Shh! I Can’t Hear You! — Musical References in Historical Literature

What is the point of referencing music in historical romances?  After all, it’s not audible.  A reader can’t ask his or her book to hum a few bars… although future e-readers may yet surprise us with that ability. In addition, not everyone will be familiar with every composer or piece of music; why run the risk of boring the people who don’t care?

I do it because it sets a tone, literally.  Each decade of my life has its own unique musical trends (ie: 60s – The Beatles, 70s – Bee Gees, 80s – Huey Lewis & the News, and so on) that help me recall the era rather distinctly.

Cécile Chaminade

The same could be said for people living in any other period of time.  What were folks listening to in the latter half of the 19^th Century? They were listening to tried and true oldies (music written before 1850), as well as up-and-coming composers.   Among these late-Romantic era artists were newcomers such as Tchaikovsky (1840-1893), Edvard Grieg (1843 – 1907), Cécile Chaminade (1857 – 1944), and John Philip Sousa (1854 – 1932).  Also included in this era was Arthur Sullivan (1842 – 1900), famous for his operettas with W.S. Gilbert.

To readers in the 21^st Century, these are old classical composers, but to the people in the 19^th Century, they were new, fresh, and often trendy (au courant in the vernacular of the day?)

The nice thing about putting an excerpt on a blog is the ability to link to the referenced music.  Here is an excerpt from The Ice Captain’s Daughter (set in 1899) that mentions Morning Mood (1875) by Edvard Grieg.  Following that is one of my favorite YouTube videos featuring a performance of the piece by the Copenhagen Phil.  Enjoy! ~ S.G. Rogers

Excerpt

“Jillian, I could tell there was some feeling between you and Mr. Logan at Idunn Court. His presence in town confirms it. Give him some encouragement, dear girl. You may have found your match,” Aunt Letty said.

A ray of hope broke through the doubts clouding Jillian’s brow, and she suddenly felt quite buoyant. Mrs. Bleak asked her to play the piano just as the men began to filter into the parlor. Logan came over to listen, a rapt expression on his face.

“That was simply marvelous,” he said after she finished.

“It sounds best with a full orchestra, but ’Morning Mood’ by a Norwegian composer Edvard Grieg is one of my favorite pieces. It depicts a sunrise,” Jillian said.

“Yes, I could hear that as you played. Well done.” Jillian rose from the piano to allow Mrs. Bleak to be seated next. As the party grew noisier, Logan was obliged to lean in toward Jillian to be heard. His breath as he spoke tickled her cheek and ear. A delicious shiver traveled down her spine.

“Will you walk with me a bit, Miss Roring? My cousin keeps a beautiful courtyard out back. There is a view of it from the balcony.”

Jillian’s stomach gave a little lift. Her assent was on her lips, but her eyes flicked a glance at Aunt Letty. An almost imperceptible nod from her aunt gave her permission to accompany Logan for a stroll.

“Mr. Logan, I believe I would enjoy some fresh air.”

 

Without a Chaperone – Excerpt from THE ICE CAPTAIN’S DAUGHTER

Victorian-era manners and sensibilities were a lot different than they are today. A young lady’s virtue was everything, and a slight misstep could bring ruination to an entire family. With nothing like the Internet, television or radio for entertainment, gossip was elevated to a sport. Public and private behavior was scrutinized, analyzed and dissected for every possible nuance. And if something calamitous should occur by happenstance, disaster management was in order by friends and family.  This is the setting for The Ice Captain’s Daughter.  Enjoy the excerpt!

~ S.G. Rogers

Excerpt:

“I cannot countenance your bringing a trollop into this house.”

Logan’s mouth fell open in shock, but Mrs. Lyman scarcely drew breath.

“Your mother and father would roll over in their graves if they knew Idunn Court had been so besmirched.”

“A trollop? Surely you cannot be referring to Miss Roring!”

The housekeeper’s nostrils flared. “Indeed I am.”

Logan had difficulty keeping his countenance.

“Mrs. Lyman, let me set your mind at ease. Miss Roring is a gentlewoman of good breeding and the highest morals. She was traveling to the train station yesterday afternoon when a highwayman accosted her very near my hunting cottage. A bullet grazed her leg and I rendered her assistance.”

Mrs. Lyman’s lips narrowed into a harsh line. “That is my point, exactly. She spent last night with you in the cottage, without a chaperone.”

“For mercy’s sake, it was not her choice, nor mine! The lightning storm forced us to seek shelter.”

Not at all mollified, Mrs. Lyman sucked in her cheeks and folded her arms across her chest. Logan sighed.

“Her aunt will collect her this afternoon,” he said. “Can you bear with me until then?”

“The sooner she is gone, the better.” In a swirl of self-righteousness, Mrs. Lyman strode over to the door, yanked it open, and disappeared down the hall.

The daughter of a wealthy ice merchant, Miss Jillian Roring intends to marry for love.  En route to her first Season in London, however, a failed kidnapping sends her into the arms of the most jaded bachelor in England.  When Logan and Jillian unwittingly violate the rigid rules of propriety in Victorian-era England, he is obliged to make her an offer of marriage.  Because she aspires to be more than an obligation, Jillian refuses the match. Logan follows her to London to woo her properly, but his scheming ex-fiancée has other plans.

Can Logan convince Jillian that his love for her is real or will the cruel gossip and sharp tongues of London society tear their budding relationship apart?

A romantic novella set in the turn of the century, Victorian England.

Available for the Kindle at Amazon ($0.99).

The Ice Captain’s Daughter

I’m very pleased to announce the release of my first historical romance, The Ice Captain’s Daughter.  Set in Victorian England at the turn of the century, the story revolves around Miss Jillian Roring in her first Season.

