Bach/Mozart Companion CD

Purchase Bach/Mozart Companion CD

This enhanced CD provides audio files of all the music from Wheeler & Deucher's classic books on Bach and Mozart in an MP3 file format, so you can hear these composers' works. In addition, all the music contained in the books can be printed as sheet music from this enhanced CD. Printable coloring pages for each chapter of Sebastian Bach, The Boy of Thuringia and Mozart, The Wonder Boy are provided.

Geared for a variety of learners - auditory, kinesthetic, visual, and just plain "active" - it's an excellent supplement to your reading experience. You will need to play this CD on a computer or an MP3 compatible CD player.

There are 15 selections from Bach and 36 selections from Mozart.

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) was born in the city of Eisenach, Saxe-Eisanach, State of Thuringia, Germany.  He was raised in a musical family and his lifetime fame was as an organist and composer of works for the organ.  Married with four children, he earned his income as musical director for some of the largest congregations of southern Germany.  He composed music for a variety of instruments, as well as orchestral and chamber units.  His most popular work is entitled "The Brandenburg Concertas."

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) was born in Salzburg , Austria.  His prolific ability saw him composing at the age of 5 and at age 17 he was employed as the court Musician in the music hall of Salzburg.  During his life he wrote over 600 musical works, including symphonies, concertante, chamber music, piano pieces, operas, and choral music.  He is reputed to be one of the most enduringly popular of classical composers.  His most productive years were in his adult life in Vienna.  He married there and had six children.  His most popular symphonies are "The Marriage of Figaro," and "Overture to Don Giovanni."

Purchase Bach/Mozart Companion CD

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Beethoven/Haydn Companion CD -- This enhanced CD provides audio files of all the music from Wheeler & Deucher's classic books Ludwig Beethoven and the Chiming Tower Bells and Joseph Haydn, the Merry Little Peasant in MP3 file format, so you can hear these composers' works. In addition, all the music contained in the books can be printed as sheet music from this enhanced CD. Printable coloring pages for each chapter of the books are provided. Geared for a variety of learners - auditory, kinesthetic, visual, and just plain "active" - it's an excellent supplement to your reading experience. You will need to play this CD on a computer or an MP3 compatible CD player. There are 33 selections from Beethoven and 15 selections from Haydn. Ludwig van Beethoven (1776-1827) was born in Bonn, Germany but spent most of his adult life in Vienna, Austria.  He gained fame as early as age 8 as a pianist.  He became a composer, conductor, and performer.  He never married.  He gradually became deaf but his compositions were many.  His best  known were Piano Sonata #14, "Moonlight Sonata;" his symphony #3, "Eroica;" and his 9th symphony, which is now called the "Anthem of Europe" with its special section "Ode To Joy."  His piano sonata "Pathethique" is reputed to be his most celebrated. (Franz) Joseph Haydn (1732-1809) was born in Rohrau, Austria  His family was non-musical but he was raised by a relative who was musical.  Most of his life was spent in Vienna where he served wealthy families as Music Director for their orchestras and/or ensembles.  He wrote concertos, masses, operas, string quartet pieces, and symphonies.  During his lifetime he was called the "Father of Symphonies."  His most famous works are the "Farewell Symphony," the "Surprise Symphony," and the "Gott erhalte Franz den Kaiser" ("God Save Emperor Francis") which was used for the national anthem of both Austria and Germany.

Chopin, Early & Later Years Companion CD -- This enhanced CD provides audio files of all the music from Wheeler`s classic books on Frederic Chopin in audio and MP3 file format, so you can hear a sample of these composers' works. In addition, all the music contained in the books can be printed as sheet music from this enhanced CD.  Printable coloring pages for each chapter of both books are provided. Geared for a variety of learners - auditory, kinesthetic, visual, and just plain "active" - it's an excellent supplement to your reading experience. Frederic Chopin (1810-1849) was born to musical parents in Zelazowa Wola, Poland.  He was a composer and virtuoso pianist.  He changed his polish name of Fryderyk to the French spelling of Frederic, as he lived his adult life in Paris, France.   He was homeschooled until age 13 and gained his musical degree from the Warsaw Conservatory.  He never married but had a romantic involvement with the famous female French writer, George Sand. Afflicted with TB, he died at age 39.   230 of his compositions remain today, the most famous of which are the "Minute Waltz," the "Viennese Waltz," the "Fantaisie-Impromptu" and the "Polonaise in A Flat."  Many popular songs of our day utilize melodies originated by Chopin.

