It's time for a spooky (but silly!) musical adventure as we wrap up our 3-part series on the brilliant French composer Camille Saint-Saëns.

In today's episode of Busy Kids Love Music, we're exploring one of Saint-Saëns' most imaginative and well-known pieces: Danse Macabre — or "Dance of Death." But don't worry — while the title sounds a bit eerie, this piece is more like a playful Halloween dance party than a fright fest. With dancing skeletons, chiming midnight bells, and a dramatic story told entirely through music, Danse Macabre is the perfect mix of spooky and fun.

Inside this episode, your child will:

• Learn the meaning behind the title Danse Macabre
• Discover how Saint-Saëns uses musical instruments like the xylophone, violin, and oboe to paint a vivid scene
• Hear how a spooky-sounding interval called a tritone helps set the mood
• Use their imagination to picture the skeleton dance party in full swing
• Listen for musical clues like midnight chimes and a rooster crowing at dawn

Don't forget to download your FREE Audio Treasure Hunt! I've hidden six questions throughout the episode for your child to uncover as they listen.

👉 Download it here

Mentioned in this episode:

• Danse Macabre by Camille Saint-Saëns
• Instruments to listen for: xylophone (rattling bones!), harp (midnight chimes), violin (creepy tritone), and oboe (the rooster at dawn)
• Previous episodes in our Saint-Saëns series: → Episode 156: Meet the Composer – Camille Saint-Saëns → Episode 157: Carnival of the Animals

Whether you're listening around Halloween or just in the mood for something dramatic and fun, this episode will show how music can spark imagination and tell a story — even without any words.