Music in the spirit of a novel

Last year I wrote my first novel, Epiphanies and Robberies. I was fortunate to have the encouragement of a loyal band of friends and enthusiasts, who got behind my serialised story as it appeared, chapter by chapter, one month at a time, on this blog.

This year has seen the struggle to find an agent or publisher who will take on my work and bring it to the reading public. It’s a frustrating and rather slow process, though I keep up my efforts.

Happily, members of the loyal band continue to encourage me. Some in the most curious of ways, as I can now reveal.

It’s no spoiler to state that one of the characters in the novel is a struggling musician, Anne-Marie Maxwell, who makes a career breakthrough when she begins to compose a piece of music in 12 parts, called the Calendarium.

In a move that almost has fact imitating fiction, two musical friends of mine, Stuart and Avril Johnson, to my amazement, have created their own composition in response to Epiphanies and Robberies. It has three parts, reflecting the narrative arc of the whole story, with its main characters and plot lines.

For several months Avril and Stuart have worked on this representation of Epiphanies and Robberies, quietly building a work which features reed instruments, keyboards, and double bass. Their good friend, musician, producer and teacher, Neil Harland has in turn provided his own special skills, not only playing on the composition, but also bringing it to fruition in the studio.

The result of all this endeavour landed in ‘File Transfer’ earlier this week, and I immediately downloaded and listened with eager anticipation.

From the first encounter, I was completely entranced by the beautiful melodies and lush playing. I feel incredibly privileged to know people who would do such a thing, for the sheer creative joy of it all, and for the love. The recording is of excellent quality and seriously repays attentive listening. For me, it’s something very special indeed.

So here are the three linked pieces of music. Please listen and enjoy.

Epiphanies and Robberies may not yet have found a publisher, but it has got a sublime soundtrack! I feel sure that Anne-Marie would approve.

Warning Signs

New Explorations

Adversity overcome

Credits and huge thanks to:

Neil Harland: Double bass; production.
Avril Johnson: Fender Rhodes piano; synthesiser.
Stuart Johnson: Tenor & soprano saxophones; bass clarinet.

Composition: Avril Johnson, Stuart Johnson, Neil Harland copyright 2024.

Other information: http://stuartjohnson.co.uk/index.htm

Epiphanies and Robberies also has a play list: https://davidgrahamclark.net/2023/11/07/my-novel-gets-a-playlist/