The Composer Is Dead

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More About This Book

Overview

There's dreadful news from the symphony hall—the composer is dead!

If you have ever heard an orchestra play, then you know that musicians are most certainly guilty of something. Where exactly were the violins on the night in question? Did anyone see the harp? Is the trumpet protesting a bit too boisterously?

In this perplexing murder mystery, everyone seems to have a motive, everyone has an alibi, and nearly everyone is a musical instrument. But the composer is still dead.

Perhaps you can solve the crime yourself. Join the Inspector as he interrogates all the unusual suspects. Then listen to the accompanying audio recording featuring Lemony Snicket and the music of Nathaniel Stookey performed by the San Francisco Symphony. Hear for yourself exactly what took place on that fateful, well-orchestrated evening.

  • The Composer Is Dead
    The Composer Is Dead  

Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly

A stint narrating live performances of Peter and the Wolf led Snicket (aka Daniel Handler) to collaborate with Stookey on this introduction to the instruments of the orchestra (see "Lemony Snicket Redux," Oct. 27). In true Snicket fashion, the device is a picture book cum police procedural, with a murder investigation functioning as plot. The tone is set by the opening spread, which describes the composer, face down at his desk, "not humming.... not moving, or even breathing." The single line of text on the next page reads: "This is called decomposing." (The illustration shows a large, menacing fly.) The witty wordplay proceeds with the Inspector, a rosy-cheeked Hercule Poirot type in a bowler and pinstripe suit, interrogating each section, beginning with the First Violins, "who have the trickier parts to play," followed by the Second Violins, "who are more fun at parties." Ellis (known for her art for the band The Decemberists as well as for illustrating the Mysterious Benedict Society books) brightens the heavily black stage scenes with coral, gold and sepia accents against expansive white backgrounds. Silhouettes of each instrument add a period feel. The accompanying CD features Snicket narrating and the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra performing Stookey's original score. A national tour begins March 7 in New York City. Ages 5-up. (Mar.)

Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Children's Literature
The Composer is dead and his death was very suspicious. The Inspector (looking just a bit like dapper Hercule Poirot) is called in to find the murderer...or murderers. He begins by questioning all of the usual suspects—the strings, the brass, the woodwinds, and the percussion instruments. The violins are interrogated first, but they have an alibi. They were playing graceful melodies so the ladies and gentlemen could waltz around and around all night long. The cellos and basses were providing accompaniment and couldn't possibly be guilty. In fact, all of the instruments have very good alibis. "I'm utterly baffled," says the Inspector. "I've questioned all of the instruments in the orchestra, and none of them seems to be the murderer." But the fact remains—the Composer is dead. Could it be the work of one man? Perhaps the one with the little stick? Did he work alone or did he have an accomplice? And in the musical world, is a little occasional murder necessary if you want to hear the works of the world's greatest composers? This is a delightfully different introduction to the instruments of the orchestra. Includes a CD featuring the author's narration and the music of the composer (presumably alive and well) performed by the San Francisco Symphony. Recommended. Reviewer: Anita Barnes Lowen
More Reviews (2) Fewer Reviews
School Library Journal

K-Gr 5

Benjamin Britten's "Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra" has been the gold standard for introducing children to instruments since 1946. The concept has been embraced (some may say enhanced) by none other than Lemony Snicket, whose picture-book overview offers the additional layer of a murder mystery. The CD presentation features music by Nathaniel Stookey, performed by the San Francisco Symphony. The story is well paced, employing wordplay, humor, and mild suspense to build a slow crescendo that originates with the delicate strings and climaxes with percussion. The bombastic Inspector, read by Snicket on the CD, sports pinstripes, a bowler hat, and a handlebar mustache in the book. As he interrogates each section of the orchestra, the instruments describe their whereabouts on the night of the crime in characteristic voices, telling something about their actual roles while offering imagery for the illustrator. Thus, "'We were performing a waltz,' said the Violins. 'We played graceful melodies so the ladies and gentlemen could spin around and around and around until they felt dizzy and somewhat nauseous.'" Ellis's watercolors combine caricatures of the action with silhouettes of the instruments. Evidence leads to the conductor, since "wherever there's a conductor, you're sure to find a dead composer!" Musings on justice versus art point to certain acquittal. Due to the length of the musical portions, it is unlikely that children will listen and read simultaneously. It is quite likely, however, that both formats will provide entertainment and enlightenment, in whatever order they are encountered.-Wendy Lukehart, Washington DC Public Library

