'Musical' Novels

Subject: RE: 'Musical' Novels
From: GUEST,Jack Campin (on a library computer)
Date: 07 Aug 21 - 06:26 AM

That GUEST was me (can't post to Mudcat using my phone any more).

Subject: RE: 'Musical' Novels
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Aug 21 - 06:24 AM

Thomas Mann, _Dr Faustus_. Wicked composer sells his soul for the devil's help in escaping the decadence of music.

Not quite sure I read the plot the same way, but anyway - the composer is biographically Nietzsche and musically Schoenberg. The big palindromic piece is based on Schoenberg's Die Jakobsleiter.

Subject: RE: 'Musical' Novels
From: Susan of DT
Date: 06 Aug 21 - 05:54 AM

Refresh since the topic came up again

Subject: RE: 'Musical' Novels
From: Jack Campin
Date: 15 Jan 17 - 05:54 AM

Donna Leon's books often feature music from Venice - she also wrote the booklet for a CD of Vivaldi's "Four Seasons" where she retells a bunch of lurid stories from Venetian history. "The Jewels of Paradise" has Baroque musicology as its background.

Have we covered Ellis Peters' series of crime stories based on English and Slovak folksong?

Subject: RE: 'Musical' Novels
From: GUEST,Peter Laban
Date: 15 Jan 17 - 05:27 AM

It's been a long time since I read it but I suppose Dermot Bolger's 'Father's music' should b added. And Kate Thompson's 'The New Policeman', is a nice read, albeit aimed at a younger audience.

Subject: RE: 'Musical' Novels
From: Felipa
Date: 14 Jan 17 - 05:26 PM

There is a genre of Irish language songs in which a spoken story is allied with the sung piece. Some of these old song-stories have in the past century inspired plays, story books, longer books. Dúbhglas de hIde based his play "Casadh an tSugáin" on the song of that name (known in English as Twisting the Hayrope, but I havent heard or read any English language lyrics), Cliodhna Cussen wrote a children's book of the story of "An Bhean úd Thall" (Irish version of An Bhean Eudach), and there's a couple of books based on the story of Úna Bhán. Lyrics and info about those 3 songs are already on Mudcat.

I see via internet that there is a book by Patrick Devanney titled "Una Bhan: Flaxen Haired Rebel" http://www.independent.ie/regionals/sligochampion/news/former-summerhill-students-novel-tells-na-bhn-story-27563979.html "

Many will have heard the legendary tale of Úna's ill-fated love affair with Tomás Láidir Costello: her father refused to allow them to marry and Úna died of a broken heart; Tomás used to swim to Trinity Island in Lough Key to keep vigil at her grave, resulting in his death from pneumonia; he was buried beside Úna and two trees grew over their graves, which intertwined to form a lovers' knot.

"Using a novelist's license in his latest book, 'Úna Bhán, Flaxen-Haired Rebel', Patrick Devaney paints a very different picture of Úna. Far from being a "garden rose" or a "gold candle on the queen's table", as portrayed by her poet-lover Costello, Devaney depicts Úna as a courageous but troubled young woman who demands to be treated as an equal in the maledominated world of the 17th Century. She becomes a rebel committed to driving the foreigners out of Ireland"

Subject: RE: 'Musical' Novels
From: Thompson
Date: 14 Jan 17 - 01:35 PM

For those who speak Irish, Rún an Bhonnáin, http://www.siopa.ie/en/i-41-run_an_bhonnain/i.aspx?ID=41 about a killer who targets sean-nós singers, all linked to the writer of An Bonnán Buí.

Subject: RE: 'Musical' Novels
From: GUEST,Henry Hill
Date: 19 Feb 16 - 12:31 AM

The Mambo Kings Play Songs of Love is the best! :D

_______
Sandsaver

Subject: RE: 'Musical' Novels
From: GUEST,Jack Campin
Date: 18 Feb 16 - 01:58 PM

Ciaran Carson.

It's a factual book, written as a Kerouac-like road trip. I thought it was rather overdone and hypey.

Nobody's yet mentioned Lovecraft's "The Music of Erich Zann" - only a short story but rather good. I don't know if Lovecraft ever used music as a topic elsewhere.

There is a three-volume fictionalized biography of Beethoven by John Suchet. Somehow I expect it to be an unrewarding slog, but others may think differently.

