Children’s Book of Music

A colourful introduction to music and musical styles from tribal music passed down orally to contemporary electronic experimental music, pop, rock and jazz. The book traces the history of music chronologically, and within this format there are features on individual composers and performers, on musical movements such as Romanticism and Nationalism, on dance and musicals as well as instruments, ranging from the sitar and tablar to the trumpet and saxophone. The nature of the double-page spread format means that some hard choices had to be made by the editors. So Brahms receives only a tiny caption, while Duke Ellington and Led Zeppelin enjoy an entire spread each. Nevertheless the coverage of composers is impressive and spans classical, world, folk and rock. The accompanying CD includes an hour’s worth of musical examples (gamelan, didgeridoo, Vivaldi, excerpts from The Magic Flute, La Traviata, and Wagner’s Ring Cycle, plus plenty of punk and rock), with track numbers cross referenced in the text and helpful suggestions of things to listen for or to join in with percussion or even air guitar. The final spread ends on an encouraging note, urging the reader to get involved in the experience of music-making – singing, playing an instrument or even composing.