The Final Party

Today's Topic Suggestions:

• Design a party (e.g. food, music, games/activities, decorations etc) based around a book or piece of music of your choice
• If you could be invited to any party featured in a piece of music or book what would it be and why?
• If you could invite any authors or musicians to your party who would you invite and why?
• Tell us about the music at a party you've attended
• Let us know how you would celebrate if you won the 'music through the pages' giveaway
• Create a party to celebrate the end of 'music through the pages' or summer in general

The Dragonsong Party

About dragonsong (the blurb):

Every two hundred years or so, shimmering threads fall, raining black ruin on Pern. The great dragons of Pern hurl themselves through the beleaguered skies, flaming tongues of fire to destroy deadly Thread and save the planet. It was not Threadfall that made Menolly unhappy. It was her father who betrayed her ambition to be a Harper, who thwarted her love of music. Menolly had no choice but to run away. She came upon a group of fire lizards, wild relatives of the fire-breathing dragons. Her music swirled about them; she taught nine to sing, suddenly Menolly was no longer alone.
 

The Decorations
The party would take place in a cave or, failing that, a cellar in order to mimic the holds where dragon and dragonrider live together. There would be long triangular banners on the walls, decorated with pictures of different colour dragons. In between would be long wooden tables where the food would be served on silver platters. I think that this fantasy medieval style would be in keeping with the imagery in Dragonsong.

The costumes
Everyone should come in medieval style costumes similar to this:

 



The music
There would be traditional ballads playing and words would be distributed so that everyone could join in. The music would be played by musicians on pan-pipes (like Menolly uses), guitar and drums.

The food

There would be several courses as follows:

1. Fresh blackcurrant juice- unsweetened (to emulate ferris juice)
2. Bread with sliced meats accompanied by wine
3. Fish stew
4. Ostrich (wherry not being available) served with mixed root vegetables
5. Seaweed sweets
6. Willow-bark tea (bitter like klabark tea)

Entertainment

Before the meal: a bird display in honor of the dragons of 'Dragonsong'.
Music (as already stated) throughout the meal, accompanied by birds trained to sing.
After the meal: Model boat races in honor of the sea hold. A fireworks display to remind everyone of the flaming ability of the dragons.

Characterising An Attitude To Music

Today's Theme Suggestions:

• Tell us about a chosen character's musical tastes
• Share a quote about a character's attitudes to music or a type of music
• Choose a piece or style of music and write a passage about a character who has strong feelings about it

Analgypta Huggs from 'Hogfather' by Terry Pratchett

The singers were halfway down Park Lane now, and halfway through 'The Red Rosy Hen greats the Dawn of the Day' in marvellous harmony. Their collecting tins were already full of donations for the poor of the city, or at least those sections of the poor who in Mrs Huggs' opinion were suitably picturesque and not too smelly and could be relied on to say thank you...
In fact the hen is not the bird traditionally associated with heralding a new sunrise, but Mrs Huggs, while collecting many old folk songs for posterity, had taken care to rewrite them where necessary to avoid, as she put it, 'offending those of a refined disposition with unwarranted coarseness'. Much to her surprise, people often couldn't spot the unwarranted coarseness until it had been pointed out to them.

Marking the Ocassion

Today's Theme Suggestions:

• What music do you think a chosen character would have for their wedding/funeral etc?
• Share a book passage about music at a special ocassion
• Write a short piece of writing about a special ocassion which features music

Preparations for a Birthday service from 'What a Performance'

No one quite knew how it happened, but by the time they left the meeting- very late - the matins congregation had raised the roof belting out uncontrollably 'Happy birthday to you' two dozen times, and had gone on to wreak the same havoc on the specially chosen hymns for the birthday service.

Writing in Music

Today's Topic Suggestions:

• Share a piece of music that mentions books (lyrics or video)
• Writing a piece of music about reading 
• Tell us about a piece of music you've written that features books

Reading Rainbow

Matching Music to Reading

Today's Topic Suggestions:

• Do you think there's any link between the music and the sort of book that people like?
• What music matches your current read?
• Tell us about any links between the music and the books that you like.

Linking my musical and reading worlds

I use both music and reading to escape from everyday life, and I think my tastes in both reflect this.

I find that classic rock often allows my mind to wander, changes my mood, or reminds me of happy times.

When I read science fiction then it has a very similar effect. It tells me about places different from our own, lets my imagination take control of my feelings, and takes me to situations that can change my mood.

My musical and reading tastes vary a lot because for me its the feelings that they evoke and the worlds that they convey that are the most important thing. These aspects of writing can occur in any genre or any musical style. 