Given the success of "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies", there has to be an opportunity for a similar mashup. I once suggested Dave Bulmer as Yog-Sothoth the Eater of Souls; Paganini as Dracula is a natural. And perhaps a combo of Keith Richards and Dorian Gray.

Subject: RE: 'Musical' Novels
From: CupOfTea
Date: 18 Feb 16 - 01:04 PM

I second an endorsement for Revival. I had the pleasure of being introduced to the man and his own performance at the same time as learning he'd written a novel. I'd enjoyed his nonfiction writing and the novel was even better. It gave me the same depth of "YES! That's how it is!" recognition as I'd had from Elizabeth Scarborough's Songkiller trilogy.

I cherish authors who incorporate traditional music as an integral part of the world they create, particularly when they get that spark of recognition from my own experience and knowledge. That validation of veracity in the details surely gives fiction more of an ability to carry us deeper. What comes to mind is the section in Sharyn McCrumb's Bimbos of the Death Sun where a traveling Scottish trad musician stumbles upon a filk sing at a science fiction convention, with initial bewilderment. The novel would be familiar to SF fans, mystery fans, (as well as those intrigued by the title), yes, but the intersection of those worlds with an acknowledgement of trad music is what endears it to me most.

Charles DeLint is the author who uses musicians and their world most powerfully and extensively over many novels and short stories. As musician in his own world he " gets it" completely - as he does with visual art as well.

Another peek into the Folk world book I marginally remember is one I think may have been a memoire rather than fiction is Last Night's Fun by Cirian Carson (and may have botched the name), with vivid tales from Scottish folk band adventures. Wish I could locate this book again for a retread, but our library has the horrid habit of getting rid of interesting books to make room for multiple copies of the latest best seller.

Thinking about this has now kept me from getting ANY work done today. Merry Mudcat time sink to you all.

Joanne in thawing Cleveland

Subject: RE: 'Musical' Novels
From: GUEST,silver
Date: 18 Feb 16 - 05:07 AM

Someone mentioned Steinbeck's "Grapes of Wrath" - long time since I read it, but I recall a chapter where the migrant workers had a dance, and a number of well-known tunes were mentioned. Also, earlier in the novel, the first time the Preacher appears, he is singing to himself.
Laurie Lee's "Cider with Rosie", "I walked out one Midsummer morning", and "A Rose for Winter" - like Woody Guthrie's books, somewhere between autobiography and fiction - deal a lot with music.

And, of course, there is the fairly recent "Revival", by Scott Alarik.

Subject: RE: 'Musical' Novels
From: keberoxu
Date: 17 Feb 16 - 03:17 PM

One composer who would be a challenge is Franz Josef Haydn. Not because he had no relationships -- he enjoyed wine, women, and song as much as most men. But Haydn was an uncommonly GOOD human being, not a saint, simply good. They left Haydn out of "Amadeus," I would guess, partly for that reason. It's easy to demonize Salieri; it's convenient to play up the scatological humor in Mozart's letters. It's quite another matter to make a case for a really good man.

The Haydn/Mozart mentor/friend relationship was a remarkable one, and I despair of ever seeing it fictionalized or dramatized, unless I have missed something and this has already been done.

There are three dramatic incidents in the Haydn/Mozart connection that I would love to see acted out, but it will only happen in my dreams:

the moment when Haydn addresses Mozart's father Leopold in public to tell him what an exceptional composer his son is.

Haydn leaving Austria for England, and a tearful Mozart bidding him goodbye, and saying in unconscious prophecy that he fears that they will never see each other again.

Old Haydn, enjoying the fulfillment of his life with success in London, receiving the news that young Mozart is dead -- and watching Haydn's heart break, as though he had literally lost a son.

Subject: RE: 'Musical' Novels
From: Jack Campin
Date: 17 Feb 16 - 02:25 PM

H.C. Robbbins-Landon's, 1789, Mozart's Last Year, is heartbreaking, but beautifully written.

Only a 16-year wait for a correction, but it isn't a novel and the year was 1791.

http://www.theguardian.com/music/tomserviceblog/2009/nov/25/hc-robbins-landon-mozart

It's astonishing that we can know so much about somebody who died more than 200 years ago. Robbins Landon even includes a floorplan of Mozart's flat.

