Peter and the Commissar
Encyclopedia
Peter and the Commissar is a musical comedy album by Allan Sherman
, with Arthur Fiedler
conducting the Boston Pops Orchestra
with 5 guest jazz musicians.
It was recorded live on July 22, 1964.
Released by RCA Victor
in 1964, as a Red Seal
Dynagroove recording. Stereo disc catalog number LSC-2773, Mono disc catalog number LM-2773
Re-released on Compact Disc by BMG special products, Collectors Choice Music catalog number CCM-488-2
The title track pokes fun at communism in the Soviet Union, and is a spoof of Peter and the Wolf by Sergei Prokofiev
, with Prokofiev's music, and original spoken rhymed verse by Allan Sherman
. Peter creates a new melody (the familiar Peter's theme from the original work) and must have it approved by the commissars of music. In the story the commissars have no musical taste or talent, and modify Peter's theme by changing a few notes here and there, then turn it into a Bossa Nova. Examples are played of other pieces "improved" by the commissars. Beethoven's Fifth
Cha-Cha-Cha, Brahms Lullaby Rock-n-Roll, Pete Tchaikovsky's Blues (from Swan Lake
), and Aida
in Dixieland.
The second track is "Variations on How Dry I Am
". In this work the first few notes of "How Dry I Am" are found in numerous well known pieces of popular and classical music, and blended togther with each piece ending with the familiar notes, and them being the beginning of the next piece. Other than some introductory spoken comedy by Mr. Sherman and a solo hiccup by Mr. Fiedler, this track is completely instrumental.
The last track is "The End of a Symphony". In this one Mr. Sherman again provides original spoken verse, denigrating the lengthy endings of symphonies, as these endings are attached to simple songs such as Yankee Doodle
, and "Shave and a Haircut
".
Allan Sherman
Allan Sherman was an American comedy writer and television producer who became famous as a song parodist in the early 1960s. His first album, My Son, the Folk Singer , became the fastest-selling record album up to that time...
, with Arthur Fiedler
Arthur Fiedler
Arthur Fiedler was a long-time conductor of the Boston Pops Orchestra, a symphony orchestra that specializes in popular and light classical music. With a combination of musicianship and showmanship, he made the Boston Pops one of the best-known orchestras in the country...
conducting the Boston Pops Orchestra
Boston Pops Orchestra
The Boston Pops Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Boston, Massachusetts, that specializes in playing light classical and popular music....
with 5 guest jazz musicians.
It was recorded live on July 22, 1964.
Released by RCA Victor
RCA Records
RCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1985 and a partner from 1985 to 1986.RCA's Canadian unit is Sony's oldest label...
in 1964, as a Red Seal
RCA Red Seal Records
RCA Red Seal Records is a classical music label and is now part of Sony Masterworks.The Red Seal label was begun in 1902 by the Gramophone Company in the United Kingdom and was quickly picked up by its United States affiliate, the Victor Talking Machine Company, and its president, Eldridge R. Johnson...
Dynagroove recording. Stereo disc catalog number LSC-2773, Mono disc catalog number LM-2773
Re-released on Compact Disc by BMG special products, Collectors Choice Music catalog number CCM-488-2
The title track pokes fun at communism in the Soviet Union, and is a spoof of Peter and the Wolf by Sergei Prokofiev
Sergei Prokofiev
Sergei Sergeyevich Prokofiev was a Russian composer, pianist and conductor who mastered numerous musical genres and is regarded as one of the major composers of the 20th century...
, with Prokofiev's music, and original spoken rhymed verse by Allan Sherman
Allan Sherman
Allan Sherman was an American comedy writer and television producer who became famous as a song parodist in the early 1960s. His first album, My Son, the Folk Singer , became the fastest-selling record album up to that time...
. Peter creates a new melody (the familiar Peter's theme from the original work) and must have it approved by the commissars of music. In the story the commissars have no musical taste or talent, and modify Peter's theme by changing a few notes here and there, then turn it into a Bossa Nova. Examples are played of other pieces "improved" by the commissars. Beethoven's Fifth
Symphony No. 5 (Beethoven)
The Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67, was written by Ludwig van Beethoven in 1804–08. This symphony is one of the most popular and best-known compositions in all of classical music, and one of the most often played symphonies. It comprises four movements: an opening sonata, an andante, and a fast...
Cha-Cha-Cha, Brahms Lullaby Rock-n-Roll, Pete Tchaikovsky's Blues (from Swan Lake
Swan Lake
Swan Lake ballet, op. 20, by Pyotr Tchaikovsky, composed 1875–1876. The scenario, initially in four acts, was fashioned from Russian folk tales and tells the story of Odette, a princess turned into a swan by an evil sorcerer's curse. The choreographer of the original production was Julius Reisinger...
), and Aida
Aida
Aida sometimes spelled Aïda, is an opera in four acts by Giuseppe Verdi to an Italian libretto by Antonio Ghislanzoni, based on a scenario written by French Egyptologist Auguste Mariette...
in Dixieland.
The second track is "Variations on How Dry I Am
The Near Future
The Near Future is the name of a song written by Irving Berlin in 1919. It is better known for the small part of its lyric that took on a life of its own: "How Dry I Am"....
". In this work the first few notes of "How Dry I Am" are found in numerous well known pieces of popular and classical music, and blended togther with each piece ending with the familiar notes, and them being the beginning of the next piece. Other than some introductory spoken comedy by Mr. Sherman and a solo hiccup by Mr. Fiedler, this track is completely instrumental.
The last track is "The End of a Symphony". In this one Mr. Sherman again provides original spoken verse, denigrating the lengthy endings of symphonies, as these endings are attached to simple songs such as Yankee Doodle
Yankee Doodle
"Yankee Doodle" is a well-known Anglo-American song, the origin of which dates back to the Seven Years' War. It is often sung patriotically in the United States today and is the state anthem of Connecticut...
, and "Shave and a Haircut
Shave and a Haircut
Shave and a Haircut and the associated response "two bits" is a simple, 7-note musical couplet popularly used at the end of a musical performance, usually for comic effect....
".