Kirkus Reviews
In this characteristically unsettling invitation to Meet the Orchestra, the Composer leads off-dead or, as the author puts it, "decomposing" at his desk. Enter the Inspector-bearing a certain resemblance to the aforementioned scrivener (or at least his alter ego) in Ellis's note-strewn, atmospherically wan watercolors-to grill each section of instruments and to pick apart their alibis. When the Inspector at last accuses the Conductor of doing the dirty deed, all of the former suspects step up to declare collective guilt: "All of us have butchered a composer at one time or another. But we also keep composers alive." On the accompanying CD the melodramatic narrative is set to percussive music, which is reprised without the author's reading on a second set of tracks. Conceived as an alternative to "Peter and the Wolf" but more a send-up than an informational visit to the pit, the episode isn't likely to make much of a lasting impression on young audiences. (Picture book. 8-10, adult)

Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9780061236273
  • Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
  • Publication date: 3/3/2009
  • Pages: 40
  • Sales rank: 68,489
  • Age range: 5 - 10 Years
  • Lexile: AD710L (what's this?)
  • Product dimensions: 8.70 (w) x 11.00 (h) x 0.60 (d)

Meet the Author

Lemony Snicket
Lemony Snicket

Lemony Snicket is often despondent, mostly about his published research, which includes A Series of Unfortunate Events and The Composer Is Dead.

Biography

As the saying goes, all good things must come to an end -- and, in the case of Lemony Snicket, all unfortunate things must come to an end, too. After seven years and thirteen episodes, the much beloved A Series of Unfortunate Events books are drawing to a close. At least, that's what Snicket's "handler" Daniel Handler says.

But before getting to what promises to be "the most unfortunate event of all," it is first necessary to familiarize oneself with the mysterious man who created a mega-selling series of children's novels pivoting on the premise of placing young people in peril. According to his autobiography Lemony Snicket: the Unauthorized Autobiography, Snicket "grew up near the sea and currently lives beneath it. To his horror and dismay, he has no wife or children, only enemies, associates, and the occasional loyal manservant. His trial has been delayed, so he is free to continue researching and recording the tragic tales of the Baudelaire orphans." Hmmm. Perhaps an autobiography purporting that it may or may not be true isn't the best place to begin.

Instead, let us focus on Daniel Handler, the man who might actually be responsible for composing the Series of Unfortunate Events books according to certain skeptics (which include Handler, himself). Daniel Handler has been asked many times why anyone would want to make a career of chronicling the ghastly trials of a trio of ill-fated orphans. "When I was young, my favorite stories were not the sort of children's books that are constantly being thrust at you when you're little," he explained in an audio essay on Barnes & Noble.com. "I didn't like books where people played on a sports team and won a bunch of games, or went to summer camp and had a wonderful time. I really liked a book where a witch might cut a child's head off or a pack of angry dogs might burst through a door and terrorize a family. So, I guess it should not be surprising that when I turned to children's literature I tried to think of all sorts of interesting things to happen to small children, and all of these things were pretty dreadful."

Handler has long made it clear that his wildly popular series would be limited to thirteen installments. The Penultimate Peril: Book the Twelfth finds the much-beleaguered Baudelaire orphans "enjoying" a family vacation at a menacing hotel, and Handler is wrapping up his saga with The End: Book the Thirteenth, which promises to tie up all remaining threads in the story in an undoubtedly exciting manner.

However, the conclusion of his series is no indication that Handler plans on bringing his writing career to an end. He has also written adult-targeted titles under his own name, including his latest, Adverbs: A Novel. This exploration of love, which Publishers Weekly deemed "lovely" and "lilting," may forgo the trademark Lemony Snicket wry morbidity, but Handler ensures readers that the book isn't without its own unfortunate events. "It's a fairly miserable story, as any story about love will be," he says. "People try to find love -- some of them find it, some of them don't, some of them have an unhappy time even if they do find it -- but it is considerably more cheerful than any of my so-called children's books."

Good To Know

Daniel Handler has a potentially embarrassing confession to make: he is an avowed accordion player. Handler says that when he told his parents about his decidedly uncool musical pursuits, they reacted "as if I had taken up heroin."

His interest in music does not end with the accordion. Close friend and leader of indie-rock band The Magnetic Fields Steven Merritt has written an original song for each audio book version of the Series of Unfortunate Events books. Merritt and Handler will be releasing a CD of all 13 "dreadful" songs when the final installment of the series is published in late 2006. Handler also lent his accordion-laying talents to The Magnetic Fields' critically acclaimed album 69 Love Songs.