There are so many musicians whose lives could form the basis for a novel. For a challenge: Ravel, who seems to have been asexual. I can't think of an asexual character in fiction.

Subject: RE: 'Musical' Novels
From: GUEST,HIlo
Date: 17 Feb 16 - 12:06 PM

I HAD FORGOTTEN "Howard's End. One of my all time favourite Novels and a great scene at the concert.

Subject: RE: 'Musical' Novels
From: Jack Campin
Date: 17 Feb 16 - 11:25 AM

There are a couple of very funny music scenes in Jerome K. Jerome's "Three Men in a Boat".

Alex Benzie's "The Year's Midnight" is built around the story of "Macpherson's Farewell".

Hint: use your browser's text search facility to check what's been mentioned before.

Subject: RE: 'Musical' Novels
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 17 Feb 16 - 10:35 AM

The fifth chapter of E M Forster's Howard's End (1910) takes place at a Mendelssohn - Beethoven - Brahms concert at which the characters become confused, lose things; & as a consequence form significant acquaintances, which end in tears and death, imprisonment and ruin, deception and deceit -- a sort of prolepsis of the 'purposes mistook' with which the novel abounds. Too complicated to rehearse in detail here, but clear in context and well worth reading.

≈M≈

Subject: RE: 'Musical' Novels
From: GUEST,HiLo
Date: 17 Feb 16 - 09:38 AM

Has anyone mentioned "Under The Greenwood Tree " by Thomas Hardy. Great book!

Subject: RE: 'Musical' Novels
From: Joe_F
Date: 16 Feb 16 - 08:39 PM

Thomas Mann, _Dr Faustus_. Wicked composer sells his soul for the devil's help in escaping the decadence of music.

Subject: RE: 'Musical' Novels
From: Jack Campin
Date: 16 Feb 16 - 07:46 PM

A tape measure and a set of bathroom scales tell me everything I want to know about Janny Wurts's books.

Joseph Skvorecky wrote a series of books set in the Czech jazz scene; I haven't read any of them yet.

(A lot of posters in this thread that I haven't read any posts from in a long time).

Is Barbara Trapido's "The Travelling Hornplayer" actually about a hornplayer? I've never looked inside it.

Subject: 'Musical' Novels
From: keberoxu
Date: 16 Feb 16 - 04:50 PM

Fantasy writer Janny Wurts is not to every taste. "The Wars of Light and Shadow" is a yet-to-be-completed series of world-building fantasy books, all of them long. One of the, for want of a better word, Warriors (adversaries?) is a musician so gifted that he has been trained by the MasterBard of his nation, and at his master's death has succeeded him as the MasterBard. There is a great deal going on in these books besides music. However, when the MasterBard, also known as the Master of Shadow, pulls out his fantastical stringed instrument (name: "lyranthe"), something transformational usually happens. There is a lot of emphasis on music as a multi-dimensional force of life and healing. In the most recent of the books, "Initiate's Trial," a dying man is literally musicked back to life with the lyranthe. If Janny Wurts is not to your taste, you will know it within a paragraph or two. If she's not too much for you, her reverence for music is edifying.

Subject: RE: 'Musical' Novels
From: ClaireBear
Date: 05 Apr 08 - 07:48 PM

Back in the sci-fi/fantasy world, Terry Pratchett's Soul Music was very amusing. I read it when my best friend was in Celtic rock band Tempest, so "music with rocks in" really spoke to me. Gael Baudino's Gossamer Axe (at least I think it was hers) was amusing for similar but not identical reasons.

One of my favorites in the genre is Greg Bear's The Infinity Concerto, which is entirely dependent on a piece of music. And come to think of it, my all-time favorite novel Lud-in-the-Mist, by Hope Mirrlees, has many ongoing musical themes and a phemonenon called "the Note" that, when the protagonist hears it, sends him into a near-dissociative state that shakes his faith in the solidity of his middle-class, burgher-like existence as mayor of Lud, and has him suspecting the reality of perilous--and consistently denied--faerie.   

I'm sitting in a house that R.A. MacAvoy (who is a friend) and her husband built. We bought it from them when they left our intentional community so he could work for "the dark side" in Redmond, Washington. One of the characters in her Twisting the Rope (which I read before I knew her) was closely based on another dear old friend, which completely surprised me when I read it.

