[Music x World History] Easy enough for elementary school students to understand! Volume 2 of “Manga Music History” is finally published!
Gakken Holdings Co., Ltd. Press release: October 16, 2025 To Members of the Press [Music x World History] Easy enough for elementary school students to understand! Volume 2 of “Manga Music History” is finally published! With the International Chopin Piano Competition now being held, this manga introduces the “era of Chopin” and the history of classical music in an easy-to-understand way. Gakken Inc. (Tokyo, Shinagawa; President and CEO: Tatsuya Nanjo; hereinafter “Gakken”), a group company of Gakken Holdings Co., Ltd. (Tokyo, Shinagawa; President and CEO: Hiroaki Miyahara), released the second volume of the series, “Manga Music History: Baroque, Classical, and Romantic Periods,” on Thursday, October 16, 2025.
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https://gakcomic.gakken.jp/comic/page-1020615600/
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/2535/8248/2535-8248-7150a4f60770d32df904623f9d59918c-970×600.jpg ●Volume 2 is “The Age of Chopin” — The Golden Age of Classical Music, When the Piano Became the Main Player Volume 2 covers the period from the Baroque to the early Romantic period (c. 1600-1850), providing a clear introduction to the relationship between politics, religion, society, and music. This period was also the “golden age of the piano,” when the piano was born and music changed dramatically with the development of keyboard instruments. From Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, and Chopin… This book conveys the charm of classical music to children in an enjoyable way, using comics and ample commentary to connect the musical flow. This book will be released around the time of the Chopin International Piano Competition, which brings together pianists from around the world. This is also a recommended read for those who became interested in classical music as a result of the competition.
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https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/2535/8248/2535-8248-f2d2ba785f88e12e1c6bc93434fdf2f1-1228×875.png Chapter 1: The Beginnings of Baroque: The Birth of Opera, the Perfection of the Violin Chapter 2: The Maturity of Baroque: Concertos, Oratorios, and Various Musical Forms Chapter 3: The Classical Period: Court Music and Well-Formed Music Chapter 4: From Classical to Romantic: Music that Expresses the Emotions of the Common People Chapter 5: Romantic Virtuosos: The Beginning of the Piano Era Chapter 6: Romanticism during the Civil Revolution: Tradition and Innovation in German Music ●What is the “History of Manga Music” series? The “Manga Music History” series, which introduces the history of music to elementary school students in an easy-to-understand way through manga and commentary, will release its first volume, “Manga Music History: Ancient, Middle Ages to Renaissance,” in December 2024. “How did musical instruments originate and evolve?” “How has society influenced the development of music?” This three-volume series answers these questions and provides an easy-to-understand explanation of the history of music from ancient times to modern times. Volume 3 is scheduled for release in winter 2025.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/2535/8248/2535-8248-eedec2c3b8407f158d621a8986421b33-853×1200.jpg ▲Series Volume 1: “The History of Manga Music: Ancient, Middle Ages, and Renaissance” At the end of the book is a fold-out timeline measuring approximately 45cm in length. The “Music History Quiz Timeline” on the front features missing keywords, allowing you to review the material in a quiz-like format. The “Personal Chronology” on the back introduces key figures with illustrations, allowing you to learn along with the flow of history.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/2535/8248/2535-8248-16811367a48641fe666309a35d0cc1ec-970×600.jpg ●Main contents of Volume 2 ●Chapter 1: The Beginning of Baroque, the Birth of Opera, and the Perfection of the Violin ・The Birth of Opera, Combining Music and Drama ・What are the World’s Three Great Violins? …etc. ●Chapter 2: The Maturity of the Baroque: Concertos, Oratorios, and Various Musical Forms – Vivaldi’s work in Venice – The development of the organ – He wasn’t actually very popular!? “Father of Music” Bach …etc.
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https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/2535/8248/2535-8248-dafe508fbe3bfa3a65f29e9503f06f94-1080×1080.jpg ●Chapter 3: Classical Music: The Court and Well-Formed Music ・Haydn, Known as the “Father of the Symphony” ・Mozart, the Freelance Musician ・The Habsburgs and Music …etc. ●Chapter 4: From Classical to Romantic: Music that Expresses the Emotions of the Common People ・The Birth of the Large Orchestra ・Beethoven dedicated a piece to Napoleon ・Friends who popularized Schubert’s masterpieces …etc.
