HOW TO BUILD AN ORCHESTRA

Conductor Simon auditions musicians, introduces their instruments, and builds an ensemble modeled on the London Symphony Orchestra.

This well-organized introduction to the symphony orchestra features clear explanations, lively illustrations of players and their instruments, and examples of the sounds of particular instruments from LSO performances (available for download via a QR code). There are also two full pieces, Ravel’s “Boléro” and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 6. The story arc introduces the conductor, a White man with graying hair who loves music and wants to share it. To do that, he must build an orchestra, section by section, instrumental family by instrumental family. Each spread includes several short paragraphs of narrative, some infobits marked with a hashtag/sharp symbol, and a short description of what to listen for in the audio example, all accompanied by cheery images that are both realistic and imaginative. These include allusions to the musical selections—a faun, a firebird, a sugar-plum fairy, and so forth. Readers who enjoy poring over illustrations can follow particular characters throughout. Both auditioners and performers are racially diverse, and some are clearly modeled on current LSO personnel. After auditions, there are rehearsals and, finally, a performance. (Here, the vignettes include an appreciative audience.) The backmatter offers a pictogram of the orchestra with its standard seating and further information about the particular musical selections. LSO conductor Sir Simon Rattle provides an introduction, and LSO educator Rachel Leach gets title page credit for “musical support."

Appealing and informative—a perfect harmony.