Writer Music

As stated in earlier posts, I enjoy writing in public spaces. I also do a bit of writing in a home office. The right music helps make the words flow and lately I’ve been listening to Alicia de Larrocha. Her recordings of the Mozart Piano Sonatas are nothing short of incredible. In the first place she plays them in what I would call a “clean” style, sticking to the score dynamics as penned by the composer. In other words, she doesn’t overdo it. Her phrasing is as crisp as good dialog and the subtleties of each piece are pleasantly accented without being intrusive.

If you like Mozart’s piano works, I highly recommend the RCA “Complete Collections” set by Señora de Larrocha. I found this on iTunes.

Finally, whatever piano she played to record this album should be in the world hall of fame for legendary instruments, or perhaps the Smithsonian.

Published in: on October 24, 2008 at 3:24 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Privateer Lynx

I was doing more research for my novel, MacMillan Judge, Privateer, when I came across a boat very similar to Judge’s Fletcher. The name of this vessel is the Lynx, and it is modeled after a privateer from the War of 1812. It was built in 2001. Here is the link to their website: PrivateerLynx.com. It is definitely worth a visit to see this amazing piece of American History in action. My hat is off to the people who make such things possible.

Enjoy and look for this novel in a couple of years.

Published in: on October 19, 2008 at 1:45 am  Leave a Comment  
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A Quote For The Times

“The control of the production of wealth is the control of human life itself.” – Hilaire Belloc

Think about the above quote in the context of the government and those wanting to hold office. The talk of controlling the markets, of intervening, of bailouts and rescues obfuscates the reality that once these measures are in place, the government will control the lives of its citizens.

Enough said. For today.

Published in: on October 14, 2008 at 6:30 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Creating Atmosphere, Part V

There’s more to atmosphere than moody old churches and damp ruins. At this time of the year, there is the fall foliage which signals the change of seasons, the coming of winter, and the harvest parties that have more elegant names to dress them up.

The photo to the left was taken looking down from a stretch of Route 6 in northern Pennsylvania. This vista has it’s own atmosphere, one that would do well in any story, fiction or not. Some views along this road seem hardly changed since the days of Daniel Boone. Now that’s an early American atmospheric setting if ever there was one.

It’s good to get out and see nature whenever you can. Living in a metropolitan area deprives people of the expansiveness of the areas beyond the metroplex. At the same time, I spend many months on a small Caribbean isle that has neither the lush green of the tropics nor the seasonal rotation of northern climes. Thus, a scene like the one at left is a real treat.

Get out and see something. It will enrich your life, calm your nerves, and do wonders for your karma.

Published in: on October 12, 2008 at 8:06 pm  Leave a Comment  
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