Pictures at an Exhibition, Book with Audio CD

Pictures at an Exhibition by Anna Harwell Celenza, illustrated by JoAnn E. Kitchel

This handsome book and CD recording provide enrichment for the whole family. When his friend Victor suddenly dies, composer Mussorgsky is deeply saddened. But, with the help of his friends, and through his own music, Modest finds a way to keep Victor's spirit alive. Readers of all ages will enjoy the inspirational story behind the composition of Pictures at an Exhibition. Bright, colorful illustrations incorporate elements of Russian folk art and traditional symbols. 

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 Dust Jacket and Audio CD
• Recommended Ages: 5-8
• ISBN 10: 1570914923
• ISBN 13: 978-1570914928
• Published 2003

Book Condition:

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

"From the author and illustrator team of The Farewell Symphony (Charlesbridge,2000) comes a new gem for music lovers. Celenza brings to life three Russian friends-composer Modest Mussorgsky, architect Victor Hartmann, and art critic Vladimir Stasov. When Hartmann dies, Mussorgsky is plunged into despair and cannot create music. Concerned about him, Stasov prods him into attending a posthumous exhibit of Victor's artwork. The paintings inspire the composer's musical tribute to his friend, "Pictures at an Exhibition." The story is based on many primary-source documents- correspondence, an autobiographical essay, and an obituary- but Celenza weaves in a depth of emotion that makes these individuals' lives unforgettable. This same attention to detail is evident in Kitchel's illustrations; not only does the artist capture the energy and movement of the music in her vibrant watercolor-and-ink illustrations, but she also confines them within symbolic borders of traditional Russian and Ukranian folk-art motifs. They harmonize well with the accompanying CD recording that includes both piano and orchestral versions of Mussorgsky's famous composition." - School Library Review

Think Outside the Box

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.