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French Titles
A beautiful, gentle, poetry-filled story. Benjamin, who loves to warble, lives beside a factory that makes pillows which are said to be magic. These pillows produce sweet, deep sleep. Benjamin comes from a musical family. His father plays the harp and his mother plays the tuba. A day comes when Benjamin's family is invited to travel the world, entertaining audiences of thousands. What will happen to the pillow magic? The lovely illustrations serve the story admirably.
This is the story of François Gosselin, a violinist from l'Île d'Orléans, Quebec. He is a young, good-looking boy, but terribly hunchbacked. One evening, returning from a party at the Bergerons, he encounters a band of elves, who are going to change our hero's life forever in payment for services rendered. Also returning home, his neighbour, Louis, green with envy, decides to meet them too. His life will also be changed forever, but not in the way he hoped. One person's humility wins out over the other's envy. This delightful story comes to us in a remarkably well-written small volume. In a folkloric setting, the author makes us aware of certain moral values, based on a popular tale. A very quick read with entertaining illustrations that add another dimension to the text. In short, a brief and worthwhile pause - a must-read.
Calixa Lavallée is well known for the role he played in the creation of the national anthem, "O Canada". But he is not nearly as well known for the influential position he occupied in Canadian music circles during the 19th century. This biography helps us fill in certain gaps regarding his life. For example, we learn that in 1857 at the age of 15, Calixa left for the United States, and specifically for Louisiana, where he won his first musical award. After a few years, he came back to Montreal only to return to Louisiana in 1865. He eventually lived on the West Coast as well as in Boston and New York, where he added many compositions to his repertoire. Returning to Montreal in 1872, his friend and patron, Leon Derome, persuaded him to travel to Paris at the age of 33. He came back profoundly touched, and it was then that he staged two operas in Montreal which met with resounding success. On June 24, 1880, in Quebec City the first "O Canada" is performed based on the poem written by Sir Adolphe-Basile Routhier and the musical arrangement composed by Calixa Lavallée. This book is part of a collection of biographies on celebrities who influenced Canadian life. A beautifully researched and well documented iconography complete the biography. The chapter titles are informative and the layout of the book is far from monotonous. Since the book's publication in 1999, certain corrections have been made regarding the musician's past which shed some light on certain previously unknown bits of information. A list of private archives, a bibliography and a discography complete the work.
In the late 19th century, Tchaikovsky composed music based on Alexandre Dumas Senior's adaptation of Hoffman's story about the Nutcracker and the Rat King. The power of this musical work and the ballet it inspired have made it possible for the original story to survive and become a holiday-season classic. In the heart of childhood, a fantastic Christmas party grows. It is a magical place where all dreams are permitted. In his adaptation, the author wanted to preserve the fantasy aspect of the original narrative, but put an emphasis on the abundance of treats during the festive season. This storybook could have been entitled Nutcracker in the Land of Sweets. The illustrator offers a treat for the eye, with watercolours in which faded red dominates. Playing with perspective creates fantasy and adds to the reader's pleasure.
When David was six years old, he lost his father, who had introduced him to the rudiments of baseball. David continued practising his favourite sport, and became a pillar of his team. His father would have been proud of him. Now that he is a teenager, David has become interested in the Beatles's music, having inherited a complete collection of the famous group's recordings. With his heart heavy with sadness, he listens to the music that was once his father's delight. This is how music can unite the generations. This story features well-handled energy and intrigue. Just the right mixture of sport, music and timeless experience will keep even the most curious spellbound. Great reading for baseball fans!
Maxine is looking for great love, but even if she is only 15, her search is reserved and attentive to her own needs, unlike her best friend Joëlle, who goes out with one boy after another, afraid of missing the boat. While participating in a music competition with her friends, Maxine impresses the boy she likes, without pretending to be someone she isn't. This book is written by a young woman, for young people, and is dominated by young characters, with no adults or constraints - the stories and emotions of young love in its pure state.
When violinist and professor Mr. Lutringer died, his violin was bequeathed to his young student, Élise. But since it is an Amati, an old and very valuable violin, a number of people are jealous of her and are trying to steal it. Thanks to her determination and with the help of her friends, Élise will get her instrument back. This is a well-written and well-handled story. Under each chapter heading, the author provides a tempo that corresponds to the rhythm of the chapter's contents. In this way, readers learn musical vocabulary while anticipating events and discover the meaning of allegro, con zelo and many other terms. The black-and-white ink drawings scattered throughout the text stimulate the imagination of the young reader.
What an ingenious introduction: young Mozart receives a gift from Salieri! And this is described in such a way that we feel we are there. The gift in question, a tuning fork, becomes an object with magic powers that will enable historical figures to experience thrilling adventures. Jacques Plante's text is action-packed and full of adventure, although toward the last chapters, the story becomes a little difficult to follow. However, the last paragraph adds an original touch. The writing is lively, the characters vividly portrayed. The list of characters at the beginning of the book may be useful to readers less familiar with historical figures. The pagination is visually interesting, with small drawings repeated at the bottom of pages. The chapter-heading illustrations are an interesting element of the text.
This is a very good novel. Its principal characters are a young piano virtuoso and a cheerful chess champion. Young geniuses sometimes have a hard life. The life of nine- year-old concert pianist Paul consists of scales, practice and more practice. He cannot even go to school, and his best friend has just moved to another city. He is very lonely. But his isolation will soon come to an end, when he meets Marianne, who will become his best friend and confidante. Perhaps together they will succeed in changing their sad fate!
Who knows about the career of Emma Lajeunesse? Who is familiar with the life of Albani? This book tells the extraordinary story of the thrilling life of the internationally renowned singer who rubbed shoulders with the most prominent figures of her time: Queen Victoria, her closest friend and loyal admirer; the Czar of Russia, the greatest composers; and that's not all. She performed the greatest roles in 19th-century opera, from Bellini to Wagner. Idolized by the elite, she ended her life in oblivion and poverty. This story is true time travel. We follow Emma from her childhood to the peak of her glory, her greatest roles, her encounters and her dreams. Her life was music: love came second. Her career was built with perseverance and tenacity. Those who believe that the first Québécoise to have an international career is Céline Dion must think again: Albani came first. Discovering Albani means exploring life in the 19th century: operas, composers and sovereigns. This fascinating story must be read. It is a romantic biography tinged with impressionism that transports us beyond our imagination. | ||||||||||||||||||||