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https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/2535/8248/2535-8248-b400560a4a793cd8247abbdf0f82b603-1080×1080.jpg ●Chapter 5: Romantic Virtuosos and the Beginning of the Piano Era ・Chopin’s music, always remembering his native Poland ・Liszt’s new invention, the “symphonic poem” …and more ●Chapter 6: Romanticism during the German Revolution: Tradition and Innovation in German Music ・The Schumanns at the Mercy of the German Revolution ・Brahms, who valued tradition …etc.
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https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/2535/8248/2535-8248-eff2032feabb76ad9b111f1b631602f8-1080×1080.jpg [Supervisor Profile] [Supervisor] Hino Madoka Music composer. Born in Tokyo. Graduated from the Department of Instrumental Music (Violin Major) at Tokyo University of the Arts. She was active as a violinist with the Tokyo Soloists. She later studied folk music under Professor Fumio Koizumi at Tokyo University of the Arts and began writing biographies of composers and music commentaries. His major works include “Symphony in the Fires of War: The Truth on the 345th Day of the Siege of Leningrad” (Shinchosha), “Musician Biographies: A Beginner’s Guide” (Yamaha Music Entertainment Holdings), and he has supervised the publication of “New Edition: Biographies of the World’s Great Composers – Biographies of 15 Great Composers” (Gakken). [Editorial assistance] Kenji Ichikawa Teacher at Aletheia Shonan High School. Certified Level 1 in the History Aptitude Test and a World Heritage Meister. His major works include “The Fastest Way to Memorize World History Terms” (Gakken), and he has supervised books such as “World History Total Navigation: INPUT & OUTPUT 800” (Gakken) and “Reading Educational World History in the Time It Takes to Cup a Coffee” (Gakken). [Product Overview]
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/2535/8248/2535-8248-f2a9be0fb82b46f8bd540782e3292c5f-846×1200.jpg “The History of Manga Music: Baroque, Classical, and Romantic” Supervised by: Hino Madoka Editorial assistance: Ichikawa Kenji Price: ¥1,870 (tax included) Release date: Thursday, October 16, 2025 Format: A5 / 160 pages Digital version: Available (simultaneous distribution) ISBN: 978-4-05-206156-1 Publisher: Gakken Co., Ltd. Gakken Publishing Site:https://hon.gakken.jp/book/1020615600 [Click here to purchase] Amazon:https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/405206156X/ Rakuten
Books:https://books.rakuten.co.jp/rb/18261075/
Kindle:https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B0FJQL4VWD/ Rakuten
Kobo:https://books.rakuten.co.jp/rk/7efebb169cd33df8828fe627080b61bd/ ■Gakken Inc. https://www.corp-gakken.co.jp/ ・President and CEO: Nanjo Tatsuya ・Date of incorporation: January 13, 2009 (company name changed on October 1, 2022) ・Capital: 50 million yen ・Address: 2-11-8 Nishigotanda, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 141-8416 ・Business activities: Publishing and content, global business, medical and nursing publishing content, kindergarten and school business,
classroom-related business, e-commerce and online business, and advertising business. ■GAKKEN HOLDINGS CO., LTD.
https://www.gakken.co.jp/ ・President and CEO: Hiroaki Miyahara ・Date of incorporation: March 31, 1947 ・Capital: 19,817 million yen ・Sales: 185.5 billion yen, 79 consolidated subsidiaries (fiscal year ending September 2024) Tokyo Stock Exchange Listed on the Prime Market (Stock Code: 9470) ・Address: 2-11-8 Nishigotanda, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 141-8510 ・Telephone: 03-6431-1001 (Main) ・Business Description: Holding company established in 1946, engaged in education, medical care, and welfare-related businesses. Education Sector: Classroom and cram school operations, including “Gakken Classroom,” Publishing and content business, including educational materials, Preschool and school operations, including textbooks and childcare supplies, Medical and Welfare Sector: Serviced housing for the elderly, Dementia group homes, Childcare support services, including nurseries and
after-school programs, Global: Activities and operations in over 150 countries.