Kathleen Krull - Lives of the Musicians: Good Times, Bad Times (And What the Neighbors Thought)

This simple book has been one of my most valuable references as a k-8 music teacher. The drawings are excellent (although students always ask, "Was his head really that big?") and the information are accurate and humorous.

Some interesting facts both adults and kids will love:

* Bach had twenty children, although only ten of them lived to adulthood. He spent a month in jail, married his second cousin (which all the kids think is gross), walked 200 miles to hear an organ concert, and wrote a church cantata about coffee.

* At the orphanage where Vivaldi worked, no applause was allowed at the recitals, because it was in a church ... so instead people coughed and blew their noses loudly to show their appreciation.

* Tchaikovsky married a woman who said she would kill herself if he didn't marry her. Nine weeks into the marriage, Tchaikovsky attempted suicide himself. The wife died in a mental institute. Meanwhile, Tchaikovsky himself had a horrible fear of his head falling off while he was conducting, so he would literally hold onto it with one hand.

And more!

There is a one-page color drawing of each musician in the book, in addition to about 3 pages about their life. Some other musicians listed include Charles Ives, Clara Schumann, Gilbert and Sullivan, Mozart, and Beethoven.

I wish they would come out with a sequel to this book. There are so many great people NOT included, like Copland, Cage, Wagner, Puccini, Handel, Rachmaninoff, etc.

One thing worth mentioning -- in the section about Tchaikovsky, they do explain that he was a homosexual and how that might have led to his death. I've learned from experience to leave that section out when I read it to my students. I'm a little surprised that a book that seems intended for kids would say something so blatant. Just something to be aware of.

However, it would be a shame to pass on this very excellent book just because of a couple unnecessary sentences.