Customer Reviews

The Story of the Incredible Orchestra: An Introduction to Musical Instruments and the Symphony Orchestra

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The Story of the Incredible Orchestra is a delightful way to introduce children to the history of the orchestra. Written and illustrated by Bruce Koscielniak, a musician who has played the violin and jazz guitar for years, the book can be enjoyed by both the casual reader as well as the music lover. The double-page spreads begin with a focus on a particular period of music and are followed by studies on the individual instruments introduced during that period. For example, violins during the Baroque Period and clarinets during the Romantic Period. The text itself is engaging and well-placed questions help focus attention on important points.

Colorful illustrations spill across the pages, bringing the text to life and engaging the reader in a deeper understanding of what is being discussed. Side-notes and smaller diagrams explain the text further and give specific definitions and notes of interest. The end pages depict and name by group all the instruments that are to be found in a symphony orchestra. Koscielniak encourages readers to make orchestral music a part of their lives, and his book may well inspire a budding young musician to pick an instrument and join in.

Come meet the orchestra, and learn about the fascinating history and evolution of this large ensemble, its individual instruments, and the wonderful music it plays. From its predecessor, the Beaters, Tooters, and Strings, to the Baroque, Classical, and Romantic periods, and the modern orchestras of today, Bruce Koscielniak takes the reader on a marvelous and inviting 400 year journey. His engaging and entertaining text is written in an easy to read, conversational style, and is full of historical information, fun facts, and trivia. Busy, detailed illustrations enhance the text, and contain additional facts, definitions, diagrams, and other notes of interest, and youngsters will enjoy exploring all the artwork, finding something new and exciting every time they open the book. Perfect for kids 7 and older, The Story Of The Incredible Orchestra is a creative and innovative book that's sure to whet the appetite and peak the interest of budding musicians everywhere. As Mr Koscielniak tells us, "We've seen the orchestra develop over the past four hundred years, always with a blend of ideas old and new. Without a doubt, the incredible orchestra, whatever its shape, will roll onward-to the great enjoyment of listeners along the way." Read, learn, and enjoy!

I'm a cellist, and I really love this book...and I'm 50 years old! If you (or your kids) liked "The Philharmonic Gets Dressed," you'll enjoy this one, too.

The text (written by a musician) is informative, and the delightful illustrations are amazing in detail and accuracy. I love that they even have barogue bows and bow holds on viol players!

What a wonderfully unique work this one is. I must echo the opinions of several others in that this is an excellent book to introduce the young to the history of the orchestra, its beginning, the origins of many of the instruments and their evolution into what we are offered today.

The author begins this study by addressing the small groups who played various instruments before 1600 and point out that is small groups, inside a small area, they were quite effective but outside their limited capacity was not all that dynamic. Instruments such as the guitar, tambourine, recorder. lute, zither, viola, chalumeu and harp are shown and discussed. The author then takes us through changes that occurred during different periods; different eras. He starts with the Baroque period (1600 - 1750) and here discusses not only the Violin, but pays very close attention to the development of the woodwinds, in particular the double-reed woodwinds...oboe, English horn, bassoon and their ilk.

From there we are taken to a visit of the Classical Age (1750 - 1820) and are introduced to the crook horns, kettle drums, piano, other keyboard instruments (spinets, virginals, clavishords and the larger harpsichord.

Then comes the Romantic Period (1829 - 1910) and we find the flutes...alto, Flauto piccolo, B-flat clarinet, alto clarinet, long clarinets, and Basset horn. (all of the single reed family of instruments). And then there is the Brass; cornets, French horn, tubas, tenor horn, piccolo trumpet, and on and on.

This work then takes us to the early 1900s, Jazz Age, and ends with our present state with the various electronic devices used to create and or enhance what we already have.

For such a relatively small book the author has covered a rather impressive amount of information. The illustrations alone, especially those of early instruments make this work quite worthwhile. Each instruments is drawn is exact detail with many side notes of explanation. Of course the members of the orchestra are all in period clothing and all accomplished with close attention to detail.

To be honest, I found one of the last pages in the book to be most gratifying in that the author points out that there is a certain trend for many musicians and orchestras to return to the old and original instruments. Be that as it may...

Music is an extremely important aspect of the lives of most of us and will be an important part of the lives of our children and grandchildren. It is important that we, and those that follow us know something of the origins of what we are listening to and enjoying. This work is a wonderful start in that direction and I do recommend it highly.

The only possible objection I have to this work is that perhaps the author tried to address an extremely broad and large subject using a rather limited space. On the other hand, he had to start some place.

Don Blankenship
The Ozarks

If you want your child to really understand the history of musical instruments, this book is a good place to start. It's more like a concise, nicely illustrated children's textbook than a story book, but could certainly hold the interest of a child who wants to learn about what's behind the music. It's probably most appropriate for 6-9 year olds.

A wonderful book that anyone who has a child, they want to share the beauty and imagination of music through this book. Highly recommended.