Category: Music Publisher: Christmas Classics Ltd.
ISBN-10: 0615120989
Type: Non-Fiction
Pages: 112
Copyright: May 21 2002
ISBN-13: 9780615120980
The third volume from the highly acclaimed "THE MILLENNIA COLLECTION:
Glorious Christmas Music, Songs and Carols."
Highly illustrated in 4-color hardback History of children's Christmas music of coffee table size with works
by famous artists and illustrators, a softback Songbook, and a sensational
Music CD.
One of the finest collections of classical children's music and songs, as well as
one of the finest collections of children's Christmas Art.
Children's Christmas Classics
An extraordinary 3-in-1 collection of Christmas carols and holiday classics designed for the amusement of children and family.
HIGHLY EDUCATIONAL. Read about Christmas carols and music specifically composed for children's amusement and education, including Biblical prophecies and gospels regarding the birth of Jesus Christ.
UNIQUELY NOSTALGIC. Enjoy colorful images from the world of fine art and the "Golden Age of Illustration" from 1890-1930 that emphasize the innocence of children in one of the finest collections of children Christmas art.
FUN FOR THE CHILDREN. Sing along with the kids at home to such holiday fare as The Twelve Days of Christmas, Jingle Bells, O Tannenbaum, The Parade of the Wooden Soldiers, Toyland, and other favorites.
* Delightful collection of 58 images, many in full-page color, including magnificent Fine Art from the Western World, including works by Gudio Reni, Georges de La Tour, Edgar Degas, Edouard Manet, Sir Joshua Reynolds, and Edward Burne-Jones; brilliant miniature illuminations from several Book of Hours; and wonderful Illustrations from notables as William Blake, Jesse Wilcox Smith, Kate Greenaway, Honor C. Appleton, and Ezra Jack Keats.
Excerpt
The choice of art for Children's Christmas Classics was dependent, then, on how effectively it might help a child learn and enjoy carol lyrics, or the story behind the carol, and the drama inherent in ballet or opera. In other words, the art or illustration was intended to visually dovetail into the story line behind the carol or music, while still keeping to the formulaic process as in previous volumes of THE MILLENNIA COLLECTION. Therefore images for some carols, primarily from the world of fine art, coincided with the era when they were composed, most of which appeared prior to the 19th century. A number of other wonderful images were selected from the 1890-1930 period, or what has been called "The Golden Age of Illustration."
This new illustrative art, eminently depicted by such artists as Sarah Stilwell Weber (1863-1935)
and her contemporaries, evoked cozy holiday scenes of family life at Christmas, Father Christmas or Santa Claus, children carolers, and young girls generally portrayed as angels in white. Illustrators of that age also produced highly attractive works for books and periodicals whose themes were
prominently those of childhood fantasies, including the world of toys ("Toyland"), wooden soldiers ("The Parade of Wooden Soldiers"), fairy tales ("Hansel und Gretel"), or a parent's tender love for a child, the latter generally expressed by images of a mother with one or more daughters.
Professional Reviews
Children's Christmas Classics
"Ronald Clancy has given us two visually inspiring and solidly researched volumes on the theme of Christmas music, Best-Loved Christmas Carols and American Christmas Classics. The present work, Children's Christmas Classics, is thus, the third in the series. Lest the title elicit thoughts of a book strictly for children, let me say immediately that this is most definitely a book worthy of study by all ages (including the occasional musicologist!) and interesting, both textually and visually, to all ages. The accompanying recordings complete this wonderful addition to the body of work.
Some of the titles are extremely well known, such as Jingle Bells, Deck the Halls (did you know that Mozart used the tune ia a duo for violin and piano?), The Twelve Days of Christmas, and Good King Wenceslas. Others are "classical" choral and instrumental pieces with strong ties to the Christmas season, such as Benjamin Britten's A Ceremony of Carols, Tchaikovsky's immortal ballet The Nutcracker, and Evening Prayer from Humperdinck's opera Hansel and Gretel. Each song that has a text is given both in English and in its original language, with German, French, and Welsh represented as well as both Middle and Olde English.
Definitely worthy of comment are the works of art represented, with paintings and costume designs of many different eras depicted. Without doubt, this is a volume that should be on every bookshelf of every musician with an interest in Christmas music, every public library, and everyone who loves Christmas music, whatever their age."
-- Charles P. Conrad
Music Director of the Indiana Wind
Symphony and Indianapolis Youth Wind Ensemble
Children's Christmas Classics
First of all, I must say this work exceeds whatever expectations I had. It is quite a remarkable work and is clearly the result of some very sustained conscientious effort.
Graphically, I can't imagine how this would be improved. The layout is very appealing and shows a real eye for graphic design. I especially like the way that captions and other information are consistently on the left side of the page. The font is perfect and the choice of illustrations is very apt.
From a scholarly and historical standpoint, your work seems excellent to me (though I will ultimately defer to Prof. William Studwell on that). The introductions to each carol are clear and concise, with just the right balance of factual information and commentary.
Thank you again for giving me an opportunity to review and comment on this marvelous work. I'm looking forward to seeing it in print.
-- H. Stephen Wright
Music Department
Northern Illinois Libraries
