Beethoven Lives Upstairs (Orchard Paperbacks) (Paperback)

~ (Author), Scott Cameron (Illustrator) "On Thursday, March 29, 1827, the people of Vienna flooded into the streets..." (more)
Key Phrases: Ninth Symphony

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Fans of the audio and video versions of this tale will be delighted to see that it's finally made it to print. Although a bit is lost in the translation (the music, namely--it's difficult to describe the splendor of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, and Nichol, wisely, doesn't attempt it), the story remains a compelling one. Weaving fact and fiction, Nichol chronicles a slice of the great composer's life via correspondence between young Christoph, a boy living in Vienna in 1822, and his Uncle Karl, a music student in Salzburg. Christoph's mother, recently widowed, has taken in a tenant, and Christoph is alarmed at the deaf composer's strange ways: he's a slob, he's got a terrible temper, he's up at all hours of the night making dreadful noises "like the sounds of an injured beast," and once--to Christoph's intense mortification--he was caught composing in the nude, standing at the window in full view of all the neighbors. How the boy comes to appreciate the man and his music makes for a satisfying yarn. Cameron's warmly lit oil paintings are rich with period detail, lending an authentic atmosphere. Paired with a recording of some of Beethoven's works, the book affords a splendid introduction to classical music. Ages 5-8.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From School Library Journal

Grade 3-5-When young Christopher's family takes Ludwig van Beethoven as an upstairs tenant, their home life becomes noisy and chaotic. Tortured by blinding headaches and diminishing eyesight, frustrated by deafness, Beethoven rips off his constraining clothes in the throes of composition. He pours pitchers of water over his head and removes the legs from his four pianos on which he pounds relentlessly, regardless of the hour. The boy, grieving over his father's recent death, writes to his uncle, a music student in another city, asking him to rescue him and his mother from their plight. In the exchange of letters over several years, Christopher comes to understand Beethoven's torments, overlook his extreme behavior, and even befriend him. Climaxing with the boy's attendance at the first performance of the composer's Ninth Symphony, this realistic, touching picture book about the musician's life endears this irascible genius to readers. The richly colored paintings are outstanding; the exterior scenes of Beethoven and Christopher that are bathed in accented light and gold tones are exceptional. A praiseworthy effort.
Barbara Peklo Abrahams, Oneida City Schools, Manlius, NY
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Paperback: 48 pages
• Publisher: Orchard Books (NY); 1st Orchard Paperbacks Ed edition (March 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0531071189
• ISBN-13: 978-0531071182
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 8 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #294,770 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Life With Beethoven....., February 13, 2002

By	Roz Levine (Virginia) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

This review is from: Beethoven Lives Upstairs (Hardcover)

"...I write, Uncle, because something terrible has happened. A madman has moved into our house." Young Christoph can't believe his family's misfortune with their new boarder. Mr Beethoven has rented the upstairs rooms, and the terrible noises begin at dawn. There's loud pounding and howling, stomping and crashing. Beethoven has four pianos, some without legs sitting right on the floor so that he can "hear" the vibrations of his music. His room is a mess, papers scattered everywhere, dirty dishes and clothes on every surface, and he writes on the walls. He walks the streets humming and growling, and waving his arms. Christoph is mortified, angry, and embarrassed as he asks his uncle..."I beg you to tell my mother to send Mr Beethoven away." But as the months and then years go by, Christoph's letters begin to change. He develops compassion and tolerance for this eccentric musical genius who lives upstairs, that slowly turns into respect, admiration, and true friendship..... Barbara Nichol and Scott Cameron have authored a creative and inventive story, written as correspondence between uncle and nephew, that combines history, music, and actual events during the three years Beethoven wrote his Ninth Symphony in Vienna. Christoph's intriguing and compelling letters are full of drama and tension as he tells his uncle what it's like to live with the deaf and tormented composer. His uncle, also a musician, writes back giving Christoph insight and understanding into Beethoven's life and times and famous temper. Ms Nichol's engaging and entertaining text is spellbinding and enhanced by Mr Cameron's dark, lush oil paintings. Together word and art transport you back to the 1820s, and allows the reader to spy on Beethoven as he works. Perfect for youngsters 8-12, Beethoven Lives Upstairs is an evocative and fascinating adventure about a remarkable composer that is sure to whet the appetite of budding musicians, and send them looking for more.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "I am Beethoven!", October 12, 2005

By	Penny Dreadful (Under Your Skin) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

This review is from: Beethoven Lives Upstairs (Hardcover)

A young Viennese boy named Christoph happens to have the greatest composer who ever lived as a boarder in his mother's house. Set in 1822, this nice re-telling of factual events in the last year of Beethoven's life has introduced millions to the softer side of a musical god too often portrayed as stern and cold. Yes, there really was a Christoph, and Beethoven shared his home about the time of the composition of the Ninth Symphony, possibly humankind's musical high-point. In fact many real life occurrences came to pass just as Ms. Nichol's book tells. Beethoven Lives Upstairs is easy to read and hard to forget, and is a positive tale almost anyone should find likable.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Excellent Introduction to Beethoven, July 22, 2009

By	Barb Mechalke (in the lovely Finger Lakes Region of Upstate New York) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Beethoven Lives Upstairs (Hardcover)

I recently read this to my four year old and seven year old children. They enjoyed it and so did I.

I thought this was a wonderful introduction to Beethoven. The story was engaging and touches on many important points in the life of the man. It sparked our curiosity and now we will be looking for more about him.

A nice read aloud, good for the early reader as well.
The illustrations are beautifully done.