Setting the Scene

Today's Suggested Topics:

• Share with us music from a film/TV series that is also a book
• If your favourite book was turned into a film, what do you think the soundtrack would be?

Feel free to link up your blog/twitter post etc. in the comments, or post directly in the comments if you wish. Don't forget that each day you can enter one suggeted topic post you make for an extra entry in our giveaway.



Colour of Magic by Terry Pratchett
Recently I've been reading quite a lot of discworld books, so I thought it would be appropriate to share some music from one of those that has been adapted for the small screen.

Character Interview: The Music Edition

Today's Topic Suggestion:

• Imagine you are interviewing a character from a book that you've read on the topic of their musical tastes. What would you ask them and what would their answers be?
• Imagine you are being interviewed by a character from a book that you've read about your own musical tastes. Type up your answers to their questions.
• If you could interview any character who would you interview and what would you ask them about music?

Interview with Mrs Huggs from 'Hogfather' by Terry Pratchett

Mrs Huggs, can you explain to our readers what your latest choir project aims to achieve?
You see, come the Christmas season many people like to sing old-fashioned songs. To my dismay I discovered, upon venturing to collect songs suitable for this time of year together into one volume, that some of these are rather coarse in nature. I have therefore endeavoured to clean up some of the less discernable songs to make them suitable for those with a more refined disposition.

Some people say that you are over-sensitive. Others that they never understood what was rude about the original words in the first-place. How do you respond to these claims?
Some less refined people than those in our carefully selected choir may not be able to comprehend our endeavours. However, such unwarranted coarseness certainly won't be appreciated by the benefactors of our charitable institution.

What is the latest song to undergo your own particular treatment?The latest addition to our repertoire is 'The Red Rosy Hen greets the Dawn of the Day', a piece which our singers perform in marvellous harmony.

Isn't the, ahem, male bird better associated with greeting the dawn?
One sometimes has to employ artistic license to these old folk songs. After all sometimes a chicken is nothing but a bird.

Thankyou for your time Mrs Huggs. We wish you all the best for the future of your stirling work.

Writing in Music

Today's Theme Suggestions:

• Share a song that features a bookish theme
• Write and share your own song about books, reading, writing etc
• Discuss the importance of literature to music

Paperback Writer

Book Soundtrack

Today's Topic Suggestions:

• If your current (or recent read) was turned into a movie what songs/music would feature in the soundtrack?
• Share the soundtrack of (or one song from) a book that has already been turned into a movie
• If you're writing a book (or a story) what songs would you pick for its soundtrack?
• Pick a song and tell me which book's soundtrack it would feature in

What a Performance by Reginald Frary (the movie soundtrack)

In some respects this is a quite easy one to do since the whole book is about choirs, but then again it might make it harder to select a few (and I think most movies also need some more popular songs to make them interesting). Also I've only read the first few chapters, so I don't know what will happen later on yet.

1. Organ medley
2. All Things Bright and Beautiful
3. The Battle Hymn of the Republic (slow melodic version)
4. The Hills are Alive with the Sound of Music
5. Kyrie in G Minor by Vivaldi
6. Shout to the Lord by Hillsong
7. Concerto No5 in E Flat by Vivaldi
8. Beautiful World by Take That
9. Imagine by John Lennon
10. Beautiful Saviour by Stuart Townsend
11. Holy By Matt Redman
12. Hark the Herald Angels Sing
13. The Prophet's Song by Queen
14. The Battle Hymn of the Republic

Writing in Music

Today's Suggested Topics:

• Post a video or lyrics of a song which mentions writing
• Write your own song with writing (or reading) as the theme
• What songs do you know that mention writing (or books)?
• Give us a top 10 of songs featuring bookish lyrics, or music videos showing people reading

Neverending Story

When I was young I used to love this series of movies, all based on a world within a magical book (and still do to some extent). The theme tune to the movies really captures what an adventure reading can be. I hope you enjoy it:

Listening to music whilst reading

Today's topics:

• Do you need silence when you read?
• Tell us about what music you listen to when reading
• Does the sort of book you're readig influence what music you listen to?

Think of a world without any music....

.....and you'll discover my reading time. Its the one time when all music stops for me, whether it be played from a CD player or that within my head.

What's the reason for this?
I guess it could be that all  my creativity is taken up with imagining the strange new world described in my book. Instead of music going round inside my head, there are pictures of new places and I wonder what each character would do in a different situation.

I know when a book truly doesn't inspire me because its then that I start humming to myself. My mind is no longer focussed on the words infront of me, but instead wandering through the tunes that I know.

