Bartolomeo Cristofori, an Italian harpsichord maker, invented a special music machine more than 300 years ago. And the piano still speaks to us today. This fun and noisy story is about that discovery and its secret power. Written with historical accuracy in an imaginative style, the book's large colorful figures will appeal to children ages 4-10. The final pages include diagrams that older children will find interesting.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From School Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 2-A simply told story of Bartolomeo Cristofori, a 17th-century Italian harpsichord maker and musician whose love of both music and volume prompted him to invent the piano. Fascinated with sound, Cristofori experimented with wire and hammers, stoppers, and dampers, eventually creating an instrument he named the gravicembalo col piano e forte. The book suggests he decided to call it the piano, "for short," which differs from the truth a bit, since its name was actually shortened to "pianoforte" and it continued to be called that for some time. Due to fictionalizing in the text, readers may need to rely on the three-page afterword about Cristofori, his times, and the piano for the facts of the story. Uninspired drawings, pasted-on photographs, and some poor-quality reproductions illustrate the text. A flawed introduction to one of the most common instruments and one of history's lesser-known musical figures.
Jane Marino, Scarsdale Public Library, NY
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Jane Marino, Scarsdale Public Library, NY
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Review
"A delightful new book designed for the youngest piano students. Will help make piano practice a more exciting activity." -- The Keyboard Companion, Winter, 1998
"Bartolomeo created music with hammers and strings. Suzanne Guy and Donna Lacy have created music with words and pictures." -- Randall and Nancy Faber
"The vibrant colors and authentic period costumes are a feast for the eyes." -- American Music Teacher, January 2000
Guy & Lacy have created music with words and pictures. An important contribution to the literature for children. -- Sally G. Reed, Executive Director of Friends of Libraries, USA
unlocks the miracle of the piano. vibrant colors and authentic period costumes are a feast for the eyes. -- Feroza LaBonne, American Music Teacher, January 2000
"Bartolomeo created music with hammers and strings. Suzanne Guy and Donna Lacy have created music with words and pictures." -- Randall and Nancy Faber
"The vibrant colors and authentic period costumes are a feast for the eyes." -- American Music Teacher, January 2000
Guy & Lacy have created music with words and pictures. An important contribution to the literature for children. -- Sally G. Reed, Executive Director of Friends of Libraries, USA
unlocks the miracle of the piano. vibrant colors and authentic period costumes are a feast for the eyes. -- Feroza LaBonne, American Music Teacher, January 2000
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Educational and entertaining!,
This review is from: The Music Box: The Story of Cristofori (Hardcover)
"The Music Box - The Story of Cristofori" is a unique educational story about the invention of the piano. In a wonderful and clear fashion, children (and adults) learn about music before the piano existed and discover the mechanical-musical genius of Cristofori's invention. Additional pages at the end of the book give more specific information about the piano and the inventor. Recommended for all children to encourage exploration. Also suggested for elementary classes and all music teachers...Dr. Kathleen Kain, scientist and educator.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
STORY OF CHRISTOFORI/PIANO,
By David Robbins (Chesapeake, VA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Music Box: The Story of Cristofori (Hardcover)
I love this book. Any young person studing music should read this book. It not only familiarizes kids(not to mention adults) with the story of the most important person in the history of the piano, but it has a section that teaches about the piano and how it works. Ive read it a bunch of times and look back on it regularly. Parents dont always think their kid taking piano lessons needs music books like they need school books, but they do. This book goes well in a young persons bedtime reading library.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Music Box,
By Sally G. Reed, Friends of Libraries U.S.A. (Philadelphia, PA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Music Box: The Story of Cristofori (Paperback)
I love this book! It is so much fun to read aloud and kids love it. I've been fortunate enough to hear the author and illustrator read this book to kids and they were mezmarized. The language is as musical as its subject and the illustrations are true to the times and bring Bartolomeo to life. Kudos to Suzanne Guy and Donna Lacey.
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