Marvin Makes Music

October 15, 2012
Hamlisch—the late, acclaimed composer behind A Chorus Line and The Way We Were, among many other shows and films—describes himself as a music-obsessed child who even heard music in the honking of car horns. At the piano (his “best friend”), music “flowed into his ears and out of his fingers.” Yet Marvin hates practicing the “old songs” his piano teacher prefers, as well as playing in front of people, and he dreams about conducting an orchestra performing his own compositions. In addition to sharing true-to-life details about Hamlisch’s youth (including wearing pajamas under an itchy suit), the book centers on his audition at “one of the best music schools in the city” (flap copy notes that Hamlisch attended Juilliard at age six) and getting locked out of the building just before his performance. Madsen’s (The Crossing) angular digital art has a dramatic quality that befits a life built around theater and film in a revealing glimpse into this musical legend’s childhood. A CD of an original composition by Hamlisch is included. Ages 6–8. Agent: Anna Olswanger, Liza Dawson Associates. Illustrator’s agent: Shannon Associates.

September 15, 2012
An episode from the childhood of the late mega-award-winning composer of Broadway and film. New York City-born and -raised, Hamlisch was a child prodigy who was accepted into the Juilliard School at a very young age and who went on to win multiples of all the major performance awards--Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony. Add a Pulitzer Prize for the 1975 Broadway hit, A Chorus Line. In this extremely sweet (one might say saccharine) story, written in the third person, the young Marvin loves listening to sounds and playing his own melodies. Practice he hates. Performing for others he hates. Playing ancient music by Mozart and Beethoven he hates. Now, his parents have arranged for him to audition for the prestigious school and have bought him a brand-new, very itchy suit. Arriving too early, his father takes him up to the roof, and they get locked out. Nonetheless, Marvin plays, well, sensationally. He takes note of his father's admonition that practice and learning are required before one can compose music that "would be magic." Madsen's colorful paintings are suitably amusing but not necessarily evocative of mid-20th-century Manhattan. This is more anecdotal than inspirational or motivational and will be of greatest appeal to nostalgic grandparents. (Accompanying CD not heard.) His A Chorus Line was "One singular sensation." This is not. (Picture book. 3-6)

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October 1, 2012

Gr 2-5-This autobiographical picture book depicts the youth of the composer/conductor. A child prodigy, Hamlisch entered Julliard at the age of seven. He tells of his love of music, his annoyance with practicing, and his nervousness at performing for others (including the Julliard judges). Humorous details include Marvin wearing his soft pajamas under his scratchy suit and getting locked on the roof before his audition.The digital paintings are lush, with a look of Disney-esque animation to them, although Marvin's father has the same expression in every scene. There is far too little detail for report-writing, but Hamlisch's personal story may inspire young music lovers to research further.-Heidi Estrin, Congregation B'nai Israel, Boca Raton, FL

Copyright 2012 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 1, 2012
Grades K-2 This snapshot from the early life of the recently deceased composer Marvin Hamlisch tells about his prodigious love of the piano. It also covers his boredom with composers with funny names, like Wolfgang and Ludwig, and his practice-avoidance techniques. When the day of Marvin's music school audition arrives, a slight mishap makes him late and his nervousness makes him apprehensive, but passionate playing and childlike energy save the day. Unfortunately, the book lacks any context or back matter, which would have made it useful as a biography, and the impressive accomplishment of entering Juilliard at the age of six is only mentioned on the flap copy. The third-person text lacks the benefit of the maestro's own voice, but as a stand-alone story, it may just inspire budding musicians who love to play yet hate to practice. Madsen's romanticized, grainy illustrations of browns and blues adeptly show the shift between the boy's reality and fantasies, and the finished copy will include a bonus CD of original Hamlisch music (unavailable for review).(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)

January 1, 2013
This autobiographical picture book relates how, from early childhood, Hamlisch heard music in everything. The story focuses on young Marvin's disdain at practicing classical music instead of playing his own compositions, as well as his Julliard audition, which was punctuated with semi-comical mishaps. Madsen's slick illustrations follow the story closely. Lyrics to and a CD of "The Music in My Mind" is included.

(Copyright 2013 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)