Chopin, Early & Later Years Study Guide -- Intended to complement Opal Wheeler`s classic Frederic Chopin, Son of Poland, Early Years and Frederic Chopin, Son of Poland, Later Years. Packed with timelines, maps, reading comprehension questions, character quality highlights, and extra tidbits of information about Chopin's life and his music. Written for children grades K-6, this study guide makes a great addition to any study of master composers. Softcover, 40 pages   Frederic Chopin (1810-1849) was born to musical partents and became a virtuoso pianist and composer.  He was born in Zelazowa Wola, Poland as "Fryderyk" but changed his name to the French spelling of "Frederic" as he spent his adult life in Paris, France. He was homeschooled to age 13, and earned his music degree from the Warsaw Conservatory.  He never married but had a romantic involvement with the female french writer, George Sand.  Afflicted with TB, he died at age 39.  230 of his compositions remain today. His most famous works include the "Minute Waltz," the "Viennese Waltz," the "Fantaisie-Impromptu," and the "Polonaise in A Flat." Many popular songs of our day utilize melodies originated by Chopin.

Chopin, Son of Poland Early Years -- Frederic Chopin, celebrated pianist and probably the greatest composer for the piano the world has ever known, was born in a little cottage in Poland on the estate of the Count Skarbek, whose children were tutored by Frederic's father, Nicolas Chopin. The child loved music from babyhood and when the family moved to Warsaw a few years after his birth, he was placed under the tutelage of the best masters of music in Poland. His astounding performance, playing the solo part of a difficult concerto with the full Warsaw orchestra when only nine years of age, marked little Frederic as the genius he was. Through the early years to that momentous day in Vienna when his playing at the theatre of Count Gallenburg launched his career as a major figure in the world of music, Frederic Chopin's childhood and boyhood are dramatically presented. Chopin, Son of Poland, Later Years completes the great man's life story. Paperback, 160 pages Frederic Chopin (1810-1849) was born "Fryderyk" but with his adult life spent in Paris, France, he changed the spelling to "Frederic."  He was homeschooled to age 13, but then got his degree from Warsaw Conservatory.    He never married but had a romantic involvement with the famed french female author, George Sand.  Afflicted with TB, he died at age 39.   230 of his works remain today, the more famous of which are the "Minute Waltz," the "Viennese Waltz," the "Fantaisie-Impromptu," and the "Polonaise in A Flat."  Many popular songs of our day utilize melodies originated by Chopiin.

Chopin, Son of Poland Later Years -- Chopin remembered Vienna as the city where he had made an instant success with his music, so when, after years at home in Warsaw, he returned to Vienna, he was heartsick to find only a cool welcome awaiting him. Vienna wanted to dance and sing and forget war, and Poland was on the brink of war. In Paris, however, Chopin found himself warmly welcomed; his concerts became the vogue, and his days were crowded with both gayety and the work he loved. Years passed and the world hailed his greatest compositions. Then ill health began making inroads on his time and he went to Majorca, England, Scotland, seeking relief. However, time was running out, and at the peak of his career, the great composer and pianist died in Paris, the city he loved. Thus, simply, yet with drama, concludes this excellent two-volume biography of one of the world's greatest artists. Paperback, 166 pages Frederic Chopin (1810-1849) was born "Fryderyk" and raised in Zelazowa Wola, Poland, but after living in Paris, he changed the spelling to the French "Frederic."  He was homeschooled to the age of 13, but gained his musical degree from Warsaw Conservatory.  He never married but had a romantic involvement with the famous french female author, George Sand.  Afflicted with TB he died at age 39.   230 of his works remain today, the more famous of which are the "Minute Waltz," the "Viennese Waltz," the "Fantaisie-Impromptu," and the "Polonaise in A Flat."  Many popular songs of our day utilize melodies originated by Chopin.

