For this week July 16, 2014 prompt Charli asks us to in 99 words (no more, no less) write a story influenced by a musical score. Where do you drift, hearing the notes? How does it fire you up to grab the story and hurl it into existence? Or is it gentle, and leading you into lyrical pastures of green? Respond by noon (PST) Tuesday, July 22 to be included in the compilation. Additionally if you can find a youtube of the music which inspired you also add that to your post.
There is so much music that I could easily write a story about however it was the music that was to inspire, not the lyrics and if I know the lyrics of a song I find it hard to divorce myself from them to write a narrative which doesn’t relate to them. Another piece of music which is extremely evocative is The Death of a Wombat but again I find it impossible to remove the dialogue from my mind. I have included a clip of this amazing work as it probably is not known widely. The music is evocative of Australia, the dialogue I wish did not exist.
So instead I have chosen in the Hall of the Mountain King from the Peer Gynt Suite by Edvard Grieg. I grew up listening to this music and it has always fired my imagination. All I know of the pieces are their names and naturally my imagination as a child and still now focuses on stories that feature beautiful women, trolls, huge caves and Arabian dancers. I have never investigated the stories that Grieg was telling with his music so whether my imaginings were on track or not I do not know.
My flash today was almost definitely not on Grieg’s mind when writing his piece.
The town woke as normal. The early workers slowly dribbled onto the streets, joined by more as the morning aged. By rush hour the numbers had built to ant-like proportions.
They didn’t hear an explosion. Caught by surprise they stared in alarm at the volcano the town sat in the shadow of as a plume of gas raced towards them from above whilst a river of red-hot lava snaked its way in their direction.
“Run”.
The crowds panicked and bolted in terror. They heard the next eruption, followed by several more. They dropped where once they stood.
Reflections and Nightmares- Irene A Waters (writer and memoirist) 
*shivers* very powerful. Great choice of music btw. Perfect accompaniment to the piece – panic by orchestra.
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Thanks Geoff. I think the panic is played well by the orchestra.
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Yer good, Irene ! But I didn’t listen to Death of a Wombat because of what you said ..
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Your forgiven M-R. It is superb music but the dialogue stops me listening to it also. I really should listen to it as I haven’t listened to it since I was a kid but it’s story has never left me and the music also remains.
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I couldn’t get the music to play (plugin crash) so I need to return to listen & read but I love the flash.
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Thanks Sarah. I haven’t got a problem with the video so I can’t help you there. Cheers Irene
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The music enlivens your flash and fits the scene that emerged in my mind. From normal to panic to gone in 99 words in sync with Grieg. Excellent! I listened to some of the Death of a Wombat and found the music stirring. I couldn’t find the opening music by Isham for Never Cry Wolf without dialog, either, but I listen to the entire album anyhow. Amazing how music without words can create words!
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Thanks Charli. It was an interesting exercise writing a story that isn’t the story I have always put to that music primarily because the name of the piece evokes certain pictures. I tried to listen to the music to imagine something just from the music. Thanks for the prompt.
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Hard to tell if it’s a real memory, but I loved dancing to the Hall of the Mountain King when I was about three years old. Your story brings a different slant to my memory, but it really fits the piece.
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Thanks Anne. You probably did dance to it and I agree the slant is quite different to the one I had always put with this piece.
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Oh I used to love the Hall of the Mountain King as a child. My own children loved it too, I remember my eldest son pretending to be a monster when he heard it and he would pretend to chase me around the house! This is perfect for your flash! Really builds atmosphere, wonderful! Have never heard of Death of a Wombat but from what I did listen to I can see why you find it so evocative. It almost reminds me of an action film like Sinbad or something. Great post for the flash my friend. You’ve been very busy, about time for a walk I reckon… 🙂 😀
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Definitely time for a walk. I think we all must have loved Grieg as children and how wonderful you introduced your children to him. His music created for me a world that none of the other composers did when I was smaller and I still enjoy it as much today. Get your walking shoes on….. 🙂
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I loved listening to this again Irene, brought back so many happy memories.
As for a walk, think we both deserve a nice cold drink after the one we just took on Spinalonga…. 😉
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The music fits the flash very well, Irene. Well done. Thanks for bringing ‘Death of a Wombat’ to my attention. I am not familiar with it so will have to give it a listen.
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Thanks Norah. You can feel the countryside in the music of Death of a wombat but it is very sad.
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