Ludwig Van Beethoven (Getting to Know the World's Greatest Composers) (Paperback)

~ (Author) "Ludwig van Beethoven was born in Bonn, Germany, in 1770..." (more)
Key Phrases: Ludwig van Beethoven

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Briefly recounts the life of a composer who wrote beautiful sonatas and symphonies despite tragic personal problems.

About the Author

Mike Venezia is the author of several nonfiction books for children.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Children's Press(CT) (October 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0516200690
• ISBN-13: 978-0516200699
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.7 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 0.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #58,552 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #2 in	Books > Biographies & Memoirs > People, A-Z > ( B ) > Beethoven, Ludwig
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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An entertaining juvenile biography of the great Ludwig Van, February 11, 2003

By	Lawrance M. Bernabo (The Zenith City, Duluth, Minnesota) - See all my reviews (TOP 10 REVIEWER)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)

Mike Venezia's Getting to Know the World's Greatest Composers series tends to focus on biographies rather than music appreciation because unlike his companion series on the World's Greatest Artists you cannot include a sonata the way you can a reproduction of a painting. However, for Ludwig Van Beethoven the author/illustrator makes an exception. This volume begins with an appreciation for how Beethoven changed the sound of music (no more party music). Within that context Venezia provides the expected biography, complete with historic ethics and paintings as well as those funny cartoons; just think Beethoven as the Liberace (if you are over 50) or Elton John (if you are under 50) of his day. There is also a photograph of his eyeglasses and metal ear trumpets. However, Venezia only mentions a handful of specific works by Beethoven, touching on how the 3rd symphony represented Napoleon, the four-note theme of the 5th Symphony, and going into some depth on the 6th Pastoral Symphony (but no mention of the glorious 9th Symphony or his other masterworks). Still, I appreciate the attempt to get more into Beethoven's music than he has done in other volumes of this series, which covers not only the great classic composers like Handel and Mozart, but also contemporary composers from Aaron Copland and George Gerswhin to Duke Ellington and the Beatles. As always, the recommendation is for young readers to have listened to some of Beethoven's masterpieces before, during and after reading this engaging juvenile biography and mini-music appreciation lesson.