Color the Classics - Godly Composers I -- Did you know that Johann Sebastian Bach served time in prison? Why did Josef Haydn marry the wrong woman? Did Handel really have to "file for Chapter 11?" Although not perfect, these composers sought to honor Christ with their music. Give your children a love for "classical" music while they are young. Color the Classics (Godly Composers) will help them to understand what was behind these pieces of timeless music. By coloring the illustrations, as they listen to music, while you retell the short biographies, your children will delight in these composers, understand musical concepts and become familiar with their music. How the Program Works -Have the child start coloring or painting an illustration.-Take the information from the book that describes that illustration and retell this information as a story.-Play the music that belongs to the illustration.-Have the children finish the picture.This multi-sensory approach will lock the experience in your child's mind.The original purchasers of these books have the right to reproduce the illustrations for use with their own children only. Godly Composers book and CD include: Vivaldi, Bach, Handel, and Haydn.

Color the Classics - Godly Composers I (Book Only) -- This consumable book is included in set #10-64002. Purchase if using the program for more than one child.

Color the Classics - Godly Composers II -- Which famous German composer started the first lawsuit over the copyright of his music? What famous queen received a marriage proposal from a young Amadeus Mozart? (Hint: the French Revolution). Can you name another German composer who renounced his Judaism and fully embraced the Christian faith? Did you know that Dvorak's New World Symphony caused much controversy over its origin? In the first book, Godly Composers, men were chosen who sought after glorifying God through their music. In this second composer book the composers are not presented in the same light. Some of these musicians honored God and some did not. The purpose of this work is to present the lives of four composers to help you teach your children to enjoy their music. Godly Composers II includes the biographies of the great composers: Telleman, Mozart, Mendelssohn, and Dvorak. How the Program Works -Have the child start coloring or painting an illustration.-Take the information from the book that describes that illustration and retell this information as a story.-Play the music that belongs to the illustration.-Have the children finish the picture.This multi-sensory approach will lock the experience in your child's mind.The original purchasers of these books have the right to reproduce the illustrations for use with their own children only. Contains one Book and CD

Color the Classics - Godly Composers II (Book Only) -- This consumable book is included in set #10-64004. Purchase if using the program for more than one child.

Color the Classics - Hymns -- Did you know that Charles Wesley was almost bitten by an alligator in the colony of Georgia? What was Charles Wesley doing in Georgia anyway? Did you know that a ruthless slave trader wrote one the most loved hymns of all time? Color the Classics (Hymns) will take you from the Wittenburg Castle with an ex-monk through the swamps of Georgia with the Wesley brothers, on to the African coast hunting for slaves. Retell the short biographies, color the pages and then listen to the hymns to inspire your children. Hymns book and CD include: Luther, Watts, Wesley, Newton, and Crosby. How the Program Works -Have the child start coloring or painting an illustration.-Take the information from the book that describes that illustration and retell this information as a story.-Play the music that belongs to the illustration.-Have the children finish the picture.This multi-sensory approach will lock the experience in your child's mind.The original purchasers of these books have the right to reproduce the illustrations for use with their own children only.

Color the Classics - Hymns (Book only) -- This consumable book is included in set #10-64003. Purchase if using the program for more than one child.

Color the Classics - One Year Program, Part II -- The music for the Christmas Carols and Patriotic Songs books have been combined together on one CD. Your students will study 13 Christmas Carols and 5 Patriotic Songs. Learn the stories behind them all. Where did we get our Christmas carols? Why did it take 4 men 115 years to write "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing?" Your kids (as well as yourself) will discover the origins of the Christmas carols. How long did it actually take to compose "Messiah?" This Christmas remember the carols that honor Christ! With the carols playing in the background, your children will color the illustration while you retell the carol's story. This is a great family holiday activity to start shortly after Thanksgiving. The Patriotic part includes Yankee Doodle, The Star Spangled Banner, My Country 'Tis of Thee, Battle Hymn of the Republic, and America the Beautiful. Set includes 2 books and 2 CD's. How the Program Works -Have the child start coloring or painting an illustration.-Take the information from the book that describes that illustration and retell this information as a story.-Play the music that belongs to the illustration.-Have the children finish the picture.This multi-sensory approach will lock the experience in your child's mind.The original purchasers of these books have the right to reproduce the illustrations for use with their own children only.