And speaking of friends, one of Marion Zimmer Bradley's Darkover books -- sorry, I forget which one; it's been years -- has a scene that features a trio directly based on Dave Swan's Oak, Ash and Thorn in (as I recall) its pre-Swan iteration. You can tell because they are singing "Aldones Bless the Human Elbow" -- also because the physical descriptions are picture-perfect.

Cheers,
Claire

Subject: RE: 'Musical' Novels
From: Joe_F
Date: 05 Apr 08 - 07:35 PM

Trilby, by George du Maurier. Wicked hypnotist makes tone-deaf girl into star singer.

Subject: RE: 'Musical' Novels
From: Jack Campin
Date: 05 Apr 08 - 07:18 PM

And four more:

Elfriede Jelinek, "The Piano Teacher".

Daniel Mason, "The Piano Tuner".

Paolo Maurensig, "Canone Inverso".

William Kotzwinkle, "The Fan Man".

Subject: RE: 'Musical' Novels
From: Jack Campin
Date: 05 Apr 08 - 06:33 PM

Also:

Samuel Butler, "The Way of All Flesh" (obsessed with Handel).

Malcolm Lowry, "Hear Us O Lord From Heaven Thy Dwelling Place" (long story with the hymn of that name printed in full score at the start).

Samuel Beckett, "Watt" (the voices in his head sing in polyphony and Beckett includes a score for what they sing).

I am trying to remember if James Dickey's "Deliverance" included banjos. I think they might have been added in the film.

Subject: RE: 'Musical' Novels
From: Jack Campin
Date: 05 Apr 08 - 06:26 PM

Halldor Laxness, "The Fish can Sing" (mysterious celebrity singer where it isn't clear for most of the book whether he can in fact sing or not) and "The Atom Station" (subplot involving a sorta-Tolstoyan-anarchist organist with an up-to-the-minute knowledge of contemporary European art music).

W.S. Merwin, "The Mays of Ventadorn" (troubadour music).

Gunter Grass, "The Tin Drum".

Alan Spence, "The Magic Flute".

David Lindsay, "The Haunted Woman" (mysterious viol music as the key to another world) and passing mentions of music (mostly Scriabin or in the Scriabin ethos) in "A Voyage to Arcturus".

Alan Warner, "The Sopranos" (gritty story about a school choir).

Iain Banks, "Espedair Street" (rise and fall of a major-league rock band).

John Wain, "Strike the Father Dead" (hero is a 1950s British jazz trumpeter).

Isn't Ishmael Reed's "The Freelance Pallbearers" about New Orleans musicians? I've read some of his books but not that one.

Subject: RE: 'Musical' Novels
From: meself
Date: 05 Apr 08 - 01:30 AM

Coming Through Slaughter, by Michael Ondaatje. A poetic novel - or a novelistic collection of poems - based on the richly-imagined life of early jazz cornetist Buddy Bolden.

Subject: RE: 'Musical' Novels
From: open mike
Date: 04 Apr 08 - 09:15 PM

In April 2003, Bruce Forman's first published fiction novel, Trust Me, was released by Lost Coast Press. The story is a Faustian frolic, a guitarist's personal odyssey through jazz, mysticism, and human folly. It has received rave reviews for its portrayal of playing music and the jazz life. his site is here: http://www.bruceforman.com/about.html

His other writings are non-fiction: Bruce Forman's music publications exemplify his passion for music and educating. The Jazz Guitarists Handbook, (GSP Publications), is a critically acclaimed method book that clarifies the concepts of jazz from a performance-based point of view. Jazz Band Guitar, (Mel Bay Publications), is a no-nonsense approach to the big band for guitarists of all levels. His video, Jazz Guitar Soloing, (GSP), encompasses the important musical aspects that make up an expressive and swinging solo.

Subject: RE: 'Musical' Novels
From: open mike
Date: 30 Mar 08 - 06:49 PM

BTW - just my personal opinion, but Annie Proulx' "Accordion Crimes" was a little too bleak a view of humanity for my tastes. regarding this book-
i am reading it. fascinating info on accordion building details.

also i believe cormac mccarthy is both a musician and author.

Subject: RE: 'Musical' Novels
From: Amos
Date: 29 Mar 08 - 07:15 PM

One of the finest musical novels of all time, more classically inclined, is Doctor Faustus, by Thomas Mann, whose hero is partly molded on Schšnberg and the development of the 12-tone scale. Mann won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1939, but not for that book.


