SOUNDS GOOD!

An exploration of musical instruments, translated from German.

Brief descriptions of the instruments are accompanied by details on their origins or musical relevance. Readers will recognize some familiar instruments such as the piano, the guitar, and the drums, but potentially lesser-known ones such as the jaw harp, the cor anglais, and the theremin are also covered. Thoughtfully, the authors include the four parts of the human voice—bass, tenor, alto, and soprano—and, perhaps surprisingly, the computer, which demonstrates how ever present and flexible our conceptions of music can be. Each page features a QR code that links to a short music clip impressively composed by Hans Könnecke—just enough to get a taste of the instrument’s range, power, and mood. The theremin’s eerie electronic sound certainly lands differently than the melodic soprano singer. In a fascinating wrap-up to the book’s compilation of sounds, all the instruments can be heard at once by scanning a QR code on the back cover. Ole Könnecke’s loose-lined illustrations depict animals plucking, strumming, and banging away, often with a connection to the history of the instrument, such as the kilt-wearing bagpiper. This book would serve as an incredible resource for teachers and caregivers alike eager to find a child-friendly introduction to sound and music history.

A noteworthy, useful, and modern instrument encyclopedia.