Alert! Start Playing Beethoven ASAP To Keep Seirens Calm...

I just had to give you some type of warning! My computer started slowing down as soon as I started to read this book...I just know that it's been taken over because "they" don't want you to know about what's happened in Orphea! I learned from reading it, though, that if you play Grosse Fuge by the great master Beethoven, that the seirens can be subdued...at least long enough to read my review!   ...I hope...

Fortunately, for me, I've been a fan of classical and most other types of music as far back as I remember but classical is still there at the top when I thing of music genres... Warren L. Woodruff, however, has seen the evolution of our music as the young are pulled in to dark, loud, angry shouting and screaming, that has deaden the beauty and joy that great music can bring. And brought us Dr. Fuddle...

And so it was in Orphea, the land of music and beauty, that loud, weird music was being played and the land was starting to die...

Children were being taken and were led into a land where everything beautiful was gone, and watched by creatures called Seirens--picture big cats with wings... The land was being taken over, led by Jedermann, who had stolen  the Gold Baton!

"Dr. Fuddle instructed Antonio to beat a measure
of three counts in preparation and they began to
play. By the third measure both creatures were
purring.
"Now it's time to bring out one of the fiercest
examples of counterpoint every conceived," Dr.
Fuddle said, placing another musical score onto
the stands. "This is called the Grosse Fugue
by Beethoven from his string Quartet in B-flat
Major."
"Brace yourselves," Einstein said.
Dr. Fuddle motioned for Kathy to play her
viola and Leonard his cello. Then he brought
two other string players, with violins to join
them.
The moment Christina stepped forward to watch,
the creatures began to shriek.
"Ready?" Dr. Fuddle said. "Play!"

That baton was now as black as Jefermann and all his seirens...

Now he was looking to steal ancient magical instruments that were being held...for the messengers! There had been a prophecy that Messengers of Music would come.

One day, Tyler Harrington decided to investigate an old, supposedly haunted, house near his home. He had always been warned by his mother to stay away before she died. But now, he was twelve and thinking that he was old enough now to explore, beginning by looking into a window.

Amazingly, Dr. Fuddle was sitting and playing a grand piano! Of course, Tyler didn't know who he was at the time, for he was so shocked that he ran... But he called a friend, who called two other friends, and Tyler took his sister, so that five children entered that old house that day...

And wound up choosing to enter the gold door...

Each had a talent that came along with one of those special musical instruments...

But there was magic and all things evil working against them to prevent them from helping to bring the joy of music back...

With a taste of "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz," "Harry Potter", and another much older story that has been shared over and over in many different ways of one who brought the spirit to fight evil, Warren L. Woodruff has given us the world where musicians live forever!

Meet Beethoven, Liszt, Mozart, et. al., plus all of the thousands of others who have played beautiful music that brings us joy and laughter--beauty and happiness. This literary musical masterpiece is a delightful way to introduce great music to our children and all those older...

And check online material to continue sharing that music! This is a brilliant masterpiece written by a man sharing his love in both word and his programs... And, by the way, you don't have to have a musical background to enjoy this... You might have to deal with Jederman and his seirens, though, a little longer... If you still hear them coming, I encourage you to play Beethoven's Choral Fantasy because Dr. Fuddle  is "proud to say with utter assurance to everyone within the sound of my voice: the light of harmony has destroyed our enemy."  Hey! Celebrate! Celebrate...Listen to the Music!


GABixlerReviews

Dr. Warren Woodruff was born in Indianapolis, Indiana and currently lives and teaches in Atlanta, Georgia. He holds Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Piano Performance and a Ph.D. in Musicology with a concentration in Piano Performance.

Dr. Woodruff is available world-wide for lectures, seminars and master classes. His specialties include presentations for children entitled "Meet the Composers with Dr. Woodruff" and a two-day seminar for all ages entitled "The classical Music Crash Course.

For more information, email drwarrenwoodruff@comcast.net

and check out 

Dr. Fuddle's Musical Blog

OMG! Have You Read Deborah Ledford's "Staccato"?

Staccato


By Deborah Ledford




A number of years ago, I briefly interacted with Deborah Ledford and had the chance to read an excerpt of Staccato. I was captivated and have never forgotten the title and the essence of the story. Then recently, I chanced upon an announcement from her publisher seeking reviews for their books. I immediately asserted I would read and review Staccato!

