spain… um…." But by now the audience knows the drill and they call out the right answer, leading us into the beautiful sounds of Rainbow Waiting for Me.
Rainbow Waiting for Me
The favorite of most of the orchestral musicians, this stunning ballad features Judy on grand piano. As her voice soars above the dramatic orchestral arrangement, David leads the audience in graceful hand motions, keeping even the youngest audience members' rapt attention. (Note: if you would like to hear a demo of the full song, rather than just a clip, click on the "Full Song" icon).Judy finds another clue at the piano… its about staccato and legato. The demonstration has one unfortunate side effect… Whenever David hears staccato music, he gets jumpy… a condition which tends to spread to the orchestra and audience. While the kids keep jumping, the orchestra DOES manage to regain their composure in time to help us sing an old Judy & David favorite… "Jumpin up & down"
One of the first songs written by the duo, this song has universal appeal to children who love any excuse to "Jump Up and Down" (or course, the adults seem to find some excuse to do it as well!)
As David makes a quick exit for a drink of water, we find the last clue… warning us that Alfred Tonal is here in the theater. The lights darken and, led by a magic sparkling baton, a caped figure enters and takes the podium from the conductor. He begins to conduct the orchestra, but only mayhem comes out. In disgust, the caped character removes his mask and asks what went wrong.
Judy and the audience discover that Alfred Tonal was really David all along… David made up the whole story and stole his own magic baton because he didn't properly prepare and he wanted to escape his appearance as a guest conductor.
Judy lets David know that even a magic baton wouldn't help, instead it takes lots of learning and practice. Then you can make the orchestra sound like almost anything.
"ANYTHING!?" David asks.
"Yes, why?" Judy says, knowing that he is up to something.
David challenges the conductor to make the orchestra sound like magic. No problem. A harp gliss does the trick.
"But you couldn't make the orchestra sound like outer space!"
An excerpt from Star's'Thus Spake Zarathustra proves him wrong.
" Like a horse?"
Of course, an excerpt from the William Tell Overture provides the answer, as David provides the crazy antics.
David gets a wild look in his eye. If the conductor can really help the orchestra sound like just about anything, there's one last request he has. He whispers it in the conductors ear and hurries off stage.
Judy wonders what David is up to THIS time, but quickly gets her answer. The orchestra has turned into the sound of a choo choo train and, through the fog and darkened lights, David emerges as a train, with a light on his head and a train whistle in his mouth.
...another all time Judy & David favorite, this song gets the entire audience out of their seats and singing and dancing-along... from the visually-captivating beginning to the big finale finish.
By the end of the show, the young audience has learned a few important things about music and orchestras, but none more important than this... The symphony is an awesome place to be... full of magic, excitement, and fun.
