William Anderson - V is for Von Trapp. A Musical Family Alphabet

A Musical Family Alphabet

Story of the legendary family who inspired The Sound of Music

Written by William Anderson

Illustrated by Linda Dockey Graves

To my own family members, who have enjoyed so many visits to the Trapp Family Lodge.

Bill

To the memory of my mother and father, Priscilla and Merritt, who were true Vermonters.

Linda

V is for von Trapp
A Musical Family Alphabet

The hills are alive with the sound of music...

From the von Trapp home in the Austrian Alps and Marias life-changing decision to the Nazi invasion and the music performed today, this alphabet book chronicles the lives of the musical family that inspired The Sound of Music.

Historian and author William Anderson peppers this inspirational story with quotes from members of this well-loved family. A poem introduces each topic, followed by facts relating the real von Trapps to those portrayed in the worlds best-loved musical.

F is for Family of Singers.
Sopranos, altos, a tenor, a bass
joined in daily sing-alongs.
Villa Trapp was fi lled with songs!

We sang for the joy of singing, said Maria von Trapp of the familys hobby. The combination of thei voicessopranos, altos, a tenor, and a basscreated a family choir. They sang a cappellano instruments, just their voices.

Illustrator Linda Graves captures the expressions and emotions of the legendary von Trapps through the generations, from their Austrian homeland to Vermonts Trapp Family Lodge of today.

For more information about the Lodge visit:
www.trappfamily.com

Author, historian, and lecturer William Anderson has written and edited more than 20 books including River Boy: The Story of Mark Twain and Pioneer Girl: The Story of Laura Ingalls Wilder. William also wrote M is for Mount Rushmore: A South Dakota Alphabet for Sleeping Bear Press.

Williams interest in the von Trapp family helped him create the adult title The World of the Trapp Family: The life story of the legendary family who inspired The Sound of Music. He did extensive research and interviews with the remaining seven von Trapp children (he had earlier interviewed Maria herself). He pored over the familys scrapbooks and photo collection, selecting material to add to the book.

William lives in Lapeer, Michigan. For more information about the author visit www.williamandersonbooks.com

Linda Dockey Graves is the illustrator of more than 30 childrens books published worldwide. She was born in Eureka, California, and graduated with a degree in illustration from San Jose State University. Linda is a member of the Western Massachusetts Illustrators Guild and lives in the woods of Berkshire County, Massachusetts, with her husband and a sweet golden retriever.

Oftentimes, the best stories are really true. The movie called The Sound of Music is one of them.

The Sound of Music is based on the life of Austrias von Trapp family. Many of the events in the film truly happened, including the arrival of Maria Kutschera at Captain Georg von Trapps home to teach one of his seven motherless children. Later, Maria became the widowed Captains wife and a second mother to his children.

The von Trapps lived through difficult and dangerous times in the worlds history. In the 1930s Germanys powerful Nazi Party threatened the worlds peace. In 1938 the Nazis seized Austria. The von Trapps escaped the Nazis grip and came to America. Here they found freedom. Like millions of immigrants before them, they were welcomed to a new homeland, America.

The von Trapps made America their permanent home. As a singing, performing family, they enriched our diverse culture.

When we think of Austria, we think of mountains and music.

The Alps mountains cover nearly 75 percent of Austria. On the lower slopes, trees grow; higher up, there are mountain meadows. Even higher there are regions of rock, ice, and glaciers. In the valleys, villages, and farms, Austrians share their family traditions with each new generation.

High in the Alps grows the white star-shaped flower called edelweiss. It is hard to find, and dangerous to reach in hidden crevices. At one time young men sought the white flower for their sweethearts. Bringing the rare blossoms proved their loveand bravery.

It is often said that music is Austrias gift to the world. The Christmas carol Silent Night was first heard there in 1818. Austrian composers Joseph Haydn, Franz Schubert, and Johann Strauss created symphonies, operas, church music, and waltzes. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, born in Salzburg in 1756, was Austrias most popular composer.

Salzburg was the home of the von Trapp family. In the 1930s they began performing as a singing family. Their early life, told in The Sound of Music, introduced millions to Austrias mighty snow-covered mountains, and its love of music.

A is for Austria where mountains touch the sky, and peaks are capped by snow and ice.

Look close! Theres edelweiss!

Georg von Trapp sailed the seas of the world as a navy cadet. Back home in Austria he attended a ball, where he spied a beautiful young lady playing the violin. She was Agathe Whitehead. After a two-year courtship, Georg and Agathe were married in 1911.

Their first two children were Rupert and Agathe. During World War I (19141918) Captain von Trapp served Austrias navy as a submarine commander. The Captain served his country well. He was awarded Austrias highest honor, the Maria Theresian medal.

While the Captain was away at war, his family lived at their grandmother Whiteheads lakeside home near Zell-am-See. There Maria, Werner, and Hedwig were born. Papa made short visits from his duties. What joy when he came home and played his violin and guitar. Mama joined in on piano. There was so much music going on in homes like ours, said Rupert. (In Austrian families, like the von Trapps, Papa and Mama were pronounced with emphasis on the second syllable.)

In 1918 the war ended. Papa returned home. With so many children, Papa created a code for each, using his Navy whistle. When the whistle trilled their name codes, the children rushed to Papa. They never marched, but they were his little sailors.

B is for Brothers and sistersseven siblings in all.

Each of them came running when they heard Papas whistle call!

After the war Austria lost its navy. There were no more ships for the Captain to sail. He returned home to his family in Zell-am-See.

The Captain found a spacious home for the family in Vienna. It included a playroom and a schoolroom for the older children. After lessons Papa joined in games, told stories, and taught the children to play the guitar, violin, and accordion. Music was around us all the time, daughter Maria said.

Mama was a kindly, loving mother. She kept her growing family happy and organized. They picnicked, skied, went to concerts, to church, and to the circus.