If I'm truly engrossed in a book then I need silence. What's the point of music when you can't hear it? What's the point in noise which simply distracts from the moment of bliss? I want the world that my brain sees to be that which my eyes are reading, pure and simple. Only then can I really do justice to the author's intentions.

Music Out of the Pages: Leonardo's Chair

Leonardo's Chair by John DeSimone

"Dressed in black slacks and a white silk blouse, she steamed out of her bedroom with an old Beatles song, "Hey Jude," running through her mind."

Can there be anyone in this world who hasn't heard of The Beatles? I just love the song 'Hey Jude', its so slow and thoughtful, with a lovely melody line. For all you others who also enjoy it, here it is:

Welcome to 'Music Through The Pages'

Thanks for joining us for our 'Music Through the Pages' event, which will be running all throughout August.

Here's where we get to meet each other.
Simply answer 5 of the following questions (or invent your own unique way to say hello) and post a link/your answers in the comments.

1. Introduce yourself in 10 (or less) words
2. How did you find out about 'Music Through The Pages'?
3. Tell us about your favourite book
4. What sort of music do you like?
5. If you were a song what would you be?
6. If you could invite any authors or musicians round for a dinner party who would you invite and what would you talk about?
7. Share your favourite book or music related saying
8. Describe your favourite place to read or listen to music
9. Do you have a blog? If so, tell us about it
10. Do you play any instruments?

Here are my answers:

1. Hello from host blogger, reviewer and reader. Thanks for coming.

3. I don't have a favourite book as such, but I have several favourite authors. My 4 I read most are Terry Pratchett, Ursula Le Guin, Christian Jacq, and Jasper Fforde. My favourite of them all is Jasper Fforde.

6. I would love to have a dinner party with Brian May, Terry Pratchett and Jasper Fforde. I would love to talk about the possibility of other worlds, and I think they would be really funny together.

8. I love to read tucked up in bed (although its a little too hot to do that here at the moment)

10. I play the Eb tenor horn, as well as knowing very basic guitar.

Well, that's all from me for now- I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Music Through the Pages Schedule

Welcome to 'Music Through The Pages', a 'Summer Special' August event!

Throughout August, I'll be bringing you a series of posts linked to all things music and book-related. I'd love it if you'd join in through your own blogs, facebook, twitter, or comments on my posts.

There will be a giveaway running throughout the event, entry entries for which can be gained for each daily topic you post about.

To help you find these topic posts (which will be spread over all my blogs) and to allow you to schedule your posts wheree possible, here's a schedule of where posts will be hosted each day:


Wednesday 1st August- Introduce Yourself
Thursday 2nd August- Music To Our Ears (Giveaways launch date)
Friday 3rd August- Music That Makes My World Go Round
Saturday 4th August- Favourite Authors
Sunday 5th August- Music Book Review

Monday 6th August- Music That Inspires Writing
Tuesday 7th August- Stories That Inspire Music
Wednesday 8th August- Music That We Listen To Whilst Reading
Thursday 9th August- Writing Music
Friday 10th August- Music In Writing
Saturday 11th August- Writing in Music
Sunday 12th August- Journalling a Personal History of Music

Monday 13th August- Book Soundtrack
Tuesday 14th August- Story of a Song
Wednesday 15th August- Hymn Books
Thursday 16th August- Bookish Music Parodies
Friday 17th August- Music in Writing
Saturday 18th August- Writing in Music
Sunday 19th August- Character Interview: The Music Edition

Monday 20th August- Setting the Scene
Tuesday 21st August- Books, Music & Craft
Wednesday 22nd August-  Matching Music To Reading
Thursday 23rd August- A Culture of Music & Literature
Friday 24th August- Music in Writing
Saturday 25th August- Writing in Music
Sunday 26th August- Marking the Ocassion

Monday 27th August- A Musical Argument
Tuesday 28th August- Music of the Moment
Wednesday 29th August- Characterising an Attitude to Music
Thursday 30th August-  The Final Party
Friday 31st August- Wrap-Up Post


As yet we have no banner or button for this event. If you (or anyone you know) is able and willing to create one I'd much appreciate it. Plus, as a thankyou, I'd like to offer you the chance to win a book. Click here for details.

Music Through The Pages: Giveaways Sign-Up List

I'll be hosting a giveaway here next month as part of my 'Music Through The Pages' event.

But I'd also like to be able to link up to any relevant giveaways you're having as a thankyou for joining in.
If you'd like your giveaway to be featured then leave a link below to your blog/twitter/facebook etc. (I'm also happy to host your giveaway here if you don't have anywhere to host it yourself- just leave your e-mail address and I'll get back to you).

