Bach's Goldberg Variations (Hardcover)

by Anna Harwell Celenza (Author), Joann E. Kitchel (Illustrator) "On a cold autumn morning in 1737, Count Keyserlingk sat in a wooden pew at St. Mary's church in Gdansk, Poland..." (more)
Key Phrases: Count Keyserlingk

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 3-This fictional account surrounding the composition and naming of one of Bach's most famous musical works tells the story of Johann Gottlieb Goldberg, an orphan who is one of the composer's students. When the boy becomes a servant for Count Keyserlingk, he has no time to practice during the day, so he practices in the middle of the night. One night, the Count hears him and urges him to learn a new piece every week; first one filled with energy, then a canon, then a piece "with everything." Desperate, the boy turns to his teacher, who plays his "Variations," a complex composition that has a musical "riddle" hidden within it. The child practices it faithfully and by the end of the week, he plays it for the Count, who is so delighted that he names Goldberg the Court's official harpsichordist and often calls out to him, "Goldberg! Play your variations!" A note explains that the origins of the piece are unclear, but it is known that Bach visited the count in Dresden in 1741 and shortly thereafter Goldberg began playing this composition. This accessible and readable story will lead young readers to find out more about both Bach and his young student. The watercolor illustrations, filled with period touches, give the lad an appealing personality as he struggles with his chores and his music. The four cherubs who adorn many of the pages add to the 18th-century tone as they echo both the sentiments and the music on the page.-Jane Marino, Bronxville Public Library, NY
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist
K-Gr. 3. Count Keyserlingk is brought to a church in Gdansk, Poland, by Bach in 1737 to hear a young orphan named Goldberg play the organ. Bach asks the count to care for the boy, who is placed in the count's household and cadges time at the harpsichord when he can. When the sleepless count hears the boy practicing late one night, he asks him to play something "that makes your heart pound and your fingers race." The boy doesn't know anything like that, and the count gives him a week to learn something. In desperation, Goldberg goes to Bach, who imparts quite a bit of musical knowledge about the variations he offers. Goldberg becomes the official harpsichordist, a kitchen boy no longer. The candy-colored ink-and-watercolor illustrations are a bit stiff, with many little cupids in diapers flitting about. But the story is wonderfully told in the tropes and manner of a folktale. A CD is provided, and children may enjoy picking out all the things in the Goldberg Variations that Bach wants us to hear. An informative author's note gives the history behind the story. GraceAnne DeCandido
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Charlesbridge Publishing (January 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1570915105
• ISBN-13: 978-1570915109
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 9.9 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #62,970 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars lessons in Bach and Baroque music, May 29, 2005

By	Henry Berry "Henry Berry" (Southport, CT) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

The legendary-like story behind Bach's immortal "Goldberg Variations" is told accompanied with fancy, often baroque-like illustrations with golden touches. The musically-talented orphan Johann Gottlieb Goldberg was taken in by a German Count. The Count directs him to play something new for him each week; and then later calls on him to do a "piece filled with dances and difficult runs...canons and something quite new...[and] a surprise that will trick me." To meet this demanding challenge, Johann has to turn to his mentor Bach, whose composition in answer to the Count's demand later came to be named after the orphan. The orphan Johann remains the focus of the tale, with Bach giving him musical information and guidance so that readers learn something about the technicalities and style of the "Goldberg Variations." Ages 4-7.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The easiest Celenza to read while listening, May 9, 2008

By	L. Beasley (Warrenton, VA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

We have Celenza's Pictures at an Exhibition (Mussorgsky) and Farewell Symphony (Haydn), and the kids love them all. I find that this Goldberg Variations, however, lends itself better to reading WHILE the kids are listening to the CD (included) than the others do. Her Farewell Symphony makes a great story, but it is difficult to enjoy and appreciate the music at all while the story is in progress. By contrast, the Goldberg Variations themselves create a delightful backdrop to this engaging story. Warning: Don't expect to learn much about Bach himself in the course of the book; for that, turn to the Classical Kids CD "Mr. Bach Comes to Call."

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Kamitsuka interpretation, plus a book!, May 30, 2008

By	Leo Jay (Jersey City, USA) - See all my reviews

I came across this book only because I was searching the internet for a John Kamitsuka recording of the Variations as a gift, only to find that it was out of stock everywhere I looked. I'm very pleased to have come across this package -- the book's a wonderful bonus!