It's a challenge to transform the "Nutcracker Suite's" romantic orchestra into jumpin' jazz melodies, but that's exactly what Duke Ellington and his collaborator, Billy Strayhorn, did.
Ellington's band members were not so sure that a classical ballet could become a cool-cat jazz number. But Duke and Billy, inspired by their travels and by musical styles past and present, infused the composition with Vegas glitz, Hollywood glamour, and even a little New York jazz. The CD recording of the Ellington/Strayhorn composition is included with the book, and will be a crowd pleaser in your music classroom.
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In eighteenth-century Venice, Italy, the finest musical performances are heard at an orphanage called the Ospedale della Pieta. Hidden from the audience is an orchestra of young orphan girls, some with physical disabilities and illnesses.
Padre Antonio Vivaldi, their music teacher, is inspired by the talented and determined young girls. When Vivaldi and his students are separated, Vivaldi is inspired to compose a set of concertos that mark the passing of time--the great baroque masterpiece entitled The Four Seasons. Back matter includes an author's note with further historical and biographical information, as well as the text of the sonnets that accompany the music. This is another must-have in my Music classroom! In this expanded version of our favorite nursery rhyme, Iza Trapani takes the earliest readers on a journey across the night sky. With playful verse and bright illustrations Iza Trapani introduces us to our irresistible young heroine as she wishes upon a mischievous, twinkling star. Granting her wish, the little star takes her on a dazzling and daring trip among swirling planets and beaming stars for one magical night. This new spin on the much-loved classic is a wonderful gift for even the littlest stargazers.
I love to read this story to my little ones, singing the song afterwords - lyrics and sheet music are included on the book's last page. Everyone knows the story of Mary and her little lamb with fleece as white as snow. But what happens one day when the lamb decides to go off alone?
Fans of Iza Trapani will delight as this adorable little lamb wanders across the farm, meeting an assortment of equally appealing characters. From a big brown horse, to a tough old goose, to a pen full of happy pigs, children will laugh out loud as Mary's little lamb stumbles from one mess to the next in this fun-filled rhyming adventure. |