Hushtown legend asserts whoever plays the cursed keyboard will perish in 3 days. Instruments are outlawed. ‘Music’ is made on computers, voices auto-tuned.
Arietta, refusing to believe Hushtown’s hogwash, can’t contain her rapturous voice. She accompanies herself with the blighted piano. The angels cry at her elegant melody. Hushtown is enamoured.
Arietta’s form is fading, translucent. Casper Wishmonger, listening and watching, fiddles his violin. Virtuosos arrive from everywhere, break their silence and create a musical revelry. Arietta is saved, Hushtown alive again.
If bona-fide musicians play real instruments, the curse abates. Harmony lives inside the authentic.
Hold on to your hat honey sing, sing, sing (I’ve got the music in me)
When you have a gift, don’t hide it away.
Antonia Mora
Photo Prompt by Rochelle Wiseoff-Fields
Written for Prompt# #75 Influence at Mindlovesmisery’s menagerie and Rochelle Wiseoff-Fields, Friday Fictioneers photo prompt above and dVerse-under the influence of music.
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This needs to be a whole story! Wow!
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Thanks Mishka.
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Yes, a bit like Frank Zappa’s Joe’s Garage. Nice to bring back that theme, especially now that technology is even more prevalent.
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I haven’t heard Frank Zappa yet. I’ll have to look for that.
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Very technical and obviously vintage rock n’ roll so musically, it depends on taste, but I really think you’d appreciate the lyrics.
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That closing line is such a beautiful sentiment, wonderful job!
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Thanks so much. 🙂
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Ah. My hope is always for the real music.. a little Huxley here I think..
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Thanks, Bjorn. Very nice of you to say. I love the real music too.
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It doesn’t hurt that Arietta gets some backup. It’s hard to stay strong alone.
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That’s so true Alice, especially when breaking conditioning or a curse. 🙂
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All the more when it’s both.
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Great take on the prompt, nothing like the real thing when it comes to music.
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Thanks Maree. I agree. I think Nothing like the real thing is a song. How clever you are! 🙂
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i love the positive spin. well done.
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Thanks Plaridel.
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Hooray for Arietta and the brave virtuosos. Hushtown might have to be renamed. Well told story. Most enjoyable.
Marg
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Thanks, Marg. You’re right about the name. 🙂
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Wonderfully rounded up.
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Thank you!
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Wonderful image of the integrity of beauty.
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Thank you. 🙂
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Very interesting premise! I”m sure if I played any instrument, though, I’d be dead in a lot less than three days
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I hope not Perry. Thanks for your kind words.
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Dear LHN,
Glad Arietta was saved on a sweet note.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks, Rochelle. 🙂
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The last line takes the cake 🙂
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Thanks, Uma.
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The name of the town says it all. Well done.
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Thanks Alicia. 🙂
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Bring on the bona-fide musicians! Damn that curse.
(Nice music link.)
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Thanks Patrick. 🙂
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“Music is the language of the spirit. It opens the secret of life bringing peace, abolishing strife.” ― Khalil Gibran
And music to beat the curse. Nicely done.
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Thanks. That’s lovely. Khalil Gibran was very wise.
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Any chance Arietta can cut a few singles to replace all those auto-tuned hits currently playing on the radio?
Cheers!
MG
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Hi MG
Arietta’s working on it. Glad you caught that. 😀
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Wonderful opening sentence, which sets the scene at a stroke and then lets you have fun unpicking that scene. The whole story conjures a lovely atmosphere 🙂
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Thank you for your kind words. 🙂
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What a creative, magical story!
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Thanks so much! 😀
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I played bass in a rock & blues band most of my adult life. There’s no substitute for live music. Electronics can convey emotion and thus their music is hollow. Great story.
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Thanks Russell. Nice to meet another bass player! 😀
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yes–real tunes, live band, singers that can actually sing… ah, that’s what I adore
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Me too, Desmond. 🙂
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Groovy. Love- “Harmony lives inside the authentic.”
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Thank you! 🙂
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i truly too.. BELIEVE.. THAT BONAFIDE musicians/ARTICIANS play by heart.. not digitally constrained words…structured notes or steps.. and this song by Kiki Dee.. describes the way i feel.. when i dance and sing.. naked and free…
in what is
me.:)FREE!
WhEre
he ART
becomes
HEART!
HELL YES..! DEVIL NEVER DIES!
I’VE GOT THE MUSICK IN ME!
WHERE ANGLES STOP.. AND ANGELS FLY! FREE!
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That’s very cool Katie.
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oh i’m glad that there are real instruments around still… you can do pretty amazing things on computers but nothing compared to a real live gig… glad that arietta refused to believe the legend
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Thanks Claudia. Bring on the live music! 🙂
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Dear LHN, you are right if you have a gift why hide it away. I liked her perseverance despite her blighted keyboard.
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Thanks.
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I like the idea that harmony lives inside of the authentic. Cool thoughts in your writing.
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Thanks Mary. 🙂
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