Chopin and Romantic Music (Masters of Music)

The life of Frederic Chopin (1810-1849) is interwoven with an account of nineteenth-century Europe's Romantic movement in music. Many other important Romantic composers are discussed, notably Schubert, Liszt, Mendelssohn, and Schumann. Also shown in words and pictures is the evolution of the modern piano--an instrument much favored by Chopin, Liszt, and many other Romantic composers. Barron's Masters of Music volumes are beautifully illustrated and informative books for older children. They review various aspects of music's history and discuss the work of important composers. While presenting historical and biographical information, the books also explain details of instrument construction, basic music theory, and the evolution of music's forms. Illustrations show people, places, and instruments within historical contexts, and detailed picture captions and labels explain everything from how instruments produce sound to how an opera is staged. (Ages 11 and older)