Color the Classics - One Year Program, Part I -- The music for Godly Composers I and the Hymn Writers books have been combined together on one CD. (See individual titles for more details) This set contains two CD's and two books.  How the Program Works -Have the child start coloring or painting an illustration.-Take the information from the book that describes that illustration and retell this information as a story.-Play the music that belongs to the illustration.-Have the children finish the picture.This multi-sensory approach will lock the experience in your child's mind. The set of four books (The One Year Program Part 1 and Part 2) is a one-year program for music history. It contains about 100 lessons and is intended to be used twice a week.The original purchasers of these books have the right to reproduce the illustrations for use with their own children only.

Famous Composers -- A teachers guide featuring 19 famous composers' biographies and enrichment/research activities. Introduce Gershwin, Handel, Tchaikovsky, Mendelssohn, Vivaldi and others with interesting activities and stories. Elementary - 96 pages

Fandex - Composers -- Composers is a chronological history of composers and their music, with intriguing facts, anecdotes, and musical insights into composers from Bach, Mozart, and Beethoven to Gershwin and Bernstein, together with other composers who form the Western musical canon. Discover the first musical superstar-Lizst. The bourgeois Bach behind the heavenly Brandenburgs. Brahms, who grew up playing piano in bars and brothels, and Stravinsky, whose work incited a full-scale riot. It's every music lover's handheld deck of knowledge.

Handel and Schumann Companion CD -- This enhanced CD provides audio files of all the music from Wheeler's classic books on Handel and Schumann in MP3 file format, so that you can hear a sample of these composers' works. (DOES NOT INCLUDE COMPLETE WORKS, ONLY THE MUSIC CONTAINED IN THE BOOK) In addition, all the music contained in the books can be printed as sheet music. Printable coloring pages for each chapter of both books are provided. George Frideric Handel (1685-1759) was born Georg Friedrich Händel in Halle, Germany, but he spent most of his adult life in England, where at age 42 he becamea subject of the British Crown and adopted a new spelling for his name.  By age 7 he was already a skillful organist and pianist.  Although his father wanted him to study law, which he did for a time, he gave it up for his love of music. He is famous for composing 42 operas, 29 oratorios, and more than 120 cantatas, trios and duets.  He wrote an anthem (Zadok the Priest) for the coronation ceremony of King George II (1927) which has been played at every British coronation ceremony since then.  His most famous work is the "Messiah Oratorio"  with its "Hallelujah" chorus. Robert Alexander Schumann (1810-1856) was born in Zwickau, Saxony (southern Germany) He began to compose piano music before the age of seven.  After a hand injury hindered his performing, he resorted to composition. He married his teachers's daughter, Clara Wieck, herself an accomplished pianist.  He located to Leipzig (another city of Saxony), where he co-founded a music publication named "The New Journal of Music."  He produced 4 symphonies, an opera and other orchestral and chamber musical works. His most famous piano works are "Carnaval," "Kreislenana" and the "Traumerei."  All three continue to be part of current classical piano programs.

