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CD. The songbook also featured extensive program notes with histories and anecdotes about each song, which are accompanied by humorous illustrations drawn by
Perlmutter's son Sammy, who also did the songbook's cover illustration. In addition, there is a foreword by the author in which Perlmutter shares his thoughts about the process of adding lyrics to works of classical music. And he includes a short history of the practice. In 2012, Alfred Music also published a choral edition of the song Beethoven's Wig designed for choirs.
222:, and his two albums took over the #1 and #2 spot on Amazon's Hot 100 Sales Chart simultaneously. While Perlmutter had not originally conceived of Beethoven's Wig as a performing group, the reception that the albums received convinced him to put together a touring group to perform with orchestras. The group featured Elin Carlson, soprano; Susan Boyd, alto; Jonathan Mack, tenor and Jon Joyce, bass. A breakthrough came in May 2006, when Perlmutter and Beethoven's Wig performed to a sold out audience at
150:. Having studied classical guitar, piano and music composition, Perlmutter wanted to write lyrics to classical music. He described his thoughts when he came up with the words "Beethoven's wig is very big", to the tune of the allegro con brio of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony, "The words fit perfectly with the first eight notes of the symphony. And the wig was a perfect symbol for classical music." Within a week of the release of the album, Perlmutter was featured on
242:. Then in 2006, he released his first concept album, "Beethoven's Wig 3," in which each song featured lyrics set to a classical composition highlighting a different instrument. On the album Perlmutter also began experimenting with the form of a number of classical pieces. He took extremely short excerpts and wrote what were, in essence, little poems set to music. Some, such as an excerpt from
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but also with college and university ensembles. Perlmutter also presents solo shows, singing
Beethoven's Wig songs while accompanying himself on piano, classical guitar and mandolin. Hailed as opening the door to "serious music" in a way that's fun, Beethoven's Wig is now one of the most honored musical groups in family entertainment.
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In 2008, he released “Beethoven's Wig 4: Dance Along
Symphonies,” another concept album in which each song featured lyrics for classical pieces written for dances and marches. In this album he expanded the reach of previous Beethoven's Wig albums by including pieces by American composers Scott Joplin
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To date, the
Beethoven's Wig series has won a record over 50 National Awards. Perlmutter continues to perform with his group of four Beethoven's Wig singers. Hailed as opening the door to "serious music" in a way that's fun, Beethoven's Wig is a popular attraction not only with symphony orchestras,
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When
Beethoven's Wig: Sing Along Piano Classics was released the first Beethoven's Wig animated short was produced by Smiley Guy Studios. Set to Perlmutter's song “My Little Chicken,” it features a relentless hen that roams the world pecking and wrecking everything. In 2012, it was followed up with
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In 2012, the songs from
Beethoven's Wig: Sing Along Piano Classics were released in an illustrated Beethoven's Wig songbook, published by Alfred Music. The songbook contained piano/vocal sheet music for all the songs, and it included a copy of the original Beethoven's Wig: Sing Along Piano Classics
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Also in 2011, Perlmutter released a new album, Beethoven's Wig: Sing Along Piano
Classics, featuring his lyrics set to well-known piano works by Beethoven, Chopin, Mozart, Brahms, Schumann, Joplin, Debussy, Mussorgsky, and others. The piano works were all performed by Grant Gershon, Associate
108:, and three of its albums have been named American Library Association Notable Recordings. In total, the series has been honored with 46 national awards. The performing and recording group features singers Elin Carlson, Jonathan Mack, Susan Boyd, Jon Joyce, Jennifer Barnes and Michael Geiger.
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is an
American vocal group that sings lyrics written to classical music. Created by lyricist, lead singer and producer Richard Perlmutter, the group has been a featured performer with numerous symphony orchestras. Beethoven's Wig has recorded five albums.
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Conductor of the Los
Angeles Opera and Music Director of the LA Master Chorale. The album was recorded at the Village Recorders in Santa Monica, CA.
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In 2011, Alfred Music published the first
Beethoven's Wig Songbook, a piano/vocal edition of all of the works from the first album.
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an animated video of the classic Beethoven's Wig song “Beep Beep Beep,” with lyrics set to Beethoven's “Moonlight Sonata.”
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In 2005, Perlmutter released "Beethoven's Wig: Read Along Symphonies," a children's book illustrated by
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received 15 national awards including a Grammy Nomination for Best Musical Album for Children, and a
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said, "Perlmutter's got goofball charm… the lyrics are truly hilarious!" Over the next year,
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Beethoven's Wig: Sing Along Piano Classics Songbook & CD (Alfred Music Publishing, 2012)
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and John Philip Sousa. Perlmutter co-produced the album with Michael Geiger, a bass in the
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nomination for Best Musical Album for Children. The group has also received four
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in 2002. Prior to that time Perlmutter had released two solo albums,
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The Well-trained Mind: A Guide to Classical Education at Home
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said it was, "an irreverent approach to music appreciation."
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Beethoven's Wig: Read Along Symphonies (Illustrated by
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