The Story of the Incredible Orchestra: An Introduction to Musical Instruments and the Symphony Orchestra

From Publishers Weekly
HInformed and lively, Koscielniak's (Hear, Hear, Mr. Shakespeare) fact-filled excursion through music history is just the ticket for budding musicians and music-lovers at large. Deceptively breezy prose and pictures trace the various eras in the development of the modern orchestra, starting with the instrumental groups at the dawn of the 17th century ("Tooters, Strings, and Beaters") and continuing on up to the present day, with a look at synthesizers and computer sound modules. At the same time, Koscielniak explains the evolution of musical styles (Baroque, Romantic, Classical, etc.). He also clues in readers as to how various instruments have changed over the centuries, examining such intriguing instruments as the sackbut (early trombone) and shawm (a forerunner of the oboe), as well as more familiar ones ("Kettledrums: Putting the Bomp Bomp Bah Bomp in the Orchestra"). Such important historical figures as Bach, Haydn, Duke Ellington and violin craftsman Antonio Stradivari are also introduced. Koscielniak expertly integrates text and art to convey all this information; the pages are busy but not cluttered, piquing interest with carefully selected detail. Close-up sketches show, for instance, a bassoon's double reed or how a piston valve works on a brass instrument. Watercolor wash in muted earth-toned shades bolsters the assured ink drawings, which seem both precise and spontaneous. Endpapers display a rogue's gallery of instruments, grouped by type and period. Ages 4-8. (Apr.) Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From School Library Journal
Grade 2-5-In a similar but much more focused format than his Hear, Hear, Mr. Shakespeare (Houghton, 1998), Koscielniak describes the evolution of the modern symphony orchestra and the instruments that comprise it. An informative narrative occupies at least one side of each double-page spread. Watercolor and line fill the pages, providing an up-close look at a variety of musical instruments and methods of sound production. Text inserts and captions accompany the artwork, describing the development of the instruments and their parts, or providing other related anecdotal information. The upbeat, whimsical drawings contrast with the rather formal narrative, which sometimes makes odd assumptions about readers' level of knowledge. Tempo is defined, for example, but not ensembles. The author covers a lot of ground here, perhaps too much, but most youngsters will learn something new. A fine complement to music-education programs.Corinne Camarata, Port Washington Public Library, NY Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From Parents' Choice®
This labor of love by an artist/musician will tell interested children all about the development of musical instruments from 1600 to the present. A 2000 Parents' Choice® Silver Honor.

ANNOTATION

Describes the orchestra, the families of instruments of which it is made, and the individual instruments in each family.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Have you ever seen an orchestra perform and wondered about all those different instruments? In this fact-filled, entertaining picture book, Bruce Koscielniak gives us a lively look at the history of the orchestra and the instruments in it. From the "tooter, strings, and beaters" of the 1600s to the keyboard synthesizers of today, this playful exploration follows the development and trends of musical instruments over the last four hundred years. A perfect and joyous celebration for anyone who loves music.

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

"Informed and lively, this fact-filled excursion through music history is just the ticket for budding musicians and music-lovers at large," said PW in a starred review. Ages 4-8. (June) Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

Children's Literature

Taking the reader by historical periods from the Medieval through the Baroque, Classical, and Romantic periods to aspects of the modern era, Koscielnaik traces the development of the orchestra from its first appearance in 1597 to the present. Along the way and within these divisions, he discusses the evolution of the violin family, the woodwinds, the valved and crooked horns, and other instruments. The text reads like a musical story, with different themes echoed, instruments coming around again but electrified or with valves, and a coda that suggests the orchestra is not yet finished evolving. Front and back endpapers picture many types of instruments that invite comparison study, and the illustrations picture instruments and orchestral groups to help readers visualize the text's descriptions. The book lacks an index, supporting the idea that this book is intended to interest readers in the history of orchestras, rather than in research about individual instruments. Elementary school readers will be fascinated with how their own instrument fits into the band, and into the orchestra as a whole, while middle schoolers interested in music history can also learn much about the evolution of orchestras. 2000, Houghton Mifflin, $15.00. Ages 7 to 11. Reviewer: Susan Hepler

School Library Journal