Bach's Goldberg Variations, Book with Audio CD

Bach's Goldberg Variations, Book with Audio CD by Anna Harwell Celenza, illustrated by JoAnn E. Kitchel

Johann Gottlieb Goldberg is a young servant in the employ of Count Keyserlingk. A talented musician, the boy secretly practices playing the harpsichord at night. When the count discovers Goldberg one evening, he challenges Goldberg to combine all the harpsichord music he's learned — and to throw in a riddle. In a panic, Goldberg turns to Johann Sebastian Bach for the perfect piece of music to appease the count. Stylized illustrations include elements from the baroque period. For families, teachers, and curious music lovers of all ages. 

The book:

• Introduces the fascinating story behind the composition.
• Uses music to provide a window into history.
• Combines story, visual art, and music for a memorable experience.

Includes a CD recording of Bach's Goldberg Variations.

We have all the books in this series available in our Music Books section.

NOTE: This book is out-of-print and is hard-to-find. Don't miss out!

Book Details:

• Number of Pages: 32
• Book Size: 10" x 10"
• Book Type: Hardcover with CD
• Recommended Ages: 5-8
• ISBN 10: 1570915105
• ISBN 13: 978-1570915109
• Published 2005

Book Condition:

• This book is brand new and is in perfect condition.

Awards:

• NCSS/CBC Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People

"Count Keyserlingk is brought to a church in Gdansk, Poland, by Bach in 1737 to hear a young orphan named Goldberg play the organ. Bach asks the count to care for the boy, who is placed in the count's household and cadges time at the harpsichord when he can. When the sleepless count hears the boy practicing late one night, he asks him to play something "that makes your heart pound and your fingers race." The boy doesn't know anything like that, and the count gives him a week to learn something. In desperation, Goldberg goes to Bach, who imparts quite a bit of musical knowledge about the variations he offers. Goldberg becomes the official harpsichordist, a kitchen boy no longer. The candy-colored ink-and-watercolor illustrations are a bit stiff, with many little cupids in diapers flitting about. But the story is wonderfully told in the tropes and manner of a folktale. A CD is provided, and children may enjoy picking out all the things in the Goldberg Variations that Bach wants us to hear. An informative author's note gives the history behind the story." - Booklist

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Think Outside the Book

To enhance your learning experience, we've provided links below to educational websites regarding the subject matter of this book... we've done the research for you! 

• Keeping Score, Revolutions in Music — Here you can enjoy multimedia biographies which explore in depth the factors that came into play in the lives and works of great composers such as Tchaikovsky, Copeland, Beethoven, and Stravinsky, with the possibility of more as this series unfolds! Includes lesson plans at the "Education" tab at the top of the page. Also includes an area for children.