School Library Journal Review
Gr 4-9This relatively unique interactive guide to the orchestra is a combination of book and compact disk. The CD features a new work by the Dutch composer Poul Ruders called Concerto in Pieces, a variation on the ``The Witch's Chorus'' from Henry Purcell's Dido and Aeneas. The lively piece is first performed in its entirety, and then taken apart instrument by instrument. Symbols in the text show readers when to turn on the CD player and hear the particular instrument shown on that page; there is a helpful musical index to the CD, as well. The text itself has facts on the orchestra as a whole, the conductor, composer, and each instrument. General information on how each group of instruments works, be it brass or strings, is provided. The full-color photographs and reproductions are of high quality. A history section features a timeline, names of musicians and composers, definitions of musical forms with examples, and a glossary. Overall, this is an attractive addition. However, there might be a problem determining where to place it within the library, and it will not be as useful if the CD becomes separated from the book.Robin Works Davis, Hurst Public Library, TX (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Horn Book Review
The orchestra is introduced in this book featuring large color photographs and numerous sidebars and boxes of information. A compact disc is included, and small icons thoughout the book indicate which track to play to hear a specific musical thought or instrument within the piece. The last thirty tracks are short passages with a single instrument, identified (by instrument) in an index at the front of the book. Glos., ind. From HORN BOOK 1995, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Booklist Review
Gr. 5^-8. With a broad theme of classical music and a specific focus on one performance that can be heard on the accompanying compact disc, this book offers music students a range of options. The book's first part, "Making Music," briefly discusses each instrument and places it within its family (stringed, woodwind, brass instruments, etc.). Clear photographs show musicians playing the instruments, and diagrams show how the sounds are created. Readers are directed to play a track on the enclosed CD to hear each instrument played. The second part of the book surveys the history of classical music, which is divided into periods such as ancient, baroque, and modern. Small photos or artworks accompany short descriptions of significant musical events. The music on the compact disc, which fits into the cover of this large-format book, is Poul Ruders' Concerto in Pieces, composed with 10 variations on a theme from Purcell, each highlighting a different section of the orchestra. BBC Orchestra conductor Andrew Davis then discusses the work, illustrating ideas with excerpts from the piece. A rich resource for young people who want to understand orchestral music. --Carolyn Phelan
