GUELPH – Originally released on CD, a children’s story set to classical music is now available as a re-mastered audiobook – 25 years later.
Maestro Orpheus and The World Clock was created in 1997 and the original creators, Joanne Grodzinski and Robert Pennee, have revived it into an audiobook.
“The original motivation of the project was to create a vehicle that would introduce classical music to children in an enjoyable way,” said Grodzinski.
“That is still the case, and, believing that the story deserves to be out there in the world is still the motivation for re-issuing it 25 years later.”
A new illustrated e-book and paperback version are also available on Amazon and Kindle.
Maestro Orpheus and The World Clock is a story with music aimed at children aged five to 12.
The story follows 10-year-old Fred visiting his grandfather when time suddenly stops. Setting out to discover why, Fred meets Maestro Orpheus and his magical lyre. Together they begin a musical adventure along The Corridor of Time, on their way to wind The World Clock.
“Drawing on a broad range of classical music, by composers from Bach and Haydn to Chopin and Strauss, Maestro Orpheus and The World Clock explores the intimate relationship between time, memory and music in a way that is intended to delight and fill with wonder,” Grodzinski said.
With music recorded by the English Chamber Orchestra, the story is narrated by Canadian actor R.H. Thomson, with Leslie Marshall, Marshall Matson and B.J. McLellan.
In 1995, Grodzinski partnered with her employee and friend, Pennee, to co-create and produce a story for children set to classical music.
“I used to own a classical record shop in Guelph, and from 1984 to 2001, for 17 years, and that’s when that project was created,” Grodzinski explained.
“We made a show of children’s stories that came with the classical music, and it was meant as an introduction to classical music for kids.”
The pair also produced a CD and cassette version of the story, followed by a Classroom Teacher’s Guide and a live orchestral version.
As the record industry changed and music became digitized, for various reasons, the project never got off the ground enough to be successful, Grodzinski explained. So it was put to rest.
Last year, “I found a box of Orpheus memorabilia in my store, and I thought this would make a really good audio book,” she said.
“And audio books are really growing in popularity.”
Grodzinski reconnected with Pennee and found a company that would transfer the files, configure them to audiobook format, and began distribution.
‘A good story in a difficult time’
“I just thought it was a good story in a difficult time now with wars and Trump and everything else that’s going on in the world,” she said.
“So it’d be nice to get away from it all for an hour or so and music and storytelling might just make life a bit easier for people.”
Grodzinski said the message behind the story is that music helps keep memories alive, and that music will help you remember the good times and that life goes on.
“The story itself, I think, is timeless,” Grodzinski said.
“Technology keeps changing, but certain things just stay the same,” she added.
“And this story stays the same. It’s just been introduced in a different format.”
Visit www.maestroorpheusproductions.com for more information and to listen to the opening chapter.
