Classical Music Stories: Peter Pan and Following the Leader

We’re back with more classical music stories! Today we’re looking at some more music that may inspire thoughts of Peter Pan, and Wendy in particular.

Classical Music Stories is a series that connects music to your favorite books and characters. Since listening to classical music can be like hearing a story (albeit an abstract one), imagining specific stories that match the music can make it that much more fun and accessible!

In Schumann’s “Kinderszenen,” or “Scenes from Childhood,” the second super short, one-minute-long movement has a sense of joyful innocence. The marching sound of the beginning is like the lost boys and the Darling children who are playing follow the leader and  frolicking in the air as they fly with Peter toward the Neverland. Only Wendy feels the occasional pang when she remembers that they are far away from their parents and that Peter doesn’t seem to really care about them as the music becomes momentarily troubled.

Interestingly enough, the title of the second movement is “Kuriose Geschichte” which translates to “curious story.” I didn’t know this when I first listened to this music and imagined the characters of Peter Pan in it, but the title makes a lot of sense with what I imagined in that the children themselves are curious and exploring Neverland in the marching music. Of course, the “curious” nature of the story could be interpreted by you (or even me if I listen with a different frame of mind!) in a different way.

So let me know in the comments: what do you find “curious” about the story the music is telling? Do you like imagining Peter Pan in the music or does it make you think of something else?

P.S. If you liked this music and want to explore the characters of Peter Pan in it further, you’re in luck! You can check out some of the other movements of Schumann’s music here: Classical Music Stories: Tinker Bell (Plus Flash Fiction Challenge!) and here: Classical Music Stories: Peter Pan. For exploring Peter Pan in (very) different music, you can click on this alternate link: Classical Music Stories: Peter Pan.