We been using The Story of the Orchestra by Robert Levine for music appreciation. The book is divided into two sections. The first half explains the four eras of classical music (Baroque, Classical, Romantic and Modern) and focuses on a few composers from each era. Tracks on the accompanying cd give the reader a chance to hear music by each of these composers. The second half of the book describes the instruments of the orchestra and how they are organized into families. Once again, selections on the cd highlight each of these instruments.
Far from being dry like some books on classical music that I’ve tried to read, Levine’s text and Meredith Hamilton’s illustrations use humor, fascinating facts, and tidbits from the composer’s personal lives to make classical music accessible to children. My girls have had a blast dancing around to the selections on the cd and both of them can now name some Baroque and some Classical composers.
This week’s Non-Fiction Monday Round-Up is at Playing By the Book.
Hi Sarah,
Sounds like a really great one
One we’ve enjoyed on a related theme recently is Carnival of the Animals by Judith Chernaik, llustrated by Satoshi Kitamura (a fave of mine) – poems to go with the musical suite by Saint-Saens
There aren’t enough fun books about music for grade schoolers. This looks like a great one!
I love music books that have CDs too. =) Thanks for your review!
This is helpful; lately I’ve been feeling the lack of enriching music around here. We were in a Classical Kids CD phase for a while, and I was thinking I might need to bust those back out. You’ve inspired me to look up The Story of the Orchestra as an alternative.
Hi Sarah,
I just came across this and thought of you: http://www.bookmoot.com/2010/02/peter-and-wolf.html
I don’t know the book itself but I think it sounds lovely.
[...] – continuing with our casual study of composers and instruments using Story of the Orchestra and simply listening and [...]