When considering Ludwig Van Beethoven’s 9th Symphony (Touch Press / Deutsche Grammopon), you’ll be tempted to go for the free app, but don’t do it; it’s the best kind of worst tease. Instead, purchase the full version, but you’ll need to decide: phone app ($7.99) or iPad app ($13.99)? Don’t skimp. The phone app has all the music of the iPad app, but lacks the commentaries of the experts. Your last consideration will be the listening options; the app states, “BEST WITH HEADPHONES.” Trust me, it is.

The home page of Beethoven’s 9th streams the Ode to Joy, and although you sense you will be humming it all night, you can’t resist. You have to experience it, much like the Small World ride at Disney. Once you begin to explore the symphony, you won’t want to stop. There are four versions and four conductors: Ferenc Fricsay, Herbert von Karajan, Leonard Bernstein, and Sir John Eliot Gardiner. Each one can be listened to while reading either the full synchronized score or a replica of Beethoven’s handwritten score (amazing), or watching an electric pin-light version that lights up the corresponding parts of the orchestral chart as various instruments come in and out. Bernstein’s version also includes a video of him conducting the symphony with the Wiener Philharmoniker in 1979.

During all the performances, a phrase-by-phrase analysis by David Owen Norris explains the music, in an endearing, informal manner. For example, midway through the first movement he writes, “Those opening sparks of rhythm have caught fire, and in their light we can see we’re back at the beginning….” Norris also wrote the historical analysis that examines Beethoven’s life, including his descent into deafness and the genesis of the Ninth Symphony.

Finally (and really, this shouldn’t come last) are the “Insights” by some of the world’s finest musicians and scholars. Don’t skip this section. Start with Suzy Klein, who makes the Ninth Symphony accessible and drops some humor along the way. Conductor Gustavo Dudamel helps explain Beethoven as a universal symbol of music, and pianist Alice Sara Ott shares why the Ode to Joy is the basis of hope, optimism, and human rights, and how music is a unique language that can unite people with idealism. Without hesitation, an app for all collections.−Pamela Schembri, Newburgh Enlarged City Schools, Newburgh, NY

For additional app reviews, visit our Touch and Go webpage.

BiblioBoard. BiblioLabs LLC. Version 2.0.1. 2012. iOS, requires 5.0 or later. Free. $9.99 to $15.99 for individual anthologies. 

Gr 10 Up–As first glance, the Biblioboard app is equal parts inspiring and overwhelming. It offers more than 100 anthologies, and, within each curation, access to free content.

The 60-plus volumes in Brontë Sisters: A Historical Collection provides selections under “Novels,” “Poetry,” “Biographical Works,” “Critical Essays,” and “Images.” It affords a rare glimpse into the sisters’ lives through traditional biographies as well as a series of well-organized letters to and from Charlotte, Anne, and Emily, their father, and friends. Readers can also examine portraits of the women, their home, and a reproduction of each sister’s pen name signature, all of which are likely to ignite a discussion of a woman’s place in the literary world of the 19th century. It would be difficult to find a more complete anthology of the Brontës’s work in one place with such a small footprint.

John Keats: A Historical Collection presents such telling works as A Day with Keats, by his contemporary May Clarissa Gillington Byron. There are also romantic gems such as Keats’s Letters to Fanny Brawne, written to his fiancée from Rome before the English poet succumbed to tuberculosis at age 25.

Keats’s poems are represented as is his correspondence. Completing the anthology, which totals more than 70 volumes, are “Memoirs,” “Critical Essays,” “Souvenirs,” and “Images.” Viewing pages of the original editions of the poet’s work evokes the romanticism these verses warrant, while the color illustrations add a dimension and context not often found in other resources.

On the topic of Socrates: Father of Western Philosophy, there are a number of biographical and contextual essays that offer a look at the philosopher’s daily interactions and the era in which he lived. Scholarly revelations about Socrates’s influence on the writings of Plato, Xenophon, and Aristophanes are also presented. The depth and language of these works makes them most suited for advanced placement or college students, but items such as the reproduction of a papyrus Fragment of a Third Century Copy of Plato’s ‘Republic’ provides relevance for any reader.

While some may value these collections as primary source material or historical artifacts, there is much here for students of literature and philosophy to peruse. They’re sure to find something that speaks to them.—Danielle Farinacci, Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep, San Francisco, CA

Pyramids 3D: Wonders of the Old Kingdom. Zahi Hawass and Sandro Vannini. Touch Press/ Heritage World Press/ Laboratoriorosso; 2012; Version 1.0.1, iOS, requires 5.1 or later. $13.99.
Gr 6 Up–On opening this app, viewers soar over the Giza Plateau under the bright desert sun while the sounds of birds and the wind are heard in the background. In all, there are nine “Places” to visit at this ancient necropolis from King Khafre’s Tomb to The Great Pyramid. Tapping on the entrance to a monument will bring viewers inside. Once there, they can take a virtual tour of the pyramid or tomb, methodically following arrows and using the floor plan as a guide, or touching the floors and walls to move about independently within the labyrinths. The “Expert Intros” for each location, the only audio provided within this app, are informative, yet all too brief.