At its core, the Season was about marriage, and these marital arrangements were often quite practical in nature.  The royal class often married for money.  Accordingly, monied commoners frequently had the desire to marry royalty.  Where the money came from was always critical to society, however. If a girl’s relatives were deemed to be “in trade,” her chances to make a good match might be doomed from the outset.  Essentially, accepting money for work was “trade,” but sometimes hairs were split thin.  For example, a solicitor was in trade, but a barrister was not.  A surgeon was in trade, but a doctor was not. A military captain might be acceptable to society, but what about the captain of a merchant vessel?  Is he in trade or not?  Such is the backdrop for The Ice Captain’s Daughter.

Can the daughter of an Ice Captain find love and happiness in Victorian England?

~ S.G. Rogers

The daughter of a wealthy ice merchant, Miss Jillian Roring intends to marry for love.  En route to her first Season in London, however, a failed kidnapping sends her into the arms of the most jaded bachelor in England.  When Logan and Jillian unwittingly violate the rigid rules of propriety in Victorian-era England, he is obliged to make her an offer of marriage.  Because she aspires to be more than an obligation, Jillian refuses the match. Logan follows her to London to woo her properly, but his scheming ex-fiancée has other plans.

Can Logan convince Jillian that his love for her is real or will the cruel gossip and sharp tongues of London society tear their budding relationship apart?

Excerpt:

“We are not in agreement, sir. I refuse to enter into an engagement with a man in love with someone else!” Jillian exclaimed.

“Have you lost your mind?” Aunt Letty exclaimed. “Love has nothing to do with marriage, on the whole.”

“I… I have no objection, Miss Roring,” Logan said.

Jillian gave him a searching look. “Forgive me, sir. Your offer is honorable, but motivated by obligation. I aspire to enter into more than an unobjectionable union.”

“If these events between you and Mr. Logan become known, Jillian, this may be the only offer of marriage you will ever receive,” Sir William said.

“So be it,” Jillian said. “I will not marry unless the man has a true and abiding affection for me and I for him in return. My mind is made up on the matter and I won’t discuss it further.”

The Ice Captain’s Daughter is available for the Kindle at Amazon ($0.99).

The Ice Captain’s Daughter – Excerpt

The Ice Captain’s Daughter – coming January 11th

Excerpt:

“Do you not understand, Jillian? Your chances to make a good marriage have been materially damaged by your intimate association with Mr. Logan,” Aunt Letty said.

A protest spilled from Jillian’s lips, but her aunt held up her hand to check it.

“The fact remains — you and he spent the night alone together.”

“Not by choice!”

“However innocent you both may be, the situation is scandalous by anyone’s reckoning.”

“No one need know,” Jillian said, a note of desperation in her voice. “I will not relate these matters to anyone and I feel certain Mr. Logan will keep my confidence!”

Aunt Letty shook her head and sighed. “Servants talk, Jillian, and even a hint of scandal will ruin your prospects. Let us hope your uncle can reach an accord with Mr. Logan on your behalf.”

And the blog tour for Tournament of Chance continues…

January 6th
Book Worm Brandy – Review & Interview

Froze8’s blog – Guest post on archery

Muse It Up Specials at Coffee Time Romance

If you’ve been wanting to read my romantic fantasy novellas CYPHER and THE MAGICAL MISPERCEPTION OF MERIDIAN, they are 40% off during December at Coffee Time Romance. The final price is $1.50 apiece. Both stories are appropriate for middle grade readers and up.

Back of Cover:  Railing against convention in the kingdom of Meridian, Jona thinks a girl should be able to wear trousers, fight like a boy when necessary, and marry whomever she pleases.  She happens upon the queen’s nephew, Lee, who stammers and cannot speak to girls at all…that is, until he meets Jona.

When the queen hires Jona to help her nephew acquire proper social graces, Jona experiences a blissful summer of pure enchantment.  Jona and Lee learn to dance, perfect the art of polite conversation, and discover which fork to use at the dinner table.  Although they become best friends, Queen Gaia considers Jona a mere servant.  At summer’s end, Jona’s job in Meridian is done.

Lee and Jona keep in contact through a set of magical mailboxes given to Lee by the Wizard Farland. When the friends are finally reunited after ten years, their budding romance is torn asunder by an edict from the queen.   Against impossible odds, Jona and Lee will fight for an uncertain future.  But unspoken secrets and mysteries long in the making have yet to be revealed.

Will true love be denied…or can the differences between commoners and royalty be shown to be just a matter of magical misperception?

Back of Cover: Although she has no memories before the quake that destroyed the kingdom of Augury, Cypher McCall holds a steadfast hatred of the repressive Cauldian regime now ruling the country.  Because her magical gifts are deemed subversive, she does her best to avoid detection.  Unfortunately for Cypher, however, she’s too beautiful to ignore. After a Cauldian contingent arrives in her hometown, a chance encounter leaves her repulsed by the arrogant Prince Ewan and attracted to his distant cousin, Lord Joss.

When she learns Prince Ewan plans to tear down the ruins of nearby Castle Augur, Cypher vows to stop him.  Although handsome Lord Joss tries to protect her from his vindictive cousin, Cypher can’t bring herself to trust the enemy.  At the same time, nightmares and dreams nudge her toward reclaiming childhood memories.  She stumbles across a silver key she hopes will unlock her past, but first she must confront a long repressed horror at the Castle Augur ruins.

Can Cypher evade Prince Ewan long enough to recover her memories? Is Lord Joss all that he seems or is his charm a ruse to ensnare the unwary? Finally, will the knowledge of her true identity tear Cypher apart or empower her to restore everything she ever loved?