Handel, at the Court of Kings -- This biography details Handel's strange boyhood, clouded by the fact that his father did not want him to become a musician, and his later years when, thanks to the patronage of the Duke of Saxe-Weissenfels, his music was played before the greatest music lovers of Europe. The selections of Handel's music included here are those best understood and most apt to be mastered by young musicians. Paperback, 168 pages, by Opal Wheeler George Frideric Handel (1685-1759) was born Georg Friedrich Handel in Halle, Germany, but he spent most of his adult life in England, where at age 42 he became a subject of the British Crown and adopted the new spelling of his name by which he is known today   His father wanted him to study law, which he did for a time, but gave it up because of his love for music. By age 7 he was already a skillful organist and pianist.  He is famous for compositions of 42 operas, 29 Oratorios, and more than 120 cantatas, trios and duets.  He wrote an anthem (Zadok the Priest) for the coronation ceremony of King Geoge II (1727) which has been played for every British coronation ceremony since that time.  His most famous work is the "Messiah Oratorio" with its "Hallelujah" chorus.

Handel, at the Court of Kings
Study Guide -- The Study Guide is packed with timelines, maps, comprehension questions, character quality highlights, and extra tidbits of information about the composer's life. Written for children in grades K-6, this guide makes a perfect addition to any study of master composers. Paperback, 32 pages Geroge Frideric Handel (1685-1759) was born Georg Friedrich Handel in Halle, Germany, but he spent most of his adult life in England where he became a subject of the British Crown at age 42 and adopted  the new spelling of his name by which he is know today.  By age 7 he was already a skillful pianist and organist.  His father wanted him to study law, which he did for a time, but he quit to follow his love of music.  He is famed for producing 42 Operas, 29 Oratorios, and more than 120 cantatas, trios and duets.  He wrote an anthem (Zadok the Priest) for the coronation ceremony of King George II (1727) which has been played for every British coronation ceremony since that time. Hit most enduring work is the "Messiah Oratorio" with its "Hallelujah" chorus.

Joseph Haydn, The Merry Little Peasant -- This is a simple, inspiring children's biography of the great musician Haydn. This story, like all the stories of the great composers by Wheeler and Deucher, will win its way into the hearts of all music loving children: for it too, is told with all the understanding, sympathy and appreciation that its two inspired authors have to give. "Little Sepperl" (as the child Franz Joseph Haydn was called) always sat on a wooden stool near his father and with two smooth pieces of wood held firmly in his hands, played his own make-believe violin. His parents watched the boy drawing one stick slowly across the other as he played so seriously, keeping perfect time." Then one day he went to live with his cousin in a town near Vienna, close by the river Danube. There he learned to read music and sing. Once when the drummer was too sick to march in a procession, little Franz Joseph was asked to take his place. So he practiced all day on the meal barrel with a cloth tied over the top...until he could play the part without a single mistake. Such was the musical beginning of the boy who later played before kings in palaces, and who has left us some of the most beautiful music ever written. For boys and girls, from 8 to 12 years of age. It has the great value of being instructive, cultural and inspiring, as well as recreational. Soft-cover, 120 pages (Franz) Joseph Haydn  (1732-1809) was born in Rohrau, Austria.  Most of his life was spent in Vienna where wealthy families employed him as Music Director for their orchestras and/or emsembles.  He wrote concertos, masses, operas, string quartet pieces and symphonies. During his lifetime he was called the "Father of the Symphony." His most famous works are the "Farewell Symphony," the "Surprise Symphony," and the "Gott erhalte Franz den Kaiser" which was used as the national anthem for both Austria and Germany.

Joseph Haydn, The Merry Little Peasant
Study Guide -- Intended to complement Opal Wheeler and Sybil Deucher's classic Joseph Haydn the Merry Little Peasant. Packed with timelines, maps, reading comprehension questions, character quality highlights, and extra tidbits of information about Bach's life and his music. The use of this study guide will assist you in record keeping requirements you may have for courses taught, and will help your student to retain the information gathered. Grades K - 6 (Franz) Joseph Haydn (1732-1809) was born in Rohrau, Austria.  His family was non-musical.  He was sent to be raised by a relative who knew music.  He excelled in composition.  He spent most of his adult life in Vienna where he was employed by wealthy families as the Music Director to lead their orchestras and/or emsembles.  He wrote concertos, masses, operas, string quartet pieces and symphonies.  During his lifetime he was callled the "Father of the Symphony."  His most famous works are the "Farewell Symphony," the "Surprise Symphony,' and the "Gott erhalte Franz den Kaiser" which became the national anthem music for both Austria and Germany.

