The Strangest Song: One Father's Quest to Help His Daughter Find Her Voice [Hardcover]

Teri Sforza (Author), Howard Lenhoff (Author), Sylvia Lenhoff (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 2006

This is the first book to tell the story of Williams syndrome and the extraordinary musicality of many of the people who have it. Interweaving science and the personal in a compelling narrative, author Teri Sforza follows the quest of biochemistry professor Howard Lenhoff to help his mentally handicapped daughter, Gloria. From his discovery of Gloria's outstanding vocal talent and innate musical gifts, Lenhoff becomes convinced that people with her disorder have an unusual capacity for learning music, despite their profound mental disabilities. Lenhoff is at first rebuffed, called crazy, and finally vindicated when scientists - and his own formal research - confirm his hunch. Williams syndrome is a rare genetic aberration that occurs once in every 7500 births. It springs from a peculiar mishap on the molecular level, a tiny chemical error, but one that exacts an enormous toll on body, brain, and personality. The result is an atypical body and a profoundly asymmetrical mind. Thanks to Howard Lenhoff's single-minded determination and love for his daughter, he succeeds in helping his daughter beyond his wildest dreams. Gloria's talents take her to a concert at Washington's Kennedy Center and a number of classical recordings. Lenhoff also helps establish the first residential college for mentally disabled musicians in Massachusetts. An inspiring blend of human interest and breakthrough science, "The Strangest Song" offers startling insights into the mysteries of the brain and hope that science can find new ways to help the handicapped.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Gloria Lenhoff's story--of living with a rare congenital disorder and enormous musical talent--is extraordinary, like Williams syndrome itself. The Strangest Song is a marvelous achievement, beautifully and compellingly written by Teri Sforza, who interweaves Gloria's poignant and dramatic personal story with a fascinating history of the scientific investigation of a puzzling brain condition." -- Oliver Sacks, M.D.

"[The Strangest Song] documents the triumph of a family, united in purpose...a warm and spectacular success story." -- David Amos, Conductor of the Tifereth Israel Community Orchestra

About the Author

Teri Sforza (Laguna Beach, CA) is a senior writer at the Orange County Register, where she contributed to its Pulitzer Prize-winning investigation of fertility fraud at the University of California Irvine and covered the largest municipal bankruptcy in America's history. She is the winner of an Associated Press News Executives Council award for public service reporting and a Lowell Thomas prize for travel writing.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 296 pages
• Publisher: Prometheus Books (October 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1591024781
• ISBN-13: 978-1591024781
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #555,818 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Any collection strong in either biography, psychology or medical insights will want this, February 3, 2007

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Strangest Song: One Father's Quest to Help His Daughter Find Her Voice (Hardcover)

This is the first book to cover Williams syndrome and the genius musical abilities of many who have it. Science blends with autobiography in the moving story of a father's quest to help his mentally handicapped daughter - and his discovery of her musical gifts, which eventually convinced him that people with her disorder can be musical geniuses despite their impairments. His quest for understanding of the chemistry involved in her impairment and to make the most of her abilities leads Lenhoff to not only help his daughter become a musician, but to the establishment of the first residential college for mentally disabled musicians. Any collection strong in either biography, psychology or medical insights will want this; especially general-interest lending libraries.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars J.Tanit, February 4, 2007

By 

J.Tanit (Harrisburg, OR United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Strangest Song: One Father's Quest to Help His Daughter Find Her Voice (Hardcover)

An inspiring story about a young woman who, with the support & advocacy of her family, followed her passion for music with great success despite living with a genetic disorder.

Well written & engaging, this is a story everyone interested in the mysteries of the human brain or the extraordinary capacities of the human spirit should read.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Story of Love and Hope, April 13, 2007

By 

Susan O. Carter (Crescent City, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Strangest Song: One Father's Quest to Help His Daughter Find Her Voice (Hardcover)

The Strangest Song is truly a story of love and hope. It should be an inspiration to all parents who are dealing with the challenges of raising a child with any sort of mental differences. It recounts the many fears these parents faced and their difficult pursuit in finding the resources to help them. It was many years before they learned that there were other individuals who had the same genetic disorder. The sameness led them to discover the unusual ability their daughter had for music. It is thrilling to trace these early days to their daughter singing opera with the San Diego Symphony!