A

Subject: RE: 'Musical' Novels
From: Ref
Date: 29 Mar 08 - 06:38 PM

Astonishing that this thread has run this far with nobody mentioning "Edson" by Bill Morrisey. Yes, THAT Bill Morrissey!

Subject: RE: 'Musical' Novels
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 29 Mar 08 - 04:44 PM

This is NOT about a novel, but a wonderful book about a great musician's sometimes tragic life and ending.

When the Music Stopped; Discovering My Mother is written about a woman top-flight concert pianist, by her son, Thomas(?) Cottle.

The significance of the title will become apparent when I tell you that Gitta Gradova, the artist-mother, was a phenomenal musician, hobnobbing and performing on an equal level with such giants as Rachmaninoff, who was also a close personal and family friend, and others of that level of artistry. She was a big name of that time.

She had terrible personal stress because her demanding though personally rewarding concert life conflicted with what she saw as her duty to her husband and children, and finally she chucked the concert career, nearly chucked music altogether ("when the music stopped"--I told you it would be apparent), and the rest of her life was blighted by the cold-turkey withdrawal.

All of this is told through the eyes of her son, Cottle. The story of an amazing concert career, and of a tortured human being. I can't recommend it enough.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: 'Musical' Novels
From: catspaw49
Date: 29 Mar 08 - 03:51 PM

LMAO.......When this thread first ran nine years ago I recall being impressed with the books mentioned and having been around here only about a year at the time I hated to prove what a lowlife I was. Now after almost 10 years on the 'Cat I am positive everyone knows what a lowlife I am, so....................

First thing that popped under my low brow was "Christine" by Stephen King. Basically the story of a boy and his car which happens to have an evil mind of its own and the special powers to carry out its twisted and murderous wishes. The car is a '58 Plymouth and the radio constantly plays '50's rock which King quotes many times in each chapter to aid the plot/character development. There are probably 40+ songs used. King said it was a huge mistake and something he'd never do again as he had to pay royalties on each song, each usage, and for every copy sold, which cut his $$$ on the book to almost a loss.

Spaw

Subject: RE: 'Musical' Novels
From: GUEST,Volgadon
Date: 29 Mar 08 - 03:28 PM

Himalayan Concerto. John Masters wrote a spy novel about a classical composer travelling India. Music is woven very well into it.

Not only is Where Have All the Flowers Gone from And Quiet Flows the Don, but Sholokhov included a lot of folk songs.

Subject: RE: 'Musical' Novels
From: Mark Ross
Date: 29 Mar 08 - 02:25 PM

The Ace Atkins books, great mysteries, based in New Orleans, with a tie to the blues.

Mark Ross

Subject: RE: 'Musical' Novels
From: Janie
Date: 29 Mar 08 - 02:13 PM

Add another Lee Smith novel - On Agate Hill.

Subject: RE: 'Musical' Novels
From: Sugwash
Date: 29 Mar 08 - 01:13 PM

The Bodhran Makers by John B Kean.

Subject: RE: 'Musical' Novels
From: GUEST,Deb Grabien
Date: 29 Mar 08 - 12:22 PM

"Is Deb over here?"

No, but I could be...

Subject: RE: 'Musical' Novels
From: Gorgeous Gary
Date: 29 Mar 08 - 12:19 PM

Susan: Is Deb over here? Hadn't ever noticed that before. That would be amusing as Sheryl corresponds with her on another forum. (That would not be the first time our separate on-line worlds converged either...)

-- Gary

Subject: RE: 'Musical' Novels
From: Susan of DT
Date: 29 Mar 08 - 11:36 AM

Here is a list of (most of) the books listed on this and the related threads, if excel will past in well.