Handler's persistence may rival that of the never-say-die Baudelaire orphans. His first novel, The Basic Eight, was rejected 37 times before it was finally published.

He enjoys the work of novelist Haruki Murakami so much that Handler devoted an entire essay to the subject in the plainly and guilelessly entitled Village Voice review, "I Love Murakami."

According to a former high school classmate writing in the local paper, Handler was "voted not only Class Clown, but also Best Actor, Chatterbox, and Teacher's Pet."

A few fun facts from our interview with Handler:

"I can cook anything."

"I know one very good card trick."

"I auditioned for an enormous role in the film Gigli."

    1. Also Known As:
      In some parts, people get to know him through his handler, Daniel Handler.
    2. Hometown:
      Snicket is something of a nomad. Handler lives in San Francisco, California.
    1. Date of Birth:
      February 28, 1970
    2. Place of Birth:
      Handler was born in San Francisco in 1970, and says Snicket's family has roots in a land that's now underwater.
    1. Education:
      Handler is a 1992 graduate of Wesleyan University in Connecticut.
    2. Website:
      http://www.lemonysnicket.com

Customer Reviews

Average Rating 4.5
( 27 )

Rating Distribution

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(19)

4 Star

(4)

3 Star

(1)

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(2)

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(1)

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See All Sort by: Showing 1 – 20 of 27 Customer Reviews

  • Posted April 14, 2009

    more from this reviewer

    OMGOODNESS!!

    I LOVE this book! It rings so true to what a real orchestra is like. Everything, well almost everything, about the string section is SO true! I felt like I was reading about my own orchestra at times! I would definitely recommend this to older children or teens, even adults. This is certainly not a book for young children. I would recommend this book to music students and ESPECIALLY as a gift to orchestra directors!! :D

    4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted March 13, 2012

    Awesome book

    This book is great!! If you like music than you will love this book!! Even if you dont like music you will love it. Lemony Snicket is an awesome author. That is why you should read this!!!!!

    2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted March 5, 2009

    more from this reviewer

    Hilarious!

    The title is definitely a bit creepy, but I got such a kick out of reading it. If you have ever played an instrument or been in a band/orchestra, then you will appreciate this book. Lots of "grown up" inside jokes. Would not recommend for young children. I'd say it's more of a picture book for adults/teens, but olders kids might like it too. Would make a great gift for a musician or a music teacher.

    2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted January 30, 2010

    Watch out Peter and the Wolf!

    What a wonderful, funny, informative book. If you like music, mystery and puns, this is a book for you. You don't even have to be a child to enjoy it. I have shared this with everyone I know, who has children or loves music! Will it ever replace Peter and the Wolf as the standard for educating children about the part of the orchestra, who knows? It is a most singular book!

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted May 3, 2009

    The Composer is Dead, but his Music is doing fine

    The Composer is Dead, when you first hear the name, probably doesn't sound very nice. But in today's scociety of fear of the mention a needles and blood, it is actually a refreahing title. However, I was quite surprised. Unlike Mr. Snicket's previous tale involving a potato pancake, it is actaully entertaining.

    It is quite different from today's need for facts, as similar to tales of old this story has talking instruments. The inspector is a dashing man who is quick to make you laugh, and the intruments have very interesting personalities.

    When read by itself, the story is cute and silly. But when you play the needed CD that comes with it, it becomes a whole new story. The book is incomplete without, believe me. With the CD, it is as if the whole thing is taking place right next to you, and you are there for all the facts you can get.

    This book also introduces a possible new method of story telling for the future with the CD. Plus, if you're feeling a little lazy, you can just pop the CD into your player and go about you buisness, leaving the story to play. Of course, you'd be missing out on the wonderful art style if you did that.

    In an intersting twist, the story has a meaning, yet not a moral. There is a lesson learned, yet all it will do is open your eyes to the world, not change your veiw of it. If you're only going to buy one book with an Audio CD in it, make sure this is it.

    Sincerly,

    The Conflicted Reviewer

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted April 29, 2009

    more from this reviewer

    Tubby the Tuba for 2009!

