Monday, March 13, 2023

Music to Write By

 Annamaria Leaving Soon for Tucson

Lots to do this weekend to be ready to fly to Left Coast Crime early on Wednesday. At the conference I will be hawking the new edition of Invisible Country.


As with all my books, before I even began the first draft of the story, I put together a playlist of the music that would keep my brain functioning while I worked.  I am one of those people who cannot think straight unless there is music playing.  For each of my stories I choose many genres of music: orchestral, chamber music, movie scores, and lots of jazz.  Almost none are songs with words in English.  I can't write in English while I am listening to someone sing, for example lyrics of  Cole Porter.  I leave out works to which I know the lyrics.  Otherwise I "hear" the words, even if no one is singing them.  But otherwise, I find jazz piano especially helpful.  Once I get into the groove, I sometimes find my fingers typing along with the rhythm what players, George Shearing or Art Tatum for instance, are playing.

But I always put in a few "ringers" - mostly classic rock or swing songs with vocalists. When they come on, it's a signal for me to take a break, to stand up and walk around.  Or dance if I am so inclined.

Each playlist also has music that has an individual relationship to the story I am telling.  When writing Invisible Country, I had chose Ennio Morricone's brilliant score for the splendid flick "The Mission."  Its story is, after all, part of the history of Paraguay's Guarani people, who are legendary for their musicality.  Here's a gorgeous taste the film and the music:


If you don't know the film or the music, I HIGHLY recommend them

My other favorite from the Invisible Country playlist is the cononical music of Ariel Ramirez, all of it surpassingly beautiful.  There is even a scene in the book where my wounded war veteran, Salvador gets down his dusty guitar and sings a haunting hymn, in my imagination "Navidad in Verano: from Ramirez's Christmas Oratorio:


Just in case you're curious, while writing this blog, I have been listening to Mozart's clarinet quintet, which John Barry used to such great effect in score for Out of Africa.  It shows up in almost all my playlists.


10 comments:

  1. I'd love to play music while I'm writing, but my brain follows along with that instead of the story. Oh well...

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    1. You are not alone in that, Michael. Once, when Walter Mosley gave a talk to MWA-NY, I asked him about listening to music while writing. He said he couldn’t possibly write fiction while there was music playing.

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  2. Annamaria. I listen to music while writing as well and I love the idea of "ringers" signalling a break. Mine are usually accidental and sometimes inconvenient, when they require dancing in the middle of a sequence. Hope to see you at LCC.

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    1. Thank you, Wendall. We WILL meet up in Tucson!,

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  3. Henrik Linnemann-SchmidtMarch 13, 2023 at 8:52 AM

    You are so right Annamaria. The obo score is beautiful and almost haunting. I have no idea, why I have never seen that film here.
    When I translate I often have George Lewis, to me one of the greatest clarinetists, or baroque orchestral music in the background. Händel is perfect.
    Have a great time at LCC.

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    1. Oh, see the film, Henrik! It’s a masterpiece. In fact, it’s been a couple of years since I’ve seen it. I think I will watch it again.

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  4. The score for The Mission is also one of my favorites when I write, it has the right kind of lift. Another one I recommend is the Twin Peaks soundtrack, or anything by David Sylvian. In this case the words are no distraction, they form a haunting mood cushion.

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    1. I like your word “lift,” Martine!As I write, I feel as if the music is helping the story along.

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  5. Wendall and Annamaria, I’ll also be at LCC, so I will look out for you. Are you on any panels? If so, I’d like to attend. I’m on a couple of panels on Saturday, but tbh I forget the topics.

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  6. I agree with those who can't write and listen to music at the same time. Please pity us, Sis. :) Barbara and I look forward to seeing you and other MIE mates at LCC. We arrive Thursday, and I have panels at 9am on Friday and Saturday.

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