Anderson         Poul        Arsenal Port
Armanno         Venero        Strange Rain
Baudino         Gail               Gossamer Axe
Brooks         Bruce               Midnight Hour Encores
Brust         Steven        Broke Down Palace
Bull         Emma               War for the Oaks
Burke         James Lee        
Card         Orson Scott        Songmaster
Carr         Jayge               Leviathan's Deep
Chatwin         Bruce               Songlines
de Bernieres        Louis        Corelli's Mandolin
De Lint         Charles        Into the Green
De Lint         Charles        Little Country
De Lint         Charles        Trader
Dean         Pamela        Tam-Lin
Foster         Alan Dean        Spellsinger
Frazier         Charles        Cold Mountain
Gilman         Greer Ilene        Moonwise
Greig         Andrew        When They Laid Bare
Guthrie         Woody               Bound for Glory
Guthrie         Woody               Seeds of Man
Hardy         Thomas        Far From the Maddening Crowd
Hardy         Thomas        Tess of the d'Urbervilles
Hardy         Thomas        Under the Greenwood Tree
Hawkes-Moore        Julia        Dancing in Circles
Hornby           Nick               High Fidelity
Huff           Tanya        Quartered Sea
Huxley           Alduous        Point Counterpoint
Ipcar         Dahlov        Dark Horn Blowing
Ipcar         Dahlov        Queen of Spells
Keane         John B        Bodhran Makers
Keenan         Brian               Turlough
Kushner         Ellen               Thomas the Rhymer
Lackey        Mercedes        Cast of Corbies
Lackey        Mercedes        Free Bards series
Lackey        Mercedes        Knight of Ghosts and Shadows
Lackey        Mercedes        Lark and the Wren
Lackey        Mercedes        Robin and the Kestrel
Lackey        Mercedes        Spirit White as Lightening
Lackey        Mercedes        Summoned to Tourney
Lee        Scott        
L'Engle         Madeleine        Severed Wasp
L'Engle         Madeleine        Small Rain
Llewellyn        Morgan        Bard
MacAvoy         RA               Damiamo trilogy
MacAvoy         RA               Tea with the Black Dragon
MacAvoy         RA               Twisting the Rope
MacLeod         Fiona               Under the Dark Star
McCaffrey        Anne        Crystal Line
McCaffrey        Anne        Dargonsong
McCaffrey        Anne        Dragonsinger
McCaffrey        Anne        Killashandra
McCaffrey        Anne        Powers that Be
McCaffrey        Anne        Ship Who Sang
McCourt               Frank        Angela's Ashes
McCrumb               Sharyn        Ballad of Frankie Silver
McCrumb               Sharyn        Ghost Riders
McCrumb               Sharyn        Hangman's Beautiful Daughter
McCrumb               Sharyn        If Ever I Return, Pretty Peggy-O
McCrumb               Sharyn        Rosewood Casket
McCrumb               Sharyn        She Walks these Hills
McCrumb               Sharyn        Songcatcher
McKillip        Patricia        
McLaverty        Brian        Grace Notes
McLaverty        Michael        Truit in the Night
McLeod               Alistair        No Great Mischief
McNeill       Brian        Busker
McNeill               Brian        To Answer the Peacock
Michener        James        Drifters
Modesitt        LE        Darksong Rising
Modesitt        LE        Soprano Sourceress
Modesitt        LE        Spellsong War
Morrison        Toni        Jazz
Murray               Neil        Sing For Me Countryman
Peters               Ellis        Black is the Color of my True Love's Heart
Peters               Ellis        Funeral of Figaro
Peters               Ellis        Horn of Roland
Pratchett        Terry        
Roberts                 Barrie        Crowner and Justice
Robinson        Kim Stanley        Memory of Whiteness
Rushdie               Salmon         Ground Beneath Her Feet
Scarborough        Elizabeth        Godmother series
Scarborough        Elizabeth        Phantom Banjo
Scarborough        Elizabeth        Picking the Ballad's Bones
Scarborough        Elizabeth        Songkiller Saga
Scarborough        Elizabeth        Strum Again
Seth               Vikram            An Equal Music
Sholokov        Michail           Quiet Flow the Don
Skvorecki        Josef           Bass Saxophone
Smith               L. Neil           Bretta Martyn
Smith               Lee        Devil's Dream
Wellman               Manley Wade        
Whitehead        Colson        John Henry Days

I just encountered another series (Haunted Ballad Series)
Grabien       Deborah   Weaver and the Factory Maind
                         Famous Flower of Serving Men
                         Matty Groves
                         Cruel Sister
                         New Slain Knight

Deborah is a mudcatter.

