Iowa Research Online

Title

Listening to Mozart

Authors

Charles Wyatt

Contents

Bach suite -- Half a flute -- Leopard-skin pill-box hat -- Enlightenment -- The bagpipe -- Mrdangam -- Teaching -- Letters from J -- Ghosts -- Indonesia -- Raag yaman -- Listening to Mozart

Document Type

Book

Publication Date

1995

Series

John Simmons Short Fiction Award

Judge

Ethan Canin

Award Date

1995

Publisher

University of Iowa Press

Place

Iowa City

Total Pages

180

ISBN

9780877455240

Abstract

With all the drama and complexity of a symphony, Listening to Mozart traces forty years in the life of flutist James Baxter. Many of the stories in this collection—actually a novel in stories—center on or revolve around James' relationship with Anna, a potter and artist. Each story is a separate movement, yet they combine to create a deeply textured whole work. The stories chronicle James' inward journey, as well as his life and loves, with a voice repeatedly transformed through the years.

“Bach Suite”serves as a prologue and deals with the split in consciousness that often accompanies musical performance. The story imitates the musical form it describes and tunes the reader's ear to the innermost thoughts of a musician. Each succeeding story introduces another episode in James' life—his music school days in Philadelphia with his first love, Zoë, his stint in the U.S. Marine Band during the Vietnam War when he meets Anna, his adventures with his friend Franklin, his experiences with the mysterious Dalawa, a trip with Anna to Toronto to immerse themselves in the culture and music of South India. James' friendships, affairs, experiences, and occasional angst resound in each story.

In all the stories, in all his relationships, James finds himself experiencing his life in much the way he experiences music. There is a moment for which he is waiting, yet for which he is never fully prepared, a moment which passes inexorably. Sometimes, in the rare musical experience, he is able to penetrate that moment and allow time to fall away. These moments are the signposts of his life, like the movements of the Bach suite, but unbidden, and they give him his only perspective and vision.

Keywords

Flute players, Musicians

Purchase the Print Book

Book available for purchase at University of Iowa Press.

Rights

Copyright © 1995 by Charles Wyatt. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying or recording, without permission in writing from the publisher.