Joseph Haydn (Composer's World) - Hardcover

Grade 7-12-- Beautifully illustrated titles with period art in full color and black and white on nearly every page. Interspersed are extracts of keyboard arrangements from the subjects' musical compositions. These features combine with wide margins and an attractive layout to create an inviting picture-book format that may tempt young readers, but they will be challenged by the historical references and sophisticated vocabulary. Musical terms are not defined in the text but appear in a glossary. The books contain a lot of information. Essentially chronological biographies, both include discussion of major works as well as the events and cultural milieu that influenced these composers. Thompson's writing is straightforward and sometimes dry, but she includes interesting personal facts that add depth and intrigue; this is particularly true in Schubert , perhaps because his life was so short and rather tragic. A bit surprising is her use of the term ``gay'' instead of ``homosexual'' to describe members of his inner circle of friends. Neither book has an index or table of contents, but students may still find these volumes useful for research. Interested readers will find them attractive and approachable. --Rosie Peasley, Empire Union School District, Modesto, CA
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

One more handsome volume in the ``Composer's World'' series (see above), with the same format, rather distanced style, excellent period illustrations, and musical excerpts. Haydn's longer, more orderly life--most of his work was originally done for his wealthy employers, the Esterh zy family (their vast establishment rivaled Versailles), and he actually received a generous pension--makes a fine backdrop for the lives of his Viennese contemporaries; Thompson enlivens it with details like the youthful Haydn's irrepressibility (the Empress Maria Theresa once had him whipped for climbing on a scaffold after she'd warned him not to) and his later triumphs in England. Many of the interesting illustrations are credited only to ``Author's collection''; it would be nice to know more: Are they from old books? From Haydn's lifetime, or later? Glossary; list of works. (Biography. 10+) -- Copyright ©1991, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.