Subject: RE: 'Musical' Novels
From: Tannywheeler
Date: 12 May 06 - 11:31 AM

Mary Higgins Clark also writes mystery novels with titles that are lines from songs, though not necessarily "traditional". She quotes verses as chapter headings, sometimes, too.             Tw

Subject: RE: 'Musical' Novels
From: GUEST,Jim
Date: 12 May 06 - 10:26 AM

Charles Delint's TRADER is a fantasy book about a luthier. Charles didn't go into this blind, but did his research with Ed Dick and Grit Laskin. Charles is also a Celtic musician, I believe, with a regular weekly gig in Ottawa.

Subject: RE: 'Musical' Novels
From: rich-joy
Date: 12 May 06 - 06:03 AM

and even this one is sorta related :

thread.cfm?threadid=26174
("favourite stories in folk songs" from 2000-04)


now what about all the "folk in the movies/films" threads??!!!!!
- anyone??!!!

Cheers! R-J

Subject: RE: 'Musical' Novels
From: rich-joy
Date: 12 May 06 - 05:55 AM

and there's this one :

thread.cfm?threadid=49185
("folk in current novels" - from 2002)


Cheers! R-J

Subject: RE: 'Musical' Novels
From: rich-joy
Date: 12 May 06 - 05:50 AM

and then there's this one :

thread.cfm?threadid=3540 ("ballads used in literature" - from 1998-2004 ... the thread, not the ballad usage :~)

Cheers! R-J

Subject: RE: 'Musical' Novels
From: rich-joy
Date: 12 May 06 - 05:43 AM

there are a few other threads on this very excellent subject that need cross-linking too!

here's one :
thread.cfm?threadid=83864 ("references to folk music in books" - from 1985)

Cheers! R-J

Subject: RE: 'Musical' Novels
From: Susan of DT
Date: 08 Apr 06 - 05:32 PM

A recent thread brought this subject up again.

Subject: RE: 'Musical' Novels
From: rich-joy
Date: 14 Jan 04 - 02:17 AM

I'm sure there are other threads about this subject too, as I remember posting to one of them!!

I'm definitely a Charles de Lint fan (he's got 50 books out now!) and his website contains his newsletters which also talk of the music he's currently listening to and recommends. Very interesting!

Anne Rice (she of those great vampire chronicles) did "Cry to Heaven" - about the lives of 18th century castrated male sporanos in Italy.

There are other authors beside Sharyn McCrumb who have written novels around The Big Ballads too - I haven't read them but maybe they could be found on The Net via the sites of Charles Vess and GreenmanPress or Terri Windling e.g. (oh, Pamela Dean did an updated version of Tam-Lin, that I read ...)

There's also Brian Keenan's "Turlough", centred around the blind harper in Ireland ...

And Phil Rickman gets into the darker side of folklore and customs too, in many of his novels ...

Cheers! R-J

Subject: RE: 'Musical' Novels
From: Margret RoadKnight
Date: 13 Jan 04 - 11:00 PM

Not a novel,but a recommended short story:
"O Yes" in Tillie O;sen's collection "Tell Me a Riddle"....
and Tim Winton's novel "Dirt Music"

Subject: RE: 'Musical' Novels
From: Burke
Date: 13 Jan 04 - 04:30 PM

Joe,
I thought I'd do a quick check on Sharyn McCrumb, but some of her titles are just too wonderful. Here's a list of all her books, in reading order based on the What Next? page. Many of her books are set in Appalachia, most seem to be mysteries.

Ballad series:
If ever I return, pretty Peggy-O
The hangman's beautiful daughter
She walks these hills
The rosewood casket
The ballad of Frankie Silver
Ghost riders
The songcatcher : a ballad novel

Elizabeth MacPherson mysteries:
Sick of shadows
Lovely in her bones
Highland laddie gone
Paying the piper
The Windsor knot
Missing Susan
MacPherson's lament
If I'd killed him when I met him --
The PMS outlaws

Science Fiction Series:
Bimbos of the death sun
Zombies of the gene pool
Published together as: Bimbos & zombies

Short Story Collections:
Foggy Mountain breakdown and other stories
Our separate days

Subject: RE: 'Musical' Novels
From: Ebbie
Date: 13 Jan 04 - 03:40 PM

What a great resource this thread is! I've bookmarked it and at my leisure will go through it and paste out all the names. Thanks, folks.

Books and songs- one lifetime is never long enough.