‘Faffner Hall’ Opens With Muppets and Friends

Oh, those ubiquitous Muppets. The dynasty that Jim Henson hath wrought takes up the cause of music appreciation in “The Ghost of Faffner Hall,” an ambitious new children’s series that begins at 8:30 tonight on HBO.

It all happens in a Gothic mansion called Faffner Hall, an institution dedicated to music. Residents include the Hall’s founder, Fughetta Faffner, a ghost who loves music (even if it does tend to “solidify her ectoplasm”); the fat, jolly Wild Impressario, who plans the Hall’s musical events, and hipsters Rif and Mimi.

There are assorted penguins, fish, otherworldly monsters and the villain of the piece, music hater Farkus Faffner.

Top-drawer, winsome guest stars are worked into each plot. Tonight’s episode, “Your Body Is an Instrument,” features Gary Karr, who says his double bass is his voice and “my voice is me”; Grammy winner Bobby McFerrin, whose body is an entire orchestra; and Swedish trumpeter Hakan Hardenberger playing an achingly beautiful solo. (The show’s music is original.)

In next week’s episode, Nigel Kennedy, with his punk-rock look and young boy charm, shows the extraordinary range of a violin, while singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell is Wild Impressario’s love interest.

Created by producer Jocelyn Stevenson and based on a curriculum developed by two University of York professors, John Paynter and R. Murray Schafer, the 13-part series is designed to inspire creative listening and show that all sounds can be musical.

Does it all work? Surprisingly, no. It’s watchable, the Muppet creations are as wild and wonderful as expected and the guest stars even more so--they all but steal the show. (Future guests include Ry Cooder, Dizzy Gillespie and Ladysmith Black Mombazo.)

But entertainment and education here are a lumpy mix; the pot needs more stirring.