Sergei Prokofiev once composed a charming piece for children called Peter and the Wolf (TIME, Aug. 21). But that was a long time ago (1936). Home in Russia again after living in the U.S. and France, he was then still basking in the warmth of a hero's welcome. Since then many things have happened to Sergei Prokofiev. The hero's welcome wore out. Two years ago, he was sharply reprimanded for "bourgeois decadence." He meekly promised to mend his ways.
Last week 59-year-old Composer Prokofiev announced a new work for children: an oratorio called Guarding Peace, for children's voices, mixed chorus, soloists and orchestra, with text by Children's Poet Samuel Marshak. In the new work, his latter-day Peter comes across a new species of wolf: "The sinister, evil voices of the warmongers and Wall Street merchants on their way to Korea, carrying hundreds of thousands of death-dealing bombs." Guarding's enthusiastic conclusion : "The children's best friend and protector lives in the Kremlin."