Product Description
This lively recording is a perfect way to introduce classical music to the entire family. It looks at the music through the lives of the great composers and their environment, from the churches and cathedrals that produced the familiar sound of Gregorian chant, to Johann Sebastian Bach, the family man composing for the glory of God, and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, the child prodigy, genius and prankster who wrote some of the finest music ever yet was buried in a pauper's grave. The story will be taken to the composers of the 21st century. This unusual and special production by the two most important brand names in classical music includes more than 100 musical examples taken from the extensive Naxos catalog. INCLUDES CD-ROM ELEMENT CONTAINING TEXT, PICTURES OF COMPOSERS, GLOSSARY OF TERMS & MORE.

Naxos, long known for its catalogue of classical recordings and its appropriation of that music as accompaniment for spoken-word recordings, turns the tables a bit for this Junior Classics selection. Alsop, a well-known and respected conductor, takes the reins here, talking about the music she loves. Henley's text blends a historic time line, replete with facts about the Magna Carta, the bubonic plague and the industrial revolution, together with a colorful who's who of composers, spotlighting more than 90 artists. All the usual suspects are here-Beethoven, Bach, Schubert, Tchaikovsky, etc.-as are more contemporary composers like John Cage and Philip Glass. Alsop's easygoing approach works well as she serves as a welcoming tour guide offering fun facts and interesting biographical sketches for listeners. Each era of history and composer's bio is paired with famous, representative snippets of music-150 in all-performed by world-class musicians. A fourth enhanced CD in the package contains such extras as quizzes, sheet music, photos and ancillary articles. Ages 8-up.

 

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