Product Description

A beginning guide to orchestral music invites readers to listen to each individual instrument on the CD and then turn to the pages in an introductory text to discover more about the orchestra and its sections.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #270247 in Books
• Published on: 1996-10-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 64 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780152013042
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

From School Library Journal
Grade 3-6?First impressions can be somewhat deceiving. This handsomely designed title features an inviting layout: boxed captions; crisp, full-color photographs; and compressed information presented in double-page spreads. Varying type sizes lead the eye from headings to descriptions. Frequent diagrams illustrate where each group of instruments is seated in the orchestra, and fascinating trivia bites will intrigue browsers without overwhelming them. Organization of information could not have been better orchestrated. The accompanying compact disc, Benjamin Britten's classic The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra, sonorously narrated by Ben Kingsley, paired with The Sorcerer's Apprentice, makes this package almost irresistible. Unfortunately, the scope of the presentation is just too vast. While the author glances at instruments and music of the world and peeks at learning about running an orchestra, she doesn't give a complete enough picture of the generic orchestra. There are only two very small color photos of orchestras, and the gorgeous, large, detailed illustrations of the seven highlighted instruments lack labels. The inadequate glossary does not define the cor anglais, which is mentioned, but not pictured. Neil Ardley's Music (Knopf, 1989) has pictures and diagrams of more instruments and covers the world of music, including rock, but has no information about composers or the orchestra. Betty Lou English's You Can't Be Timid with a Trumpet (Lothrop, 1980; o.p.) provides a grand, personalized tour of instruments and musicians.?Marilyn Payne Phillips, University City Public Library, MO
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
Gr. 4^-6. Accompanying this book on orchestral music is a CD featuring Britten's A Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra (ably narrated by actor Ben Kingsley) as well as Dukas' The Sorcerer's Apprentice. The book begins with an overview of the orchestra and then centers around groups of instruments, explaining a bit of their history and their sound's distinctive quality. Small photographs show several instruments within the group, and one or two large photos highlight individual instruments with their parts clearly labelled. Oddly, the instrument is named only in the small group photo, not where it is shown alone. The book also introduces eight famous composers, world music, Benjamin Britten, and the background of The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra. A space for the CD is embedded in the book's front cover, a practical solution to the problem of keeping the book and music together, as long as the plastic holder is intact. Handsome and useful. Carolyn Phelan

Review
An accompanying CD of Britten's composition performed by Ben Kingsley accompanies an excellent overview book written by Anita Ganeri, who provides a lively guide to orchestra pieces and music. This colorful and eye-and-ear-catching title is especially recommended for parents who want to introduce youngsters to classical music for the first time. -- Midwest Book Review

Customer Reviews

High Quality, Educational and Fun Entertainment
Money well spent! Good quality music on the enclosed CD, nice explanations and illustrations in the book. This book will introduce you / your children to the instruments and history of orchestra music in an entertaining fashion.
The book was recommended in Susan Bauer's Well-Trained Mind (Classical Homeschool Education). A nice read-and-listen activity for the whole family even if you are not into homeschooling. Try it on a car trip ...

Tremendously helpful as teaching tool, besides being fun!
This piece of music by Britten has always been, for me at least,the finest teaching tool in the world of classical music. Even for teaching oneself about the instruments of the orchestra (and especially using the CD alongside) it is just unbeatable. A superb and very easy piece of music to listen to, it is also ingenious, easy to follow and quite memorable to boot. The main theme is great and all the little solos show off the seperate instruments beautifully. You simply cannot get better than this anywhere.

Not A Help For Teachers
I purchased this with the thought that it would add another dimension to my lesson plans introducing classical music and orchestration to young children in primary grades. It did not meet my objective. The narration is a bit high-brow and dull for kids. I hoped that the CD would have tracks to go with each section of the book but that was not the case. I have been able to pull some tidbits of information from the book to include in lesson plans but overall it hasn't been useful. I would highly recommend "The Story of the Orchestra" by Robert Levine.

I do give the book 3 stars for those who may have a young music student (maybe between 8-10 yrs. old) who is self motivated and might enjoy this book as an individual endeavor.