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"Classic FM" The Incredible Story of Classical Music for Children (Classic FM)

by: Darren Henley

August 29, 2008

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The Classic FM Friendly Guide to Music (Classic FM)

by: Darren Henley

November 24, 2006
I don't think this is a Friendly Guide to Classical Music at all. I think it should be entitled 'A Friendly Guide to Classical Composers' and then it would be very good indeed.
Because it is, simply, a chronological biography of Classical Composers.
There is no information about the development, make up or instruments of the different types of orchestra.
There is no information about the different types of music, eg Symphony and Concerto, Cantata, Opera - all things you would hear referred to on Classic FM.
I bought this for my daughter-in-law - a newcomer to Classic FM - and I am deeply disappointed.

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Famous Composers (Naxos Junior Classics)

by: Darren Henley

October 03, 2005
I and my kids aged 10, 14 and 18 all enjoyed this. CD gives you a little background and some excerpts of music on each composer. Interesting for those who know little or nothing about classical music, or who the famous named composers are. More Classical composors continues in a similar theme. Recommended for long car journeys.

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The Story of Classical Music

by: Darren Henley, Aled Jones

May 31, 2004
Great intro to classical music, aimed at kids, but not overly child like to drive an adult listening alone to cringe. Lots of inserts of brief bits of music, most of which I had heard before, even though I am a classical music novice. I got into this item from listening to Famous Composers, and More Famous composers by Naxos. There is some overlap in the stories, but this item gives a far broader and deeper overview. The version I got was read by the American Marin Alsop.
Thoroughly enjoyable.

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The Classic FM Friendly Guide to Mozart (Classic FM)

by: Darren Henley, Tim Lihoreau

January 01, 2006

This is a great little book, easy to read and full of interesting snippets of information. The authors Tim Lihoreau and Darren Henley (both of Classic FM) are clearly keen to present the facts in a user-friendly way, and have succeeded in making this a thoroughly readable book.

The paper quality and binding are a little on the budget side, but considering it comes with a CD full of Mozart's 'greatest hits' it is excellent value for money.

There are countless books on the subject of Mozart, but few are as easy as this one to pick up and read during those spare five minutes.

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The "Classic FM" Friendly Guide to Beethoven (Classic FM)

by: John Suchet and Darren Henley

August 25, 2006

This is a great little book, easy to read and full of interesting snippets of information. The authors John Suchet (newsreader & TV presenter) and Darren Henley (Classic FM editor) are clearly keen to present the facts in a user-friendly way, and have succeeded in making this a thoroughly readable book.

It is described as `hardcover', but is more a stiff paperback than true hardback, and the paper quality is a little on the budget side, but considering it comes with a CD full of Beethoven's 'greatest hits' it is great value for money.

There are numerous books on the subject of Beethoven, but few are as easy as this one to pick up and read during those spare five minutes.

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More Famous Composers (Junior Classics): 2 (Junior Classics)

by: Darren Henley

February 26, 2007
I and my kids aged 10, 14 and 18 all enjoyed this. CD gives you a little background and some excerpts of music on each composer. Interesting for those who know little or nothing about classical music, or who the famous named composers are. More Classical composors continues in a similar theme, though with a different narrator. Recommended for long car journeys.

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Hayley Westenra: In Her Own Voice

by: Hayley Westenra, Darren Henley

October 25, 2007
I conferr with all the previous reviewers here in-so-far that this is a story well told, but if you are a longstanding admirer, who has kept abreast of Hayley's career, there is not an awful lot of 'new' material here. This applies more so if you have already read Paul Little's biography of Hayleys story-----'The world at Her Feet',2004. Apart from a few extra personal experiences of no particular note, this is all too familiar territory, heard in countless interviews, and recorded elsewhere. As a 'fan' of Hayleys, this book is a disappointment for me, but not really a surprise. I don't usually buy biography's of lives so 'new', and Hayleys book reads like the Diary of a teenager's day to day experiences of events. She is amazingly mature for ... Read More:

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Aled Jones: The Autobiography

by: Aled Jones, Darren Henley

March 03, 2005
I've always liked Aled since hearing him sing as a young boy. It seems to me that this is a far more honest and entertaining read than the usual celebrity autobiographies. Well-written and filled with personal and amusing stories, I read it from cover to cover in one weekend. I'd recommend it to anyone.

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The Classic FM Pocket Book of Trivia

by: Darren Henley, Tim Lihoreau

August 01, 2004

Considering Classic FM's usual knack of producing interesting, informative and good value classical music items, I think this Boosey & Hawkes published book is a little disappointing.

Measuring just 10 x 8cm may well make it pocket sized, but the 112 pages each containing a paragraph of trivia are interesting but mostly all-too-brief to be memorable. Nor is it particularly good value, spend a little more you can get a 'Classic FM Friendly Guide' book and free CD which is equally well written and provides far more content.

But, as its title says, this does fit in the pocket so it does make a good low-cost gift, birthday present or Christmas stocking-filler.