Ludwig Beethoven and the
Chiming Tower Bells Study Guide -- Intended to complement Opal Wheeler and Sybil Deucher's classic Ludwig Beethoven and the Chiming Tower Bells. Packed with timelines, maps, reading comprehension questions, character quality highlights, and extra tidbits of information about Beethoven's life and his music. The use of this study guide will assist you in record keeping requirements you may have for courses taught, and will help your student retain the information gathered. Grades K - 6 Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) was born in Bonn, Germany, but spent his adult life in Vienna, Austria.  He gained fame as early as 8 years of age as a pianist and was a virtuoso.  He was a composer, conductor, and performer. He began to lose his hearing during his twenties and gradually became deaf.  He never married.  His compositions were many.  He numbered his sonatas and symphonies.  His piano sonata #14 was named "Moonlight Sonata."  His symphony #3 was named "Eroica."  His 9th symphony is now called the "Anthem of Europe," with its special section entitled "Ode to Joy."  His piano sonata "Pathethique" is his most celebrated piece.

Ludwig Beethoven and the Chiming Tower Bells -- Here is the story of Ludwig van Beethoven, greatest master of all, told with feeling and delicate skill for boys and girls. Perhaps he, too, will become a musician like all the Beethoven's, said Father Johann. From then on, the four-year-old Ludwig was kept at the piano hour after hour until the long exercises were mastered. This is the inspiring story of his achievements against all odds of his growing deafness. "Long live Beethoven!" shouted the audience. But the master could not hear them, and as a singer turned him gently to face the audience, the noble head bowed low as he saw from the flutter of handkerchiefs, the applause that rained upon him. Thus Opal Wheeler captures the superb quality of musical greatness of Beethoven and communicates it to boys and girls. A deeply stirring tribute to the greatest composer of all. Ages 4-15, soft-cover, 166 pages Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) was born in Bonn, Germany but spent his adult life in Vienna, Austria.  He gained fame as early as age 8 as a virtuoso pianist.  He became a composer, conductor, and a performer.  He began to lose his hearing in his twenties and gradually became totally deaf.  He never married. His compositions were many.  He numbered his sonatas and symphonies.  His piano sonata #14 was named "Moonlight Sonata."  His symphony #3 was named "Eroica."  His 9th symphony is now called the"Anthem of Europe," with it's special section entitled "Ode to Joy."  His piano sonata "Pathethique" is his most celebrated piece.

Mozart, The Wonder Boy -- This classic children's work from the Wheeler & Deucher composers' series on Mozart will be enjoyed by all family members, whatever their age. You will be amazed how much history, biographical material, and music are included in each work. Mozart, The Wonder Boy presents the musical genius of this child prodigy, the loving family in which he was reared, and the impact he had on the world around him and to generations beyond. "Here is a book about the most musical boy that ever lived. Fortunately for us he wrote a great deal of music and this we can hear today even though we can never hear him play it. His music is always lovely and you will surely hear more of it as you grow up. Through his music, Mozart will always be to us a wonder child and a wonder man" (Peter W. Dykema-from the original 1941 edition). Grades K-6, soft-cover, 127 pages Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)  He was born in Salzburg, Austria. His was already composing at age 5 and at 17 he was employed as the court musician in the music hall of Salzburg.  During his life he wrote over 600 classical works, including symphonies, concertante, chamber music, piano pieces, operas and choral music.  He is reputed to be one of the most enduringly popular of all classical composers.  His most productive years were in his adult life in Vienna.  His most famous works were piano concertos and symphonies.  He married in Vienna and the couple had six children.   His most popular symphonies were "The Marriage of Figaro," and the "Overture to Don Giovanni."

