Pitch Perfect and Persistent!: The Musical Debut of Amy Cheney Beach - Hardcover

DeLems, Caitlin

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1662680082 ISBN 13: 9781662680083

Publisher: Calkins Creek, 2023

Synopsis

Discover the untold yet inspiring story of Amy Beach, musician extraordinaire and the first successful woman composer in America.

With perfect pitch and fierce persistence, Amy Beach always knew she had to make music. There was just one BIG problem. Her mother believed it was not proper or suitable for a young lady to draw attention to herself, let alone take on a musical career. But give in or give up? Not Amy Beach. She demanded to play the piano. Demanded to have a real teacher. Demanded to perform. Luckily—for the world!—Amy’s persistence paid off. At just sixteen years old, Amy Beach found herself on the stage of Boston’s Music Hall—and the start of a brilliant career. A female composer who paved the way—perfectly! 

About this title

About the Author

Debut author Caitlin DeLems enjoys playing piano and violin and the magic of symphony concert halls. She delights in the discovery of unknown and determined female artists who are role models for young girls. Caitlin's second picture book biography—on another little-known woman composer—is forthcoming. Caitlin lives with her husband in the California Sierra Nevadas.

Alison Jay has been drawing and painting since she was a child. She is the illustrator of many picture books, including A Lady Has the Floor and The Pig War. Her signature style is created using alkyd paint on thick cartridge paper, with a crackle varnish, giving an aged effect.

Reviews

Gr 2-5-A cheery picture book biography about Amy Cheney Beach, a white 19th-century musician who was composing songs before she turned two years old. Born into a middle-class New England family in 1867, Beach longed to play her mother's piano. Her conservative parents forbade her to perform and play in public. But the little girl couldn't contain her love of music and persisted in composing. Eventually, her tenacity won out, and Beach was able to take piano lessons, perform at recitals, and debut at the Boston Hall of Music at 16. She went on to publish her first symphony not long after and became the first American woman to receive widespread acclaim as a composer of a large-scale work for orchestra. DeLems shares Beach's accomplishments with a sprightly text. Jay's signature artwork illuminates the young woman's rise to fame with bright yellows and sky blues. The lively narrative and images combine to give a rambunctious feel to the work. An author's note, time line, period photos, musical glossary, and bibliography are included in the back matter. Readers will be inspired by her verve and dedication. VERDICT A joyous picture book biography about a little known, gifted female musician, that would make a great choice for most nonfiction shelves.-Shelley M. Diazα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Edition details

• Publisher: Calkins Creek
• Publication date: 2023
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1662680082
• ISBN 13: 9781662680083
• Binding: Hardcover
• Illustrator: Jay Alison
• Number of pages: 40