Synopsis
Published in Association with the Metropolitan Museum of Art
Reviews
K Up This magical mixture of music and art should entrance the eye, the ear, and the soul. Sixty-one traditional songs representing major genres (nursery songs, ballads, folk songs, spirituals, work songs, etc.) have been selected for their interest to children and are arranged alphabetically. Many are readily found elsewhere. Every Child's Book of Nursery Songs (Crown, 1985) duplicates 11; The Reader's Digest Children's Songbook (Random, 1985) duplicates 15. The special value of this volume is not so much the musical, visual, or editorial content. It is the synergistic combination of the three. Every song is accompanied by a clear photographic reproduction of one or more paintings or objects from the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The commentary includes musical history of the tunes and lyrics plus technical and personal data about both the art and the artist. The combination of the two is sure to stretch readers' imagination. For example: the combination of ``Home on the Range'' with Albert Bierstadt's The Rocky Mountains, Lander's Peak transcends cliche, as does the pairing of Muybridge's Dancing Girl: A Pirouette with ``Did You Ever See a Lassie?'' Pages are of heavy, coated, very white paper. Placement of the musical score varies from spread to spread, maintaining visual variety. Any library or school which strives to stimulate the eye as well as inform the head will find frequent use for this anthology. Dana Whitney Pinizzotto, Dallas Public Library
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.
This lavish, appealing compendium at first seems a little intimidating, but it's soon apparent that it has been edited with much humor and sensitivity. Workssculpture, needlework, oil paintings and othersfrom the Metropolitan Museum of Art have been paired with over 60 familiar children's songs and hymns. "Amazing Grace" is coupled with a detail from Gauguin's Orana Maria, "Eensy Weensy Spider" is illustrated with a picture of a spider from Flowers and Birds by the Japanese artist Taki Katei, "Home on the Range" features a detail from The Rocky Mountains, Lander's Peak by Albert Bierstadt. A lively commentary about the selection of art or music accompanies each song. This is a splendid album, with thoughtful combinations that take into account a child's natural inclination toward color and rhythm. All ages.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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