Any giveaways featured must meet the following criteria:

• Take place during August
• Do not require any purchases to be made
• Should be linked to books and music, e.g. a book featuring music, a music book, bookmarks with music on them, music inspired by a book, a book and music linked to it

Stay tuned for more information on my own giveaway towards the end of the week. 

Last week's happenings

Firstly, apologies again for the lack of updates and unexpected blogging break. Not entirely sure why this happened, but I do know that work has been exceptionally busy recently.
Anyway, enough of that, what's been happening to me this past week?

• My attempt to do a readathon go rather stalled when I temporarily lost my interest in reading. Result? Instead of increasing my reading from 30minutes per day, I only did 45 minutes over 3 days. I also didn't manage to do any challenges. Epic fail!
• I've continued to think about what I'm going to do for my Summer Readathon. So far, no-one has agreed to do an interview or guest post, but I'm still going to go ahead with a series of topic discussions based around books and music. There'll be sign up lists from next week for those who want to be entered into my giveaway or host a related giveaway of their own. Schedule will be up at the end of the month.
• We've had another Messy Church. My bookcrossing shelf seems to be going down increasingly well and I've had several offers of books, as well as some interest in it being there other than when Messy Church is on- stay tuned for more on this.
• I'm slowly making my way through a backlog of rings and rays, but now have a review request to add for them. Just as well I'll have plenty of time to read over the summer!
• I hope to be back to normal daily posting this week but, if not, it will resume next week. I'll just have to see how busy life is this week. In the meantime your patience is appreciated. 

What have you been up to over the last week?

Our Favourite Authors

Today's Topic:
Answer one of the following question (or take the title in  your own unique way) and add the link to our giveaway rafflecopter for an extra entry. Don't forget to also put something in the comments so that we all know to check it out.

• Tell us about your favourite author and why you like them
• If you could interview your faourite author what would you ask them?
• What music reminds you of your favourite author and why?

A musical take on Terry Pratchett- 5 song titles that remind me of him/his work

1. Rockin' All Over The World by Terry Pratchett Terry Pratchett is surely taking over the world with the number of books that he has written. Now it just time to make certain that he's known all over our own planet
2. Mad World by Tears for Fears Surely this title must refer to the magical and slightly bizarre discworld
3. Magical Mystery Tour by The Beatles Every Pratchett book is a new experience and you never know where the words wil take you
4. Stay With Me 'Till Dawn by Judie Tzuke What I want to do when I pick up a discworld novel
5. It's a Kind of Magic by Queen The Discworld is full of magic and strange goings on, a bit like this song by Queen

Can you do any better? If so, I'd love to know. 

Music Through the Pages Interview & Guest Post Sign Up

I'm looking for authors and bloggers to make this August's 'Through The Pages' a real Summer Special. If you're interested in signing up to be interviewed or post a guest post about how music influences your writing, or any links between music and books, please sign up using the form below:

(Please let me know in the comments if you have any problems filling in this form, and I'll try to rectify them asap)

Announcing 'Music Through The Pages' Summer Special

Throughout August I will be running an event across all my blogs entitled 'Music Through The Pages'.

This 'Summer Special' will be all about the relationship beween books and music and will include:

• Extracts from books mentioning music
• Reviews
• Videos of songs about books
• Music inspired by specific books
• A giveaway
• Daily topics for discussion on your own blogs/in the comments

I'm also planning to have author/blogger interviews and guest posts if I can get enough interest (forms will be available to fill in later this week if you wish to be involved). 
Any other ideas are, of course, always welcome.

The blogs involved will be:

• The Story Factory Reading Zone
• The Story Factory Writing Zone
• Music Helps The World Go Round
• Living in A Time Warp
• Blog For The Thought
• Crafty Creations

That's all for now, more about this throughout this week.

The Stopping of Summer Special

Well, the end is here. Thankyou to all who helped out, commented and visited during my month of summer madness. I hope you picked up some tips of things to do, places to see, recipes to try, authors to read and/or blogs to visit. I'd love to hear what you thought- maybe you could leave a comment or make a blog post to tell me. Hopefully this will be the beginning of more events that I'm able to hold.

Just before I leave you to go back to normal broadcasting, I bet you want to know who won what. Well, here you are:

The Winner of Bloody Jack is Mystica
The signed bookmarks were won by Sahina Bibi
The personalised magnetic bookmarks were won by Jade Walker and Janhvi Jagtap
The Winner of the Hairdresser of Harare is Mazz Nixon
And, finally, Anne was the winner of Murder in the Dark.

Congratulations to all the winners. You have been contacted by e-mail and now have 48 hours to respond.

If you didn't win this time, don't despair- you can still win with my 100 followers giveaway (see the sidebar of 'The Story Factory Reading Zone' for more details.