Pictures at an Exhibition (Charlesbridge) [Hardcover]

Anna Harwell Celenza (Author), Joann E. Kitchel (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 2003 | Age Level: 6 and up | Grade Level: 1 and up | Series: Charlesbridge

CD of Pictures at an Exhibition included.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 4-From the author and illustrator team of The Farewell Symphony (Charlesbridge, 2000) comes a new gem for music lovers. Celenza brings to life three Russian friends-composer Modest Mussorgsky, architect Victor Hartmann, and art critic Vladimir Stasov. When Hartmann dies, Mussorgsky is plunged into despair and cannot create music. Concerned about him, Stasov prods him into attending a posthumous exhibit of Victor's artwork. The paintings inspire the composer's musical tribute to his friend, "Pictures at an Exhibition." The story is based on many primary-source documents-correspondence, an autobiographical essay, and an obituary-but Celenza weaves in a depth of emotion that makes these individuals' lives unforgettable. This same attention to detail is evident in Kitchel's illustrations; not only does the artist capture the energy and movement of the music in her vibrant watercolor-and-ink illustrations, but she also confines them within symbolic borders of traditional Russian and Ukrainian folk-art motifs. They harmonize well with the accompanying CD recording that includes both piano and orchestral versions of Mussorgsky's famous composition.
Laurie Edwards, West Shore School District, Camp Hill, PA
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Anna grew up on a farm in Pleasant Garden, North Carolina. She played the cello in the Greensboro Youth Orchestra and the drums in her high school marching band and jazz band. Music and the arts have always been an important part of her life.

Anna received her B.A. in art history and music history from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and went on to study art history at the Rijks-University Gent in Ghent, Belgium. She received her M.A. in musicology from Duke University and later also received her Ph.D. She has received many awards and has published numerous works regarding music history and the history of art including, "Death Transfigured: The Origins and Evolution of Franz Liszt's Totentanz" in Selected Proceedings of the 10th International Conference on 19th Century Music (Ashgate, 1999) and "Carl Dahlhaus," "Edvard Grieg," "Iconography," "Romanticism," and "Scandinavia" in Reader's Guide to Music: History, Theory, and Criticism (Fitzroy Dearborn, 1999).

Anna's research and studies have taken her to many countries around the world, including The Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, and Denmark. She has worked as a professional translator in Germany and Denmark.

Anna's expertise in art and music history, combined with her passion for music and her love of literature, led her to write The Farewell Symphony, her first children's book. She realized that there were few books that introduce children to specific works of classical music. Children are exposed to classical music everday in commercials and cartoons and even in pop music, but they are not exposed to the stories and the history of these compositions. In her workshops and children's classes - and now in her books - Anna ensures that children come away with an appreciation, if not a love, of classical music.

Anna currently lives in East Lansing, Michigan, where she is an assistant professor of musicology at Michigan State University.

Illustrator:

JoAnn Kitchel is a professional illustrator who received her B.A. in art education from Central Michigan University. Immediately following her graduation JoAnn moved to the West Indies where she taught art as a Peace Corps volunteer for nearly four years. The West Indian culture and landscape played an invaluable role in the development of JoAnn's artistic style.

JoAnn's children's books include Raven's Gift (Richard C. Owen Publishers, Inc., 1999), The Heart of a Friendship (Pelican Publishers, 1997), Talk! Talk! Talk! (Celebration Press, 1996), and the award-winning Tales of the Shimmering Sky (Williamson Publishing Company, 1996).

JoAnn currently lives in New Hampshire with her husband Chris and their two cats.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 6 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Charlesbridge Publishing; Rei/Com edition (February 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1570914923
• ISBN-13: 978-1570914928
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 10.2 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #80,193 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #62 in Books > Children's Books > Literature & Fiction > Historical Fiction > Europe

More About the Author

Anna Harwell Celenza is the Thomas E. Caestecker Professor of Music at Georgetown University. She is the author of several scholarly books - the most recent being Hans Christian Andersen and Music: The Nightingale Revealed (2005).
In addition to her scholarly work, she has authored a series of award-winning children's books with Charlesbridge Publishing: The Farewell Symphony (2000), Pictures at an Exhibition (2003), The Heroic Symphony (2004), Bach's Goldberg Variations (2005), Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue (2006) and Duke Ellington's Nutcracker Suite (2011). Her work has been featured on nationally syndicated radio and TV programs, including NPR's "Performance Today," the BBC's "Music Matters" and "Proms Broadcasts," and C-Span's "Book-TV".

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pictures at an Ehibition, June 3, 2003

By 

Jimmy Chen ( Chao Chin Chen ) (Taiwan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Pictures at an Exhibition (Charlesbridge) (Hardcover)

A wonderful picture book which brings true story, art and music together I have ever read. They harmonize well. Reading this book with the accompanying Mussorgsky's music is one of my greatest enjoyment,especially when in late afternoon. I highly recommend this book to the students who now are learning art or music but do not have much time for reading. It is a good opportunity for them to get started from it and will bring in something for them.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another treasure from Celenza!, July 24, 2006

By 

mom2two - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Pictures at an Exhibition (Charlesbridge) (Hardcover)

This book is yet another treasure in this series for children. The vivid illustrations are so beautiful and they complete the story well. The author gives a good accounting of the story here, without going too far into the details that would be unpleasant for young children. This story is full of passion and the music CD that accompanies it is wonderful. My children love this series and beg to listen to the music from each book. What a great gift to give any child; the love of music! I love that my young children know the stories behind great compositions and enjoy listening to them. I have learned a thing or two from reading these books as well! Definitely worth five stars!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lovely Book, May 9, 2007

By 

doitacappella - See all my reviews

This review is from: Pictures at an Exhibition (Paperback)

A great book about music and friendship. Excellent. Be warned that the composer's friend dies - It is handled delicately, but wanted you to know.