Two Scarlet Songbirds: A Story of Anton Dvorak

by Carole Lexa Schaefer, Elizabeth Rosen (Illustrator)

Fact and fiction come together in a magically imagined tale of the composer Anton Dvorák’s inspiration for “American Quartet.” Transfixed by the birdsong of the little Iowa river town where he and his family are spending the summer, Dvorák seeks out the beautiful song of the scarlet tanager. And as the tanager woos a mate and begins to build a nest, Dvorák writes the bird’s music down on everything from paper to shirtsleeves. At the end of one long summer evening, the scarlet tanager hears familiar music from the town’s schoolhouse and settles on a branch nearby to listen. Inside, Dvorák and his friends play the first rehearsal of “American Quartet,” inspired by the little songbird. Then, while one plays on, the other flies home.

Genres: Picture Books, Music, Biography

40 pages, Hardcover

First published September 11, 2001

About the author

When Carole Lexa Schaefer was growing up, she wanted to be both a poet and a journalist. In an unexpected way, she feels she achieved her ambition. While studying for a master's degree in early childhood education, she once put together a picture book made of photo essays. "The lyrical, every-word-counts genre captivated the poet and journalist in me," Carole Lexa Schaefer recalls--and she's been writing stories for children ever since. Her first book with Candlewick, THE COPPER TIN CUP, traces the origin of a family keepsake that's been handed down for generations. "It was inspired by my connections with my immigrant relatives through stories and songs--invisible heirlooms--to keep handing on," she says.

The longtime director of a Seattle preschool that she founded in 1980, Carole Lexa Schaefer often draws on her experience with young children when writing stories. In DOWN IN THE WOODS AT SLEEPYTIME, not one of the baby animals in the woods is ready to go to bed, until Grandma Owl finally finds a way to settle everyone down. The author says she was inspired "by all my friends at Little Friends Preschool who like to play just a little bit longer--even at sleepytime." Luckily, preschool teachers now have some help at nap time: DOWN IN THE WOODS AT SLEEPYTIME, says PUBLISHERS WEEKLY, is a book in which "author and artist make bedtime about as appealing as it gets."


With her next books, Carole Lexa Schaefer switches gears from sleepytime to partytime. FULL MOON BARNYARD DANCE is a rousing read-aloud that showcases farm animals dancing as they learn to appreciate their differences. ONE WHEEL WOBBLES, a zany counting book, follows one fun-loving family on Family Parade Day as they roll along on an ever-increasing number of wheels--Gramma on a motorcycle, Sister on a trike, and Grampa on some snazzy skates. Of ONE WHEEL WOBBLES, Carole Lexa Schaefer explains, "I wanted to create a counting book for children with which they could have a rollicking good time."


Carole Lexa Schaefer, who has a master's degree in early childhood education from the University of Washington, taught school for ten years in places as varied as Taiwan, Switzerland, and Micronesia, as well as Missouri and Washington. Born in St. Louis, Missouri, the author now lives in Seattle.

Reviews

[Natalie Weber · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vivid illustrations and imaginative storytelling recount how Antonin Dvořák might have been inspired to compose his American Quartet in F Major. In the company of a Scarlet Tanager in the small Czech community of Spillville, Iowa, the famous composer spent the summer of 1893 with his family and wrote the music for the quartet. The third movement echoes the birdsong that fascinated him, and the idyllic farm town undoubtedly provided just the right environment to create this rich musical work.

[Libby Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

A vibrant picture book about how a scarlet tanager inspired part of Anton Dvorak’s “American Quartet”. My kids loved when I played the bird song and then the actual song by Dvorak for them.

Definitely a great book for composer study and to talk about how nature inspires the arts!

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story blends fact and fiction in telling the story of Anton Dvorak writing the American Symphony. Unfortunately, this is too long and wordy for my preschool story time group, but the illustrations are fabulous and the story is a lot of fun. Recommended for groups K-2 or for one-on-one reading with preschoolers. A great follow up would be to listen to a bit of the American Symphony. :)

[Beverly · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fictionalized story of how Dvorak may have partly been inspired to compose his piece, "American Quartet." While vacationing in Spillville, Iowa, Dvorak hears the song of the Scarlet Tanager, and that may have inspired the third movement of "American Quartet."
Has impressionistic oil paintings.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book to learn about Dvorak. We had fun listening to the 3rd movement of "American Quartet" he composed and could totally hear the Scarlet Tanager bird song in it! Kids practiced narrating this book..krb 4/24/17