Sergei Prokofiev – Peter and the Wolf – This work uses various instruments, particularly in the brass and woodwinds, to tell a story. An excellent use of timbre and associated dramatic characters, this work with narration introduces timbres and instruments for new listeners. This is also an excellent work to listen to on YouTube since many videos contain visual images of the characters and their accompanying instrument.

Camille Saint-Saëns – Carnival of the Animals – Although this work, and Peter and the Wolf, are often used to introduce orchestras to children, they are still excellent resources for students new to orchestral music and subtle timbral difference. Here each section uses combinations of instrumental families but doesn’t overwhelm listeners with too many timbres or instruments at any one moment.

Oliver Messian – Quatuor pour la fin du temps/Quartet for the End of Time – This work for clarinet, violin, piano, and cello is much like Black Angles, an exploration of extended techniques and resulting timbres. An excellent work for more advanced listeners, this piece challenges the recipient to try and grasp both the timbre and the technique that might be a work in the creation of these sounds.