Now, here's why for me, I enjoy the classics and have had some training in the piano and singing so I knew Staccato might mean that the music (the story) would be "quick and perhaps heavily played..." I had also sensed that it had a touch of gothic which has always been a favorite of mine. I hope by now you have clicked on the video and set the tone for the story...

He had been a great pianist when he was young and accepted. But as he grew older, audiences no longer were willing to accept a man with a club foot as a master... He was left to teach others... and he did it with the passion and dedication he had put into his own life's work. But the pain of what he had to put forth in practice and the later rejection of his ardent fans had left him bitter, a man who would accept nothing but perfection--in everything...

Nicholas was the first boy he taught. The talent was there and he loved the piano. Before long, he had been moved into the magnificent home of Alexander Kalman and after much maneuvering, he adopted him...

Timothy was the next boy that came to live there. He became obsessed with the home, the instruction and the wealth Alexander displayed and he soon was jealous of Nicholas...

But  neither of them escaped the wrath of Alexander's cane if they did not perform as taught and demanded; i.e., perfectly... Still, Nicholas had the talent and though he did not practice as much as Alexander preferred, he did start giving recitals and was soon a well-known pianist, touring the world.

Music was his profession, but his love was Elaine. Elaine was the daughter of the woman who had first taken Nicholas into her home, away from his real parents so they had fallen in love over the years and had become lovers. It was a magical kind of love, but one they knew had to be kept secret...

Until that day the Alexander announced to her that she was to marry...him...her uncle...

During that same time, Nicholas had found a journal that was written by his real father. He told the horrible tale of what had happened to him under Alexander's tutelage--that he had been driven mad...

But it was not only Nicholas' father who had fallen under Alexander's own madness... And now Nicholas was fighting back...until he, too, woke in the hospital...

Although Staccato is very much about the Kalmans' lives and those who were somehow touched by them, I do want to mention another character that played the important role of Deputy Sheriff Steve Hawk, who was assigned one of the most confusing, long-playing, and maddening cases he had ever had. Hawk captures readers' attention as he objectively listens and yet wouldn't accept even what his boss ordered--he was going to solve, and understand, what was going on!

The scary thing about Staccato is that it is totally believable! Relatives, children and servants' lives were affected by the master of the house...But what happens to those surrounding that master when he is mad with pride, greed and a need for all things to be perfect? This novel is haunting--a masterpiece that must be read for what it is--a gothic thriller like no other added with psychological suspense--a beautifully carved duet. Perhaps the horror overpowered the romance for most of the book, but the ending is a fresh romance that drives the darkness from readers' mind...even if not from the minds of the characters who remained...

Memorable in its study and overview of those composers who gave us the classics that we still love to hear played today...Too bad that we who love the music will never hear Nicholas play...

Brava! Brava! Deborah Ledford!


GABixlerReviews

BIOGRAPHY

Deborah spent her summers growing up in the Great Smoky Mountains of western North Carolina which is the setting for her suspense thriller novels and many of her short stories.

As well as a suspense thriller novelist, Deborah J Ledford is a three-time nominee for the Pushcart Prize in the short story category. Her award-winning short stories appear in numerous print publications as well as literary and mystery anthologies. She is also a professional content editor and is most proud to be Lead Editor of two Sisters in Crime Desert Sleuths Chapter (AZ) anthologies.

She began her writing career as a screenwriter and wrote, directed and edited her first short film, "Blind Ambitions" as an entry into Scottsdale, Arizona's first international film festival. "Blind Ambitions" won Third Place in that competition, as well as Honorable Mention in the Tucson International Film Festival. From there, she wrote the full-length version of the same script as well as six other original full-length screenplays.

In a quest to produce her screenplays, Deborah launched her own independent film production company IOF Productions Ltd . In the '90s, she assisted other independent film production companies (in a co-production capacity) composing investment prospectus packages, choosing scripts, scouting shooting locations, compiling and structuring budgets/day-out-of-day lists/character and scene breakdowns in order to present fully fundable projects for investors.

Before her career as a writer she worked for a decade as a professional scenic artist on motion pictures, industrial films, national commercials and live theatre. Due to her work on industrial films for clients such as Intel and Motorola, Deborah earned security clearance through the United States Government. Her highest acclaim is for her paint work on the Coen Brothers' film Raising Arizona.

She is currently writing her fifth novel of suspense and the screenplay for her current novel, SNARE.