Mozart, The Wonder Boy Study Guide -- Intended to complement Opal Wheeler and Sybil Deucher's classic Mozart, the Wonder Boy. Packed with timelines, maps, reading comprehension questions, character quality highlights, and extra tidbits of information about Mozart's life. The use of this study guide will assist you in record keeping requirements you may have for courses taught, and will help your student to retain the information gathered. Grades K - 6 Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)    He was born in Salzburg, Austria. His musical ability was evident when he was composing at the age of 5 and by age 17 was employed as the court musician in the Salzburg music hall.  During his life he wrote over 600 musical works, including symphonies, concertante, chamber music, piano pieces, operas and choral music.  He is reputed to be the most enduringly popular of all classical composers.  He spent his adult life in Vienna where he married and the couple had six children.  His most famous works were piano concertos and symphonies.  His most popular symphonies were "The Marriage of Figaro," and the "Overture to Don Giovanni."

Robert Schumann and Mascot Zif -- From the time he was a little boy, playing with his beloved cat, Ziff, in his home village in Saxony, until he became the famous composer, friend of Mendelssohn, Chopin, and Liszt, Robert Schumann lived happily and pleasantly. Unlike many of his contemporaries, he had few major problems to overcome. His work, his family life, all brought him the reward of renown and joy. Even the stiff finger which virtually ended his career as a musician was the means of emphasizing his genius as a composer. Paperback, 168 pages Robert Alexander Schumann (1810-1856)     He was born in Zwickau, Saxony (Southern Germany) and began to compose piano music by age 7.  A hand injury kept him from excelling as a pianist but his music teacher (Fredrich Wieck) encouraged him to become a composer.  He married the teacher's daughter, Clara, herself an accomplished pianist.  He located in Leipzig (another city of Saxony) and there he co-founded a publication called "the New Journal for Music."  Besides his many piano compositions, he produced 4 symphonies, an opera, and other orchestral and chamber musical works.  His most famous piano works are "Carnaval," "Kreislenana," and the "Traumerei."  All three of these continue to be a part of current classical programs today.

Robert Schumann and Mascot Zif
Study Guide -- The Study Guide is packed with timelines, maps, comprehension questions, character quality highlights, and extra tidbits of information about the composer's life. Written for children in grades K-6, the Study Guide makes a perfect addition to any study of master composers. Robert Alexander Schumann (1810-1856)  He was born in Zwickau, Saxony (Southern Germany) and was composing piano music by age 7.  A hand injury kept him from excelling as a performer but his music teacher (Fredrich Wieck) encouraged him to become a composer.  He married Clara Wieck (the teacher's daughter) who was also an accomplished pianist.  He relocated to Leipzig  (another city of Saxony) where he co-founded a publication named "The New Journal for Music."  Besides his many piano compositions, he produced 4 symphonies, an opera, and other orchestral and chamber music pieces.  His most famous piano works are "Carnaval,", "Kreislenana," and the "Traumerei."  All of these continue to be part of current classical piano programs in our day.

Sebastian Bach, The Boy of Thuringia -- This classic work for children from the Wheeler & Deucher composers` series will be enjoyed by all family members. You'll be amazed how much history, biographical material, and music are included in each work. Sebastian Bach, The Boy of Thuringia is the first complete work on the life of Bach ever written for children. Every important incident is mentioned and every detail of the story is true. It is filled with vivid descriptions of Bach`s childhood: how he sat up many nights and copied music by the light of the moon, and how he walked two hundred miles to a choir school at Luneburg. Then his adult life: how he helped his wife Magdalena put the twenty children to bed every night; how he spread brown bread with honey for them to eat every afternoon; and how he taught them all to sing and play different musical instruments. The music reproduced here represents all of the different kinds of music that Bach ever wrote. A child can never really know music unless he knows Bach, for his contribution is the foundation and structural basis of all music. But it is more the human side of this book that will make it live, for in it the great master breathes. All who read it will know him not only as a musical genius, but also as an eager child, an affectionate father, and a lovable human being. Grades K-6, soft-cover, 127 pages Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)   He was born in the city of Eisenach, Saxe-Eisenach, state of Thuringia, country of Germany.  He was raised in a musical family and his lifetime fame was as a superior Organist and composer for the organ.  Married with four children, he earned his living income by serving some of the larger churches as organist and Musical Director.  (All in the same general area of Weimar, which is now Germany)  During his lifetime he composed music for a variety of instruments, as well as orchestral and chamber music.  The most popular work is entitled "The Brandenburg Concertas."

