"A Wonderful Album"
Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc.
"Lives of the Musicians",
by author Kathleen Krull and illustrator Kathryn Hewitt
review by Ed Vincent
A wonderful book full of fun and interesting episodes in the lives of some sixteen musicians from the distant and near past, ranging in styles from Classical to American folk. The drawings
by Kathryn Hewitt are cheerful and bright with enough caricature style to make the most serious student smile with delight.
The book is a tempting taste into the intimate lives of these
well known composers, showing many of their foibles and idiosyncrasies. The writings by Kathleen Krull are well
suited, and with varied topics ideally suited for the
whole family, as well as scholars. Some of the more mature
aspects of some lives, like Wagner's love affairs with relatives
of patrons--are not noted (also because Wagner was not one
of the sixteen chosen). History when brought closer to the light,
to examine the small cracks and other aspects of life that show
irony and humour, and contibute to the fun part of living, are
all bound neatly into the pages of the grand adventure.
I want to see more books like this on other composers, and I
wanted it yesterday. The book is too much fun and should be
continued.... This is a great team of words and art and should be part of every young persons education.
© Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc.
published by Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc.