Why Beethoven Threw the Stew: And Lots More Stories about the Lives of Great Composers [Paperback]

Steven Isserlis (Author), Adam Stower (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2002

Why did Bach's son call him 'The Old Wig'?
What part did Stravinsky's parrot play at dinner parties?
How did Mozart keep his pigtails styled?
What did Schumann invent to make his fingers stronger?
And why did Beethoven throw his stew?

This book is a unique introduction for children to the world of classical composers and their music.

Famous cellist Steven Isserlis brings six of his favorite composers to life in an irresistible manner, painting hilarious biographical portraits of each of them and describing their music in lively detail. Packed with facts, dates, anecdotes and illustrations, Why Beethoven Threw the Stew is an attractive and accessible read for children (and their parents!).

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

Why Beethoven Threw the Stew

Why did Bach's son call him 'The Old Wig'?
What part did Stravinsky's parrot play at dinner parties?
How did Mozart keep his pigtails styled?
What did Schumann invent to make his fingers stronger?
And why did Beethoven throw his stew?

This book is a unique introduction for children to the world of classical composers and their music.

Famous cellist Steven Isserlis brings six of his favorite composers to life in an irresistible manner, painting hilarious biographical portraits of each of them and describing their music in lively detail. Packed with facts, dates, anecdotes and illustrations, Why Beethoven Threw the Stew is an attractive and accessible read for children (and their parents!).

About the Author

Steven Isserlis was born at a fairly early age. His whole family was musical-- his father plays the violin, his mother played the piano, and his two sisters play the violin and viola-- so he took up the cello because he didn't want to get left out.

He soon decided that playing the cello was what he wanted to do for the rest of his life (partly because it meant that he wouldn't have to get up too early in the morning to get to work). These days, he travels all over the world, playing concerts to whoever wants to listen (and to a few who don't too) and making recordings. He studied in England, Scotland and America; his main teacher was a wonderfully eccentric lady called Jane Cowan who convinced him that he had to become friends with the composers whose music he played. In 1998, he was awarded a CBE, for 'services to music' (though privately, he suspects it was because of his looks); and in 2000, the city of Zwickau (birthplace of the composer Robert Schumann, to whom a chapter of this book is devoted) bestowed the Schumann Prize 2000 upon his curly head. Steven lives in London, with Pauline (who tries to keep him in order), his son Gabriel (who manages to keep him in disorder), lots of cellos and a piano. He has a few hobbies, but what he likes best (apart from listening to music and reading books, perhaps) is to eat lots of food.

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Faber & Faber (October 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0571206166
• ISBN-13: 978-0571206162
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #295,084 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #89 in Books > Children's Books > Biographies > Musical

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My son adore it!, September 22, 2008

By 

Mme Pince (Chile) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Why Beethoven Threw the Stew: And Lots More Stories about the Lives of Great Composers (Paperback)

My nine year old boy adore this book. I translate it to him to spanish and read every night.
The language is easy, yet not childish. Each composer is present in three parts, a portrait of the composer; a description of his music and finally some short biography.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best and most fun way for kids (and adults) to learn about these composers!, May 13, 2010

By 

Nadine D. Mckay "Nadine Deleury" (Windsor Ontario) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Why Beethoven Threw the Stew: And Lots More Stories about the Lives of Great Composers (Paperback)

I am a professional adult musician and still learned a lot by reading Steven Isserlis' book! He has a way to make you close to the composer. You feel that you really know what kind of person the composer was after you read the chapter about him. And Isserlis is VERY witty from his first line of About the Author: "I was born at an early age"(!), you know that this is going to be fun to read. I bought a few copies that I am passing among my students (and their parents). I highly recommend it to anyone, really. His second book is on another group of composers, written in the same style: true and checked facts about the composers, in a very entertaining style!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun book for any age., November 8, 2010

By 

Fletch from the West (No. CA USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Why Beethoven Threw the Stew: And Lots More Stories about the Lives of Great Composers (Paperback)

Fun book for any age about the personal lives of the great composers - what it was like living in those times.