Sebastian Bach, The Boy of Thuringia Study Guide -- Intended to complement Opal Wheeler and Sybil Deucher's classic Sebastian Bach, The Boy of Thuringia Packed with timelines, maps, reading comprehension questions, character quality highlights, and extra tidbits of information about Bach's life and his music. The use of this study guide will assist you in record keeping requirements you may have for courses taught, and will help your student to retain the information gathered. Grades K - 6 Johann Sebastian Bach  (1685-1750)  He was born in the city of Eisenach, Saxe-Eisenbach, state of Thuringia, country of Germany.  He was raised in a musical family and his lifetime fame was as an organist and composer of organ music.  Married with four chldren, he earned his living income by serving some of the larger churches as organist and Musical Director. (All in the same general area of Weimar, which is now Germany)  During his lifetime he composed music for a variety of instruments, as well as orchestral and chamber music.  His  most popular work is entitled "The Brandenburg Concertas."

Stephen Foster and His Little Dog Tray, Study Guide -- Intended to complement Opal Wheeler and Sybil Deucher's classic Stephen Foster and His Little Dog Tray.  Packed with timelines, maps, reading comprehension questions, character quality highlights, and extra tidbits of information about Foster's life and his music. The use of this study guide will assist you in record keeping requirements you may have for courses taught, and will help your student to retain the information gathered. Grades K - 6   Foster wrote these  well-known songs: "Camptown Races" (1850), "Nelly Bly" (1850), "Old Folks at Home" (known also as "Swanee River", 1851), "My Old Kentucky Home" (1853), "Old Dog Tray" (1853), "Hard Times Come Again No More" (1854) and "Jeannie With the Light Brown Hair" (1854), written for his wife Jane Denny McDowell.

Stephen Foster/Little Dog Tray -- This classic work for children from the Wheeler & Deucher composers` series will be enjoyed by all family members. You'll be amazed how much history, biographical material, and music are included in each work.   Behind the gentle sadness of such songs as Old Black Joe, My Old Kentucky Home and Old Folks At Home, lies the dreaming, home-loving spirit of the man who wrote them-Stephen Collins Foster. Behind the rollicking tunes with which these were interspersed lies all the fun-loving gayety which so richly colored and warmed young Stephy's happy companionship with his devoted older brother, Mit, throughout their happy boyhood...Here in this story of a typical American boyhood are quick, intimate glimpses of young Stephen as he trotted off to the Negro church beside Lieve, the Negro bound girl; as he played with his beloved dog; and raced along beside a minstrel band. Here is the young boy, growing up with music in his heart and a warm, out-reaching friendliness for everyone with whom he came in contact, a boy who becomes vividly alive in the pages of a most delightful book...There is much more in this book than the engaging story of the young Stephen Foster, and his never-to-be-forgotten music. In this appealing, sensitive biography of the composer whose folk songs are our common heritage, is told one of the real stories of our own America. Foster wrote these  well-known songs: "Camptown Races" (1850), "Nelly Bly" (1850), "Old Folks at Home" (known also as "Swanee River", 1851), "My Old Kentucky Home" (1853), "Old Dog Tray" (1853), "Hard Times Come Again No More" (1854) and "Jeannie With the Light Brown Hair" (1854), written for his wife Jane Denny McDowell. Grades K-6, soft-cover, 172 pages

Spiritual Lives of the Great Composers -- Giving detailed information of the faith behind the music, this impressive book tells of the lives of twelve great composers. Handel, Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Mendelssohn, Brahms, Dvorak, Stravinsky, Messiaen . . . Men of genius as different as their music - but all inspired by deep spiritual convictions. Peter Kavanaugh uncovers the spirituality of twenty of music's timeless giants, revealing legacies of the soul as diverse as the masterpieces they created. Warmly written, beautifully illustrated, and complete with listening recommendations for each composer.