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Experience History Through Music Review

I love history.  I love music.  Experiencing history through music?  Sounds like a match made in heaven to me.  It did to Diana Waring and some of her friends too. In fact, this project started many years ago, and one of the best things about being on the launch team for these books was getting to hear all of Diana's stories about how the books and CDs came to be (more on that later).  For now, let me be one of the first to share with you about Experience History Through Music.


Experience History Through Music contains 3 book/CD sets:

America 1750-1890:The Heart of a New Nation for $18.99
Westward Ho!: The Heart of the Old West for $18.99
Musical Memories of Laura Ingalls Wilder  for $18.99

As the name of this series implies, these book and CD sets allow you to Experience History Through Music. Each title contains one book and one CD. The pages of the books hold dozens of historical pictures; bright and interesting stories connecting each of the songs to its moment in history, even sheet music and chord charts! The CDs are rousing , professional recordings that draw in all listeners. The two combine for fond memories and a grand, knee-slapping good time. 










Westward Ho! – Heart of the Old West
America's westward expansion is amazingly rich in stories and songs.  In Westward Ho!, you will find the pioneer spirit that stirred the hearts of thousands of Americans to leave the safety and comfort of home expressed in folk songs of or about that time.  Now you can experience the pioneers' adventures, dangers, joys, sorrows and hopes as you join in and sing along.










Musical Memories of Laura Ingalls Wilder 
The well-loved stories of Laura Ingalls Wilder will come to life all over again as you listen to the songs that were a part of life for the Ingalls and thousands of other pioneering families.  Written by William Anderson, noted Laura Ingalls Wilder biographer, the book also includes beautiful photos by internationally known Little House photographer, Leslie A. Kelly.












America – Heart of a New Nation
From the French and Indian War to the first transcontinental railroad, America is a chronological tour of American history through its music. Enjoy the songs and stories of our past that have been shared from generation to generation—songs that make you laugh, make you cry, and make your patriotic spirit soar.


OBM says:  Diana had really wonderful stories to share about this series, which was really years in the making.  If you want to read part of the tale, you can follow this link to Diana's blog where she shares the story of restoration.  And the books are full of great tales too.  Tales of how music really is woven into our national history.  Tales of some hymns and folk songs you know and love, and others that may be new to you entirely, but were inspired by circumstances like the Boll Weevil song or Little Old Sod Shanty.  The music professionally recorded in a very believable style relative to the days gone by.  And sheet music is included in each book so that you can sing along if you are so inclined, or perhaps even play along if you are able.  
The timing of these books for us could not have been better.  We are spending our summer reading through the Little House books, so we focused on Musical Memories of Laura Ingalls Wilder.  We would our Little House book, then read about either a song the book mentioned or another song from the Musical Memories book and then listen to the song.  Sweet By and By is my favorite.  My daughter liked Pop! Goes the Weasel.  It was way more fun to be able to sing the songs as they came up in the books instead of just reading the lyrics!  From there we branched into the other books.  Gooey Duck has a great story!  I can't wait for my children get back to American History because I know these books will add a nice addition to our normal work.  

Experience History Through Music books are available from Diana Waring Presents.  Each book and CD combination is $18.99.  But right now, through the end of July, you can get all three Experience History Through Music books/CDs for $50.  If I were you, I'd definitely check them out!

Here are all of Diana's social media contacts (She has amazing stories, I'd definitely follow her!):
Twitter: @DianaWaring


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