St Cecilia’s Orchestra

Michael O’Neill McGrath and Alan J Hommerding, World Library Productions

St Cecilia’s Orchestra is a poem that tells the story of the patron saint leaving her “celestial podium” to make an orchestra. The saint travels all over the world, listening to a wide variety of musical styles and instruments, many of which I had never heard of. Take this verse, for example:

“Strum and pluck the joyful kora,
Drum the djembe mightily!
From Algeria to Zimbabwe
Come from every tribe and land.”

The illustrations in St Cecelia’s Orchestra are just brilliant; filled with wonderful bright colours. The book is written and illustrated in a way that will make it appeal to both adults and children.

Katy Gerner