A menu at the top of each screen provides an index of sites to explore and “Quick tips” explains how to navigate within the monuments. Illuminated areas signal statues, wall carvings, and drawings that offer additional information. A tap on a picture label provides a description of the work. Throughout the app, scenes offer a “Then and Now” feature allowing users to toggle between the clean lines, vibrant colors, and smooth surfaces that artists imagine these walls and items had millennia ago, and the fading colors and damage wrought by time, and in some cases, vandalism.

An “Objects” option presents viewers with a collection of 40 artifacts, each of which can be enlarged and rotated 360 degrees. The clarity of detail is noteworthy. Particularly stunning is the “Golden Mask of Tutankhamun,” which shines as users tip their iPads to fully appreciate the pairing of ancient artistry and modern technology. Other artifacts include statues and statuettes, a gold-handled knife, and a piece of jewelry. For each item, details (size, material, etc.) and notes are provided.

The accompanying text offers chapters on topics ranging from “A Brief History of Ancient Egypt” to “The Discovery of the Solar Boats.” Fascinating details along with a timeline and numerous images of the site and artifacts are included. A postscript by the author and noted Egyptian archeologist Hawass discusses recent political developments in Egypt, the plans for the Giza Plateau, its protection, and continued excavation.

Both the spectacular photography by Sandro Vannini and superb 3-D imaging will impress viewers, who will undoubtedly wish the app contained a larger collection of images and locations to explore. A splendid production.–Deirdre Reddington, Uniondale High School, Uniondale, NY

Multimedia informational resources have been a boon for learners across disciplines. Witness some of the apps we’ve reviewed: Pyramids 3D, Bobo Explores Light, Al Gore’s Our Choice and Leonardo da Vinci: Anatomy.

Now there’s The Orchestra, which brings the sights and sounds of London’s Philharmonia to readers and listeners everywhere. Don’t miss it.

For those who didn’t grow up immersed in orchestral practices, trying to understand the art and its ensembles may seem daunting. Even a seasoned musician may open The Orchestra (Touch Press, $13.99; Gr 3 Up) and wonder, where do I begin, for the options are vast. Starting with the commentary of the conductor, Esa-Pekka Salonen, will give listeners a flavor of London’s Philharmonia Orchestra, and open their minds to the complexity of Salonen’s task. His level of thought and his narrative are deep; as the engineer and artistic guide for the orchestra, he speaks at a level suitable for high school or college students. But there is plenty in this app that will have a place with students as young as the elementary grades; for example, the individual showcases for each orchestral instrument.

Simon Oliver and his double bass (‘The Orchestra’) Touch Press

Each showcase consists of a photo of the instrument that can be enlarged and rotated 360 degrees; a video narration and demonstration of the sounds that instrument produces; a written entry; a “Did You Know?” fact; a keyboard (showing the range of the instrument); and an orchestral excerpt performed by the artist during an ensemble performance. Percussion instruments have touch pads to mimic the sounds made by drums. Many of the musicians’ video narratives are endearing (particularly the brass section, notably Katy Wooley’s French Horn video and Alistair Mackie’s on the trumpet), which make the instruments instantly accessible. This section would be also useful for young people trying to determine which instrument to study, for each video explains the working of the instrument and depicts a musician playing it. The snare drum excerpts are wonderful and worth a special mention.

Continuing through the app, users have a choice of orchestral pieces that highlight specific instruments. Claude Debussy’s  Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune and Igor Stravinsky’s Firebird are two examples, but the real joy in listening to these pieces comes from the commentaries provided by the musicians and the conductor. There are also opportunities to to listen (with or without full score) to thoughtful conversations amongst orchestral members concerning the expression, technique, and even conducting style while watching the orchestra perform. It is fascinating. When principal flutist Samuel Coles confesses, “I spend whole days practicing flute so that I can forget technique…(in concert)” viewers will gain a new appreciation for the work that goes into creating art.

The text is no less engaging than the audio-visuals. Penned by Mark Swed (chief classic music critic of the L.A. Times), it covers the history of the orchestra, makes suggestions on how to listen to orchestral music and interpret a score. Of special note in the introduction is the mention of El Sistema, the Venezuelan music education program, which has created a moral and social system based on its 125 youth orchestras.

The power of orchestral music is compelling; this app provides unique and rich experiences that can be appreciated by both beginners and professionals.—Pamela Schembri, Newburgh Enlarged City Schools, Newburgh, NY

Eds. note: You’ll hear from the conductor and the musicians on the trailer for this app.

For more app reviews, visit our Touch and Go webpage.