Hey Kids, Meet Camille Saint-Saëns | Composer Biography

from the Hey Kid's Meet the Composer Index




Hey Kids, Meet Saint-Saëns

Camille Saint-Saëns (1835-1921) French Romantic Era Composer


Charles-Camille Saint-Saëns was born in Paris, France in 1835. His father was a government clerk who died three months after his birth. At the request of his mother, Camille's great-aunt Charlotte moved in with them. She was the first to introduce him to the piano. Beginning piano lessons at the age of two, he came to be known as one of the outstanding child prodigies of his time. He almost immediately began to write music with his first composition for piano dated March 22, 1839. His talent was not limited to music, he also learned to read by age three and mastered Latin by age seven.

In 1886 Saint-Saëns premiered one of his most loved works - Le Carnaval des Animaux (The Carnival of the Animals). Shortly after its premiere, however, Saint-Saëns requested that the complete collection of pieces not be performed, allowing only a single movement, Le Cygne (The Swan), a piece for cello and two pianos, to be published during his lifetime. The Carnival of the Animals was written as a musical joke, and Saint-Saëns believed it would harm his reputation as a serious composer. Instead, this work has provided a testament to the imagination and musical brilliance of Camille Saint-Saëns.


Watch a Video About Camille Saint-Saëns 'Carnival of the Animals'

Learn about Camille Saint-Saëns Carnival of the Animals with this popsicle stick theater presentation from the MakingMusicFun.net Academy.




Get the Carnival of the Animals | Popsicle Stick Puppets featured in this video for your next music classroom lesson.


Watch a performance of Saint-Saëns The Carnival of the Animals from Disney's "Fantasia 2000."




Print Related Resources for Charles-Camille Saint-Saëns


Beginner and Easy Piano Sheet Music

Royal March of the Lion Easy Piano Sheet Music/Level 2
Egyptian Dance Easy Piano Sheet Music/Level 3
The Aquarium Easy Piano Sheet Music/Level 3
The Aquarium Easy Piano Sheet Music/Level 5
The Elephant Easy Piano Sheet Music/Level 4
The Swan Easy Piano Sheet Music/Level 3


Free Online Piano Lesson for Kids

Egyptian Dance | Easy Piano Lesson for Kids


Hey Kids, Meet the Composer Worksheets and Games (Famous Composers)

Camille Saint-Saëns | Coloring Page
"Meet the Composer" Job Application Worksheet
Royal March of the Lion (Circus of the Animals) | Music Listening Glyph Worksheets
Carnival of the Animals | Popsicle Stick Puppets
Beethoven at Bat™ | Music Composer Board Game (Digital Print)