TRADE ASSOCIATIONS

International Thriller Writers Association (ITW), Mystery Writers of America (MWA SoCal), Sisters in Crime (National and SinC LA), current President of the Sisters in Crime Desert Sleuths Chapter (AZ).

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Bravo! Greatness of Italian Music - by Guy Graybill From Sinatri to Pavarotti and so Much More!

Be sure to find the latest updated and expanded Edition, dated 2014... Bravo! The Case for Italian Musical Mastery

Historian Guy Graybill undoubtedly loves music as well as history. So if you are a fan of either, I am certain you will want to consider his latest book, Bravo! Greatness of Italian Music, 

I must say immediately that I very much enjoyed this writer's brilliant presentation of what many will see as a major historical text with indepth, well-documented information on his chosen topic. This is very true! But there were subtle small touches that added to my personal delight, such as:

· His use of Acts rather than the common "chapter" to separate his material.
· His choice of highlighting both Sinatra and Pavarotti on the cover to show the breadth of his content.
· His inclusion of small asides of personal opinion and/or tidbits of humor that normally would never appear in a significant research effort; for instance his personal comment about ballet: "What perversity resides within the masculine soul that drives men to create ways to physically hobble females?" (p. 144)
· And, finally, the inclusion of many historical pictures as well as many beautiful hand-drawn portraits from the Dante University Press.

Do not doubt that this book will become a major reference for students of music!

The back cover states, "The Italians were so busy creating and performing superb music that they neglected to tell the great epic story of their wondrous achievement." Indeed, the author has "demonstrated...the Italian contribution to music is overwhelmingly superior." (p. 234) His Curtain on that same page provides 14 areas of music in which Italians excel! Obviously, creation of fine instruments, operas, and symphonies are just a few.

Let me illustrate by just highlighting names that many of you will readily recognize: Gregory who composed the Gregorian chants; Stradivari, makers of stringed instruments; Paganini; Monteverdi, opera's first genius; Verdi; Caruso; Pavarotti; and, one of my favorites, Andrea Bocelli, who is involved in both opera and more modern music and even has his singing in a commercial--how cool is that!

If you don't recognize those involved with classical music, how about: Anna Maria Alberghetti, Mario Lanza, Frankie Avalon, Bobby Rydell, Jim Croce, Dean Martin, Bobby Darin, Frankie Lane, Jerry Vale, Sonny Bono, Jerry Colonna, Perry Como, Tony Bennett, and, of course, Frank Sinatra.

Just imagine! I've highlighted only those individuals whose name you will probably recognize. I believe you will realize that this book is well beyond a students' text! Anybody who is interested in music will find the personal stories and biographical information on these individuals fascinating!

From Italians and Italian-Americans, there has been "more music lost" than has been created by others! That's a powerful statement, isn't it? Graybill has the statistics--the numbers, to back this up if that will interest you. I think anybody who stops to think about the great music they've come to love, they will realize the impact that Italy's musical genius has made on all of their lives.

Graybill has done an outstanding performance--a major triumph for both history and music! Consider this a must-read for music students and professionals! For others, enjoy this writer, like I did, as I read little tidbits like, "Do corpses really roll over within their graves if something disturbing happens in the world of the living? If so, there's no doubt that the corpse of operatic composer Amilcare Ponchielli took a couple of whirls during the 20th century...especially if he heard the "highly successful musical parody in which Amilcare's stirring music is sung to the opening words, "Hello Muddah, Hello Faddah..." (pps. 98-99) You're going to enjoy this one!

 Two samples of rhymes follow:
The following title comes from
the word, 'century' that Nostradamus
used to identify a group of his verses.
It seems especially appropriate following
the Mayan Doomsday silliness.
CENTURIES
The fabled Nostradamus
Fooled simple-minded hacks,
With riddles that were riddled
With trash instead of facts.
Yet, ev'ry generation
Construes his mutant rhymes
In ways that fit their motives
And SEEM to match the times.
The truly thoughtful person
Will alwys be content,
To save each grand prediction
'Til AFTER the event.
]]] [[[
AN ACT OF SELF DEFENSE
Her smile is a rebel smile.
She knows the disarming art.
Her lips bring to light her guile:
A threat to my sov'reign heart.
Before my defiance slips,
I'll show that her threat is known.
I'll siege those rebellious lips,
To crush them beneath my own!
]]] [[[
Copyright, Guy Graybill