Who composed Peter and the Wolf?

Who composed Peter and the Wolf?

• A. Tchaikovsky
• B. Igor Stravinsky
• C. Prokofiev
• D. Saint-Saëns

Answer: (C)

Prokofiev composed Peter and the Wolf in 1936 as a musical fairy tale for children, using the orchestra itself to tell the story. Each character is tied to a specific instrument group, so listeners can follow the plot through sound: Peter with the strings, the bird with the flute, the duck with the oboe, the cat with the clarinet, the grandfather with the bassoon, the wolf with the French horns, and the hunters with the timpani and bass drum. This approach makes the orchestra a storytelling tool and helps young audiences recognize how different timbres convey character and mood. The other composers listed are known for different works and styles, not this piece: Tchaikovsky wrote classic ballets like The Nutcracker, Stravinsky created works such as The Firebird and Rite of Spring, and Saint-Saëns is known for Carnival of the Animals, but Peter and the Wolf is Prokofiev’s creation.

Prokofiev composed Peter and the Wolf in 1936 as a musical fairy tale for children, using the orchestra itself to tell the story. Each character is tied to a specific instrument group, so listeners can follow the plot through sound: Peter with the strings, the bird with the flute, the duck with the oboe, the cat with the clarinet, the grandfather with the bassoon, the wolf with the French horns, and the hunters with the timpani and bass drum. This approach makes the orchestra a storytelling tool and helps young audiences recognize how different timbres convey character and mood. The other composers listed are known for different works and styles, not this piece: Tchaikovsky wrote classic ballets like The Nutcracker, Stravinsky created works such as The Firebird and Rite of Spring, and Saint-Saëns is known for Carnival of the Animals, but Peter and the Wolf is Prokofiev’s creation.