The Story of Classical Music

Starred review from January 10, 2005
Naxos, long known for its catalogue of classical recordings and its appropriation of that music as accompaniment for spoken-word recordings, turns the tables a bit for this Junior Classics selection. Alsop, a well-known and respected conductor, takes the reins here, talking about the music she loves. Henley's text blends a historic time line, replete with facts about the Magna Carta, the bubonic plague and the industrial revolution, together with a colorful who's who of composers, spotlighting more than 90 artists. All the usual suspects are here—Beethoven, Bach, Schubert, Tchaikovsky, etc.—as are more contemporary composers like John Cage and Philip Glass. Alsop's easygoing approach works well as she serves as a welcoming tour guide offering fun facts and interesting biographical sketches for listeners. Each era of history and composer's bio is paired with famous, representative snippets of music—150 in all—performed by world-class musicians. A fourth enhanced CD in the package contains such extras as quizzes, sheet music, photos and ancillary articles. Ages 8-up.

This charming compilation is cheerfully hosted by the clear and friendly voice of Marin Alsop, who walks young (and curious adult) listeners through an engaging history of classical music. Alsop's commentary leads and follows ear-pleasing segments of great classical music, briskly recorded masterworks punctuating short biographies and observations. The language is clear and chatty, with a final disc featuring games and lots of interactive fare. A wonderful way to learn about the great names and histories of the world's great composers and musical movements. D.J.B. 2005 Spoken Word Grammy Nominee, 2005 Audie Award Finalist (c) AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine