Music is an important part of our lives and comes in many forms. Most definitely, the term “one size fits all” does not apply when discussing the vast number of styles in this time-treasured art form.
RELEASES FEBRUARY 2017
As can be said pretty much across the board when comparing the mores of current society to those of times past, what was taboo then—be it for better, or worse—has now become the norm. In nearly every country in the world today, women are welcome to participate in orchestras and their talent is lauded.
But such was not always the case.
In the 19th Century, women were not allowed to play in orchestras or symphonies. They were considered too genteel and delicate-natured for the rigors of practice and dedication required to master an instrument. (Oh ye of little faith…)
In my research, I came across a popular opinion of the time that not only supported the preclusion of women playing in orchestras, but that also set forth that a woman playing a violin in public would be scandalous. Far too sensuous and suggestive. No proper woman would ever consider doing such a thing!
And from that…the idea for a A Note Yet Unsung, the third and final Belmont Mansion novel, was born.
So now that I had a woman violinist, I needed a violin. And what better violin could Rebekah Carrington—heroine in A Note Yet Unsung—play than a Stradivarius?
Being a huge fan of concert violinist Anne Akiko Meyers, I naturally chose the Molitor Stradivarius, which Ms. Meyers has owned in the past. The Molitor, an exquisite $3.6 million dollar violin, was made by Antonio Stradivari in 1697 yet looks as though it was made yesterday. It’s still in perfect condition.
Here’s a peek of Anne Akiko Meyers playing the coveted violin that’s part of Tate and Rebekah’s journey in A Note Yet Unsung, which releases February 2017.
Are you a lover of the violin? Or of classical music? Did you ever play a musical instrument? If yes, what did you play and how long have you played it?
Tammy
Tamera Alexander
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I do enjoy classical music. The clip about the violin was very interesting!$200k for a bow!!! I play a smidgen of piano! Thank you for sharing about your new book. And if you need an early reviewer is be privileged to help! Love your books.
I’d be privileged not is. Auto- correct 😖
Thank you, Anne, for that kind offer. And I KNOW about that bow! Crazy.
I do not play a musical instrument, but wish I could. My granddad played the fiddle and never had a lesson. I have the first two books on my bookshelf and would love to read and review this one as well. Sounds fascinating. Congratulations on such a lovely book. God bless!
Thanks, Lucy! And thanks for sharing.
This violin is so gorgeous! I play the piano and have been playing for 14 years. I absolutely love how you can just get carried away from the melody of the song. So moving!! I do sometimes wish I had chosen the violin though, because they are so easy to carry around versus a piano 😜 I cannot wait to read A Note Yet Unsung! Counting down the days!
Thanks, Joelene, and LOL at the carrying around comment. So true! Thanks for your kind words.
Wow! What a beautiful instrument!! I pretended to play the cello in high school and dabbled with the piano in college, but I’m excellent at music appreciation. I’m looking forward to the new book; it’s going to be great!
LOL at the pretended to play, Claudia. So hope you enjoy A Note Yet Unsung!
I do love music..specifically Christian, classical (mostly Mozart, Struass) solo piano, and even celtic harp music. My dad and his nine brothers grew up playing brass instruments (had there own Christian band till recently) so very musical family. Me and my twin play the violin…we’ve been playing since first grade. We used to have lessons from one of our aunts but now we just play them in church on Sunday (college sorta interrupted the lessons..lol). I always thought the cello would be nice to learn.
Wow on you playing, Julie. I played the clarinet. For about three weeks. I really admire you violinists. Such a beautiful instrument you play! Thanks for sharing!
I play the piano, but not very well, and when in high school I played the trombone in marching band. My favorite instrument, however, is the violin, and I long to be able to play it! I fell in love with it when my daughter was attending the International House of Prayer in Kansas City, MO and I was sitting in their prayer room listening to worship music played by a violinist. I am sure there are violinists playing in heaven!
Amen to violinists in heaven, Linda! So agree! ; )
I cannot WAIT for this book to release. I got a sneak peek (being your crit partner and all 😉 ) and it is a fabulous book! One of your best, friend!
Thanks so much, Deb! And THANK YOU for all you did to make this book so much better than it would have been on my lonesome. So indebted to you…
I love Classical Music. I have other genres that I like too. My favorite Classical composer is Mozart. He wrote French horn solos and I play French horn, or at least I did until my house burned. I still play piano for a church near me and I was a band director so, I technically learned how to play everything. I’m better at brass instruments but I like most of them. I enjoyed learning to play the other instruments. I was not very good at violin. Cello was easier for me. It was in the same range as the French horn. Learning piano helped me with the other instruments because I already had the basics of music theory in my head. reading notes in two clefs helped me learn the other instruments. I learned of other clefs but didn’t get into them except when I tried to learn viola. Big long story. Needless to say I love music in most forms and fashions. Their is, as I taught my students, music in all of creation. Even a siren, water sprinkler, or one of those pesky crickets have music in their sounds.
SUCH a beautiful post, Connie. Thanks for sharing. And you’re so right about there being music in all of creation. And I love Mozart too. SOOO much music in this book. I’m creating a play list that will be posted on my website, too, just in case readers want to “listen along” as they read. ; )
I forgot to tell you how long I played. I was just 6 years old when I started piano lessons and I have been playing ever since. French horn started when I was 10 and I have been playing ever since. So most of my nearly 60 years.
Gracious! So wonderful. And I love the french horn.
I love classical music as well as some by more contemporary composers as well as the jazzy music of Gershwin and Joplin. Bach is my favorite for piano. I’ve played since the age of 5, studied music in college and now give my grandchildren lessons. Picked up the guitar three years ago and starting the banjo this year. Am composing short pieces from music God gives to my heart. Wrote a story- unpublished- about a young woman who loses her beloved piano during the civil war. So music is a big part of my life and a gift from God.
Love that, Judy… That you wrote a story about that. Cool. And amen to music being a big part of our lives. Such a gift from God!
SO looking forward to reading ‘A Note Yet Unsung’, and love reading of some of your background research for it, Tammy!! I do enjoy listening to classical music and find it relaxing. I stopped taking piano lessons, after 8 years, and having gotten into the more difficult classical music.
I love hearing the violin – my father took violin lessons as a young man. I took piano, organ, and accordion lessons as a child/pre-teen. I played piano and organ in church for a number of years and have both a piano and keyboard in my condo, the piano I took lessons on as a child. My grandmother had a player piano.
Now spending most of my free time reading/reviewing, and online – I have little time for playing musical instruments and/or watching TV. That being said, music is a vital part of my life – I would hate to have to choose between it and books, music touches a part of my soul at times when words don’t. Reading your post has fueled my interest in having my piano tuned and playing it more frequently.
I love singing (by the way, I hear you have a beautiful singing voice) – having sang in my church choir for many years, in a church trio with two of my cousins, in a business singing group (through my first employer, Bell Telephone), and for a year in an on-going Passion Play, in Gatlinburg, Tn., about the life of Christ (one of the most inspiring times of my life). I always have music playing while I’m online and in my car driving.
Bonnie, I LOVE knowing all that about you, sweet friend. What a blessing music has been in your life—and mine. So cool about Gatlinburg and the Passion Play. I bet that WAS an inspiring time of life for you. Thanks for sharing and—as always—I’m holding you close in prayer.
I can’t wait to read this book either. And the cover is stunning, Tammy!
Thanks twice over, Cara! ; )
I played flute and piccolo in junior high, high school, and college. I liked orchestra best. I graduated college in 64. I kept playing until the late 70’s. My daughter took it over and eventually lost it in high school.
Love the flute, Nancy. Good for you!!
Oh, but sad on losing it. : (
I have been playing piano since I was 4 years old. I spent some time learning to play organ on a gorgeous old pipe organ in a large church – there were very many pipes in numerous sizes and it really was difficult, but a great deal of fun. I also learned to play the trombone, but never had a chance to play in a marching band, as we lived in Canada at that time.
I love classical music and look forward to reading ‘A Note Yet Unsung’.
Thanks for sharing, Betti. Love the piano! But oy on all those pipes! ; ) Appreciate the kind words!
I love classical music, some of my favorites are Dvorak’s New World Symphony, Beethoven’s Pastoral Symphony and Stravinsky’s Firebird. I’ve loved music ever since I can remember, I started playing piano when I was 5, saxophone when I was 12 and clarinet when I was 16. I was a music major in college and we were required to take method classes where we would learn every instrument. That was such a blast for me, I love learning how to play different instruments, though I will tell you that I should never play the flute ever again 🙂 I did love playing the violin, but I would have to say that the cello is my favorite string instrument. I love your books and I can wait to read this one, I’m so glad you cover a topic that is so close to my heart.
WOW, Katie! You are certainly one musical woman! So talented! Appreciate you sharing, and hope you enjoy A Note Yet Unsung!
Can’t wait! Been too long between visits to Belmont…but your quality writing makes the wait worth it!
Thank you, Linda! These books take me a while to write. All that history. So glad you enjoy!!
I played clarinet in high school and actually remembered enough about it that I helped my grandson two years ago when he started band. Loved the violin clip – classical is probably my favorite genre! Thanks for posting it! As you know from our conversation at RC, I am looking forward to this new novel! I’ve enjoyed all your books, but the Belmont mansion books are probably my favorite.
Thank you, Karen! Was so good to see you both at RC. And thank you, sweet friend, for all your word of mouth! Can’t wait to share Tate and Rebekah’s story with you come February. Hugs from Nashville.
I played the clarinet for a number of my school years. I don’t play anything now. I love classical music and violin. I have a violin w/piano lullaby album I listen to when my brain won’t shut down to go to sleep.
I have 12 of your books in my kindle, I can’t wait to add this one.
I played the piano during my childhood and teen years, never gaining proficiency, but the experience gave me a wide appreciation for music, including classical. One of my teachers was a retired professional classical pianist.
It’s always interesting to hear where an author gets his/her inspiration for a story and/or character. Thanks for sharing!
Wow, this book sounds amazing! 🙂 No, sadly, I don’t play any instrument ( I’m a full-blown bookish person), but I do love music in general and I have connections to it in my family ancestry. I have recently found out that my maternal great-great-grandfather was an Austrian orchestra conductor at the Philharmonic of Prague and he met my great-great-grandmother at one of his concerts ( she was a Hungarian baroness!) I gotta say that this just screamed for a memorable story to put on paper, haha! I know no more details about their story except that they ran away together to get married and start a family ( they had 14 kids which is remarkable, even for those times lol). Your storyline made me think of them, of a long-past era of class and elegance.:) I cannot wait to read your novel! God bless you.:)
I enjoy your books very much–this one looks especially interesting to me! I’ve been playing the violin for 31 years and drool when I hear Anne Akiko Meyers play like she does. Cellist Yo-Yo Ma is another favorite of mine to listen to. Enjoyed the news clip, thanks!
I was an auxiliary percussionist in high school band but I’ve not played an instrument since then. My assignments were usually cowbell, crash cymbals, wood blocks, and such.
I had the joy and honor of performing a comedic solo during our junior year dinner theater. I dressed up in a clown wig and oversized clothing (because it’s easier to cut loose when it’s a character and not ME in the spotlight) and played everything from the usual suspects to duck calls, whistles, and a car horn. I even had the pleasure of rolling a stack of old cymbals down the steps. Most fun I’ve ever had during a performance… hands down!
Can’t wait to read about this trail-blazing heroine!
I love classical music but I do not play anything.I have all of your books and I am looking forward to reading your next book.God Bless you…..Diana
My mom has a violin from her child. I love the violin but did not come to appreciate it till I was older. I played the saxophone as a child in band at school. I really enjoyed it.