Overview
HE STARTED LEARNING to play the piano when he was three years old in Shenyang, China. Today he is one of the world’s most outstanding pianists. In this engrossing life story, adapted by Michael French, Lang Lang not only recounts the difficult, often thrilling, events of his early days, but also shares his perspective on his rapidly changing homeland. He thoughtfully explores the differences between East and West, especially in the realm of classical music and cultural life. Shining through his rags-to-riches story of a child prodigy who came of age as a renowned musician, Lang Lang’s positive spirit, his dynamic personality, and his enduring passion for music will inspire readers of all ages.
Synopsis
He started learning to play the piano when he was three years old in Shenyang, China. Today he is one of the world's most outstanding pianists. In this engrossing life story, adapted by Michael French, Lang Lang not only recounts the difficult, often thrilling, events of his early days, but also shares his perspective on his rapidly changing homeland. He thoughtfully explores the differences between East and West, especially in the realm of classical music and cultural life. Shining through his rags-to-riches story of a child prodigy who came of age as a renowned musician, Lang Lang's positive spirit, his dynamic personality, and his enduring passion for music will inspire readers of all ages.
Children's Literature
Flamboyant Chinese pianist Lang Lang shares with young readers his story of childhood struggle, his deep love for music, and his father's fanatical determination to make him the greatest pianist in the world. In this adaptation by Michael French of Lang Lang's autobiography for adults, three strands appear, each of which could make a book in itself. One is the story of a young musician's struggle against heavy odds—poverty, an entrenched musical establishment, and the need for complete sacrifice of a normal childhood to reach an almost impossible goal. The second, and very fascinating, is the psychological study of the boy's father Lang Guoren, who, deprived of a musical career himself, was fanatically obsessed with his ambition to make his son "number one" in the world of classical piano. For this he was willing to make any sacrifice, demand any effort from his son and his wife, to forego affection for complete control of his son, and to control his son's career to whatever extent possible,. Does this bring true success for Lang Lang? The third story is the contrast between the Chinese musical world, where technical brilliance and the vanquishing of all other competitors reigns supreme, and the notion in the West that musical success includes individual variation, musicality, and interpretation, without which technical skill is shallow. Since some critics believe that Lang Lang is too much the showman—too focused on his amazing technique and memory—young readers, especially musicians, might ponder these issues and the implications for their own careers. Reviewer: Barbara L. Talcroft
Editorials
Children's Literature -
Flamboyant Chinese pianist Lang Lang shares with young readers his story of childhood struggle, his deep love for music, and his father's fanatical determination to make him the greatest pianist in the world. In this adaptation by Michael French of Lang Lang's autobiography for adults, three strands appear, each of which could make a book in itself. One is the story of a young musician's struggle against heavy odds—poverty, an entrenched musical establishment, and the need for complete sacrifice of a normal childhood to reach an almost impossible goal. The second, and very fascinating, is the psychological study of the boy's father Lang Guoren, who, deprived of a musical career himself, was fanatically obsessed with his ambition to make his son "number one" in the world of classical piano. For this he was willing to make any sacrifice, demand any effort from his son and his wife, to forego affection for complete control of his son, and to control his son's career to whatever extent possible,. Does this bring true success for Lang Lang? The third story is the contrast between the Chinese musical world, where technical brilliance and the vanquishing of all other competitors reigns supreme, and the notion in the West that musical success includes individual variation, musicality, and interpretation, without which technical skill is shallow. Since some critics believe that Lang Lang is too much the showman—too focused on his amazing technique and memory—young readers, especially musicians, might ponder these issues and the implications for their own careers. Reviewer: Barbara L. TalcroftLibrary Journal
This richly descriptive memoir presents the keen thoughts of an intelligent, sensitive, and thoroughly modern young man: Lang Lang, one of the world's greatest pianists. It illustrates his life as a child prodigy, offers intimate details about his unusual family, reveals his musical influences, and discusses his life in China as well as shares insightful observations about the rest of the world. Actor/narrator Feodor Chin adeptly re-creates people of all ages and accents, with Lang Lang and his father being the standouts; their anger, frustration, competitiveness, and love for each other never waver. Public, academic, and special libraries serving music students/lovers must add this outstanding and interesting title to their collections. [Audio clips available through
—Susan G. Baird
School Library Journal
Gr 6-9
Winning his first piano competition in his native China at age five, Lang Lang had only one thought in mind from the beginning: to be "Number One." While his accolades have been many, his trials have been equally numerous, for he was forced to spend most of his childhood away from his kind and loving mother and under the ever-watchful eye of his strict father. He suffered tremendous homesickness and had to learn to cope with situations far beyond those normal for his chronological age in order to realize his dream of being an internationally known pianist on the classical circuit. This boy wonder explains his life as the pampered only child of parents who placed all of their hopes in him. His father definitely went over the edge, at one point even begging his 10-year-old son to overdose on pills because he had "lost face"-a part of the story that is sure to horrify readers. The book includes a glossary of Western composers with Lang Lang's personal commentary about their strengths and styles. Much like Li Cunxin's Mao's Last Dancer (Walker, 2008), this is the story of a young man determined to make something of himself, not only for his own sake, but also for the sake of his family. However, unlike the former, which places the personal story within the political context of Maoist China, Lang Lang is a totally personal tale. Nevertheless, because of the youthfulness of the author, his autobiography could serve as an additional purchase for libraries building modern-biography and/or Chinese-culture collections.-Nancy Menaldi-Scanlan, LaSalle Academy, Providence, RI