Mozart

Mozart, the Wonder Child

A Puppet Show in Three Acts
Author(s): 
Diane Stanley
Copyright: 
2009
ISBN / ID: 
9780060726744
Publisher: 
Harper Collins
Subject(s): 
Resource Type: 
Review: 

No need to introduce young Mozart or kids biographer extraordinaire Diane Stanley, but this brand new biography has a twist: she wrote the whole book as a marionette play! The pictures look as if his whole life is a show, with characters suspended on strings. Expect the usual detail-rich, high level writing that comes with her wonderful biographies.

Another innovative aspect is the medium she chose for the paintings for this book: the 500-year old method of egg-tempera. On the interior of the back jacket she explains about this medium and directs readers to the Society of Tempera Painters at www.eggtempera.com. For this art teacher, this definitely sparks my curiosity... potential projects abound in my head!

Reviewed by: 
First reviewed: 
August 05, 2009

The Story of Mozart (Music Masters Series)

Copyright: 
1993
Publisher: 
The Vox Music Group
Subject(s): 
Resource Type: 
Review: 
This audio provides an indepth story of Mozart's life combined with tidbits of his most popular works followed by the complete Serenade Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, one of his most famous works and one that tends to be well-liked by children just being introduced to classical music. Overall, I think the content is quite suitable for children.

There is one troubling part, however. Even according to the Catholic Encyclopedia, Mozart was apparently involved in the Freemasons which are an anti-Catholic society (membership in the society is forbidden to Catholics). This story mentions that the opera The Magic Flute contains symbols of Freemasonry of which Mozart was a member. Some Catholic parents have asked if it is appropriate to have their children listen to Mozart and in fact develop a "relationship" with his music and operas, given this connection.

I would answer that the music is suitable to listen to for several reasons. First, although we do know that Mozart was a freemason (his personality does appear to be naive enough to be involved with this, although not necessarily caught up in the anti-Catholic aspects of it), it is difficult to know

Additional notes: 

60:27 Minutes Audio (CD or Cassette)

First reviewed: 
07/16/2007