Published in 1896, A Child of the Jago is a gritty and realistic portrayal of life in the slums of London’s East End during the late 19th century. The novel is set in an area known as the Old Jago (based on a real-life slum called the Old Nichol) and vividly describes the poverty, crime and squalor that characterised the impoverished neighbourhood.The story revolves around Dicky Perrott, a young boy growing up in the Jago, and his struggle for survival in a world of gangs, violence and des...

There is a BIG hall filled with hundreds of people. They are just getting comfortable in their seats when the musicians walk onto the stage, carrying instruments. There are the string instruments: the violins, violas, cellos and large double basses, which are heavy to carry. There are the brass instruments: horns, trumpets, trombones and a tuba. And there are the woodwind instruments: flutes, oboes, clarinets and bassoons. The percussionists walk onto the stage too, but they are not carryi...

Published in 1789, The Natural History of Selborne was written by Gilbert White, an English naturalist and clergyman. It comprises White’s letters to fellow naturalists and friends, documenting the flora and fauna of his home town in Hampshire.The book is considered one of the earliest and most influential works of natural history in the English language. In both its parts, White meticulously observes and describes the various species of birds, animals and plants that he encounters in the ...

The great thing about Christmas is that you know lots of good things will happen. You know that pretty lights will start popping up all over the place. You know you'll get a holiday from school. You're probably ready to eat a special meal and to see family and friends. All these things are part of what we call a tradition. Christmas is a big tradition - it celebrates the birth of Jesus. People who want to celebrate this do it in different ways. But whatever happens, there is always music! ...

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is one of the most famous composers. When he was only three years old, he played the harpsichord and the violin. At the age of four he was making up his own music. He was so young that his father had to help him write it down. When he was six years old, Mozart and his older sister Nannerl were giving concerts to kings and queens and emperors. And Mozart wrote new music all the time, even when he was sitting in bumpy coaches travelling through Europe. He didn't have ...

Hearing a whole orchestra play is a bit like looking at an enormous colourful painting, full of amazing patterns. The instruments of the orchestra all make different sounds, and when they play together they can make you think and feel and imagine hundreds of different things! There are four main groups of orchestral instruments. At the front there are the string instruments: the deep-voiced double basses (taller than the people who play them!), the cellos, the violas and the violins, which...

When Beethoven was a young man, he was known as a brilliant pianist and a brilliant composer. But he didn't really have a happy life. He was born in the German city of Bonn and he gave his first public concert at the age of seven. But his father was very strict and made him practise for hours every day. When he was in his 20s and already famous, he began to go deaf. Imagine how awful that was for such a great musician: to him, music was getting softer and softer, until he could hardly hear...

Watch an expert violinist pick up the violin, place it under the chin and draw the bow across the strings, making music sing in the air: it seems so easy and natural. Actually, it can feel rather awkward at first! Where do I put my fingers for different notes? And how can I do it as well as pull the bow smoothly so it makes a nice sound? It seems so difficult! The violin is one of the most popular instruments the world over. Probably more children learn the violin than any other instrument...

What is Ballet? The ballerina glides across the stage, her arms making lovely lines in the air. A beautiful tune comes from the strings of the large orchestra. She is the Sleeping Beauty: she was put into a deep magic sleep by the wicked witch. But she has now been woken by her handsome prince, and he dances joyfully with her, athletic and strong. Another time, she is Princess Odette from Swan Lake, and around her the other dancers – swans in white chiffon – weave patterns in time to the m...

The day comes to an end: light fades, darkness comes, and it is time for little ones to go to bed. The mother or father sits by the cradle, rocking it gently from side to side and singing a quiet song. Eyes close and sleep descends. Another day is over. This traditional scene has inspired many composers and musicians all over the world. Every country has lullabies, and classical composers have had direct experience of the lulling effect, remembered from childhood or felt as parents. They h...

Meet Tchaikovsky... Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky was just five when he started learning the piano – in his small home-town in Russia. Most families like his had a piano but very few small boys could play it so well. Then he started writing music, too. Ideas for new music poured out of him, especially wonderful tunes. He wrote a lot of music for ballets as well as for big orchestras and small groups of instruments, such as string quartets (two violins, one viola, one cello). Pyotr was a sensit...

The Piano There are different kinds of piano. Some are big and some are small. But they all have one thing in common: a keyboard with white keys and black keys. When you learn to play the piano, you use one hand first. Then you use the other hand. Then you play with both hands together. When you become really good you can play things fast, with fingers moving at different speeds in different directions! And you can play all your favourite tunes. On this recording you can hear some of the b...