Reviews for Teddy Bears: 2004 Calendar

The average rating for Teddy Bears: 2004 Calendar based on 2 reviews is 5 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2017-05-13 00:00:00 Hunter Zickrick This is an instructive book for helping one learn basic biographical facts about 20 composers from the 17th to the 20th centuries. Further, Patrick Kavanaugh writes from an evangelical perspective and seeks to identify the basic faith commitments of some of the greatest musical geniuses of all times. The brief chapters begin with a brief story that brings to life a key event or interaction of each composer followed by a biographical sketch. A very helpful and enjoyable component to each chapter is the author's classification of each composer's life by a single word. For example, Bach - productivity Haydn - humility Shubert - sincerity Brahms - modesty Finally, each chapter concludes with a recommended starting place to gain an introduction to their music. I particularly enjoyed the chapters on Bach and Dvorak. The former was useful and informed a recent short article I wrote, "Welcoming Bach Among the Theologians." [1] For Dvorak, I have loved his "Czech Suite in D Major" since my wife discovered it a few years ago (highly recommend) but knew nothing about him, his other compositions, or his faith. For instance, as a native of the present day Czech Republic, Dvorak wrote an overture celebrating the ministry of the pre-reformer John Hus. Kavanaugh doesn't assume or conclude that every expression of faith equates to Christian orthodoxy or orthopraxy among the composers--and some are far from that--but he does provide enough evidence to allow the informed evangelical to see where he might have common ground with many from this remarkable group. Even so, all readers will benefit and find enrichment in this book, and even inspiration to take up, read, and then listen, like Bach would have us, SDG. (SDG = Soli Deo Gloria, "To God alone, the glory.") [1]

Review # 2 was written on 2018-01-24 00:00:00 Darren Faragher I can't explain how inspiring this book is to me! I read it slowly because I didn't want it to end! SO so so good! I learned so very much!