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'Pincus and The Pig A Klezmer Tale' Based on Serge Prokofiev's 'Peter and the Wolf' Story written and narrated by Maurice Sendak Music arranged and performed by Shirim Klezmer Orchestra Winner of 2005 Parent's Choice Gold Award and 2005 American Library Association's Notable Children's Recording Award! Package includes CD, full color story booklet with illustrations by Maurice Sendak. 'Did you hear of Boychick Pincus, how he opened wide the gate and hippety-hopped over the sweet warm meadow?' So begins internationally acclaimed children's author Maurice Sendak's inimitable recasting of Prokofiev's 'Peter and the Wolf,' where Peter becomes Pincus and the wolf is Chozzer Pig. Along with Shirim Klezmer Orchestra, Sendak has created a Jewish tour de force, resonating with Jewish humor, mysterious subtexts, and aural slapstick that appeals to all generations. The transformation from the Russian 'Peter and the Wolf' into a Jewish 'Pincus and the Pig' is surprisingly organic and natural, highlighting the deep relationship between Jewish and Russian music, culture, and story. This is a major new work for Sendak, and in many ways his most intimate and involved. He has rewritten Prokofiev's classic tale, changing the characters and tone, using it as a launching point to explore his strong Jewish roots and family history. He has created masterful illustrations of the characters, and has performed the narration with a rich Yiddish accent. This is Sendak speaking from his heart in a voice that is clearly natural and uncontrived, using colorful Yiddish expressions with a gravity and clarity of intent that makes unfamiliar colloquialisms easy for all to understand. He uses familiar Yiddish words 'klutz' and 'schlemiel,' as well as the more obscure but equally expressive 'farshtinkener'(stinky) and 'nudnick'(loser). His affection for the innocent but courageous Pincus shines throug
