© david-stewart
Tapping his baton on the music stand Ziegfried frowned at the band. “Pull yourselves together and perform.” His words had the sound and the venom of a snake. The band nodded.
Elisabeth the violinist glared at John on French Horn. He returned the look. The baton again clicked on the music stand. Composed especially for them “Love Duets for Violin and Horn” was about to be performed publicly for the first time.
“We should have done Miletics’ Three Scherzi.” Elizabeth whispered to her neighbouring violinist.
Disobeying the baton the song of love changed to a song of war.
Written in response to the photo prompt at Friday Fictioneers hosted by Rochelle
She says:
Every Friday authors from around the world gather here to share their 100-words and offer constructive crit and encouragement to each other. This creates a wonderful opportunity for free reading of very fresh fiction! Readers are encouraged to comment as well.
As always a special thanks to Madison Woods for founding this terrific group.
Watch for the new photo prompt on my main page every Wednesday. Hope to see you there.
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About Irene Waters 19 Writer Memoirist
I began my working career as a reluctant potato peeler whilst waiting to commence my training as a student nurse. On completion I worked mainly in intensive care/coronary care; finishing my hospital career as clinical nurse educator in intensive care. A life changing period as a resort owner/manager on the island of Tanna in Vanuatu was followed by recovery time as a farmer at Bucca Wauka. Having discovered I was no farmer and vowing never again to own an animal bigger than myself I took on the Barrington General Store. Here we also ran a five star restaurant. Working the shop of a day 7am - 6pm followed by the restaurant until late was surprisingly more stressful than Tanna. On the sale we decided to retire and renovate our house with the help of a builder friend. Now believing we knew everything about building we set to constructing our own house. Just finished a coal mine decided to set up in our backyard. Definitely time to retire we moved to Queensland. I had been writing a manuscript for some time. In the desire to complete this I enrolled in a post grad certificate in creative Industries which I completed 2013. I followed this by doing a Master of Arts by research graduating in 2017. Now I live to write and write to live.
Reflections and Nightmares- Irene A Waters (writer and memoirist) 
Things sound rather tense in that band! Great story. 🙂
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Thanks. Yes I think things are reaching a crescendo.
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My eyes widened ant the thought of disobeying the baton.
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You have to be brave….
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Fun story, Irene! I could feel the tension mounting in the music!
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The musical direction was traumerisch zart but they played a con fuoco crescendo.
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I don’t envy the conductor!
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He’d be pulling his hair out and possibly banging his baton to the point of breaking.
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Not much harmony there then!
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Dualling instruments indeed.
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I suspect one of them will be leaving the band soon–voluntarily or at Ziegfried’s discretion.
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If they don’t kill each other first.
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war and love can be the opposite sides of the same coin sometimes.
Randy
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So true.
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I’m sure the conductor must have had a total cadenza. 🙂
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Yes these two are going at it not with hammer and tongs but rather fiddle and horn. 🙂
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Sounds as if there is going to be some noise…of a very different kind. Great flash Irene 🙂
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Thanks Sherri. Yes I think we might see sparks coming off the bow and the horn become molten as it is filled with very hot air.
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Haha…talk about a hot performance 😀
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Too hot 🙂
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Lol. Great story
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Thanks Raewyn.
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Nice little grab. 🙂
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Finally I haven’t killed anyone off – yet.
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Wasn’t going to say anything … 😀
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Maybe they could play the Fireworks Suite next. Fun story.
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Love it Margaret. Maybe they thought they were playing it already.
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Ah. I think with bad management and hostile players the will never be any music…
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Not music we’d want to hear anyway.
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Dear Irene,
Your war story makes me want to be a better student of music. Were you? I enjoyed this very much. Some discordant note about to be played?
Aloha,
Doug
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Hi Doug,
I learnt the piano in primary school and changed to the flute in secondary. I would never have disobeyed the conductor with the discordant notes these two were choreographing. Glad you enjoyed it.
Cheers Irene
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Dear Irene,
You’ve given new meaning to “Battle of the Bands.” I can only imagine what this music might sound like. Well played.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks Rochelle. I’ve always been taken with the duelling banjos in Deliverance. I don’t think this battle between horn and violin would have sounded quite so good.
Cheers Irene
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