    I absolutely LOVED this book! It is clever, funny, educational, suspicious, engaging, and about dead composers. What more could a young child need?! As a Violist, I have to be a little taken aback, but honestly, it was a wonderful book and CD. My 13-year old daughter and I will have a hard time giving up this book to my 4-year old nephew who we originally bought it for. One prior reviewer said it was only appropriate for older kids, but I wholly disagree. Kids can handle more than you think, and this is entertaining and educational on very many levels. I personally think it was the clarinets who did it.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted March 20, 2009

    Great illustrations, unfunny story, unmemorable music

    I went to this book expecting something great based on the idea and ended up being very disappointed. The book is poorly written, unfunny, and the music is unmemorable. The story consists of a detective interrogating each section of the orchestra with repeated unfunny dialogue. "Maybe you killed the composer because he gave you such boring parts to play!" Etc. The in-jokes about composers and instruments don't play with small children and older children won't be caught dead reading a picture book. The compositions seem to exist merely to showcase the instrument sounds; they don't contain any memorable melodies or leitmotifs that tie in strongly with characters as the marriage of Prokofiev with the story of Peter and the Wolf did. Carson Ellis' illustrations shine throughout; her contributions are the only recommendation in an otherwise mundane children's book.

    1 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted February 11, 2012

    Is it

    Is it related to a series of unfortunate events

    0 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted January 22, 2012

    Help

    How many pages?

    0 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted March 21, 2010

    I Also Recommend:

    9780641928352

    Great book, bad delivery

    I bought this book about twenty days before this review. I have since had to borrow it from someone else because mine still hasn't come in. Barnes & Noble assured me that both books I ordered that day were in stock, would ship within twenty four hours, and be delivered in 3-8 days. I am in my twentieth day of waiting, because three days after I ordered these books, Barnes & Noble sent me an e-mail telling me, without reason, that my order was scheduled to ship, but twenty-three days after the proposed ship date. I would recommend buying this book elsewhere if you want it in less than a month.

    0 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted February 4, 2010

    I Also Recommend:

    9780689867217 9780399232060 9780641723971

    This book is funny for adults and interesting for kids

    As an elementary music teacher, I love this book! It has witty "characters" in the orchestral instruments and a fun "who-dun-it" plot. Adults will appreciate the double entendres and the sarcasm while children will giggle at the instruments and pictures. The CD that is included provides an awesome read-aloud version, with music that conveys the changing emotions of the book and a hysterical reading by Lemony Snicket (aka Daniel Handler). The only thing I would warn the buyer about is that the music is sometimes scary-sounding, and when I read this with a first grade class they were truly frightened! I would recommend this for ages 5+ for the book, and 8+ for the CD version.

    0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted July 27, 2009

    I Also Recommend:

    9780525477174

    Fantastic for preschoolers through preteens!

    This book and its accompanying cd have thoroughly engaged my 5 year-old. She regularly quotes from it, and is actually learning how to identify orchestral instruments by sound. But the part I like best is its appeal to older kids. Tubby the Tuba and Peter and the Wolf are wonderful examples of this genre, but they're pitched to a young audience. This story is complex enough to engage older, finickier tastes. It's funny enough to hide the fact that it's brilliantly educational.

    0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted June 29, 2009

    Great instrument to understanding an Orchestra

    This is a quirky book that has an interesting plot with the entire orchestra playing out the story. I just took my 4 year old to the symphony and she remembered the parts of the orchestra of which I credit this book.

    0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted May 18, 2009

    Great for dicussing the orechestra with kids!

    This book has been fun to use with my kids in the discussion of music. My oldest has taken to reading it out loud, love cd that goes with it, and gave as gift to music teacher.

    0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted May 16, 2009

    It was very interesting and it made me really want to read and buy it.

    It was partly funny, scary, and interesting. After you read the book, or before, you can listen to the CD and follow along. This makes it interactive along with the music.

    0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted April 27, 2009

    Pure Genius!

    I lvoe this book and CD. The music is just fantastic and compliments the narrative extremely well. IT is as if the same person wrote the music and the story!Mr Snicket narration fo the story is just fantastic. He can even sing!. To me this was surprisingly refreshing and I listen to the CD all the time in the car. My kids enjoy it too, but I suspect I love it more! Track 10 onwards is just the music without narration. It has a lot of silent periods- one track for instance takes over 40 seconds to start. IT would have been nicer to have the entire orchestral piece without the silent slots where the narration should have been so we could enjoy the music for its own sake. That is my only criticism.

    0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted December 16, 2011

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted April 27, 2009

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted March 4, 2009

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  • Anonymous

    Posted April 18, 2009

    No text was provided for this review.

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