A book lover’s guide to classical music
The opening is lyrical and tragic—the perfect representation of Romeo and Juliet’s star-crossed love. Although the Continue reading “Classical Music Stories: Romeo and Juliet”
Tag: #classical music
Classical Music Stories: Tinker Bell (Plus Flash Fiction Challenge!)
In these 30 seconds I hear Tinker Bell’s anger and jealousy at Peter’s Continue reading “Classical Music Stories: Tinker Bell (Plus Flash Fiction Challenge!)”
What If Alice In Wonderland Characters Played Sports?
If Mermaids Wore Suspenders turned one year old yesterday! (I guess that means it’s sleeping more at night and will start to babble soon?) I’m thrilled that so many of you have found this blog enjoyable. Always feel free to leave comments or email me with any questions or thoughts you may have about the blog’s content! I love exploring different viewpoints on books and music with people.
To celebrate this first blogiversary, here’s a look back at my first blog post–just in time for the Olympics!
Alice: Obstacle course racing
Just like in Wonderland, she wouldn’t Continue reading “What If Alice In Wonderland Characters Played Sports?”
Classical Music Stories: Les Misérables
Brahms: Intermezzo Op. 117 No. 1
“Sleep softly, my child, sleep softly and well!
It breaks my heart to see you weep.”
These lines are from “Lady Anne Bothwell’s Lament” and appear at the beginning of Brahms’ score. The entire “Lament” is from the perspective of a mother singing a lullaby to her child, but as the poem gets darker we soon discover that the child’s father has abandoned them.
Sound familiar?
To me, the opening of the piece sounds like Fantine singing a Continue reading “Classical Music Stories: Les Misérables”
If Mermaids Wore Suspenders — Discover
If Mermaids Wore Suspenders was featured on WordPress Discover this week as an Editor’s Pick! A big thank you to WordPress for allowing my blog to reach more people and hopefully inspire them!
Aubrey Leaman, the blogger behind If Mermaids Wore Suspenders, shares her passion for books and classical music in quirky posts that aim to bridge the gap between these two seemingly-disparate worlds.
Red Riding Hood Silent Film with Classical Music
This past year I graduated from the University of South Carolina with a Bachelor of Music degree in Piano Performance. For my senior recital, I decided to do something a little different. To me, the Haydn sonata I was learning sounded like the kind Continue reading “Red Riding Hood Silent Film with Classical Music”
The “Fairy Tale” Genre in Music
“After everyone had left the house, Cinderella went out to her mother’s grave under the hazel tree, and cried: ‘Shiver and shake, dear little tree, gold and silver shower on me.’ Then the bird threw down to her a gold and silver robe and a pair of slippers embroidered with silk and silver…
On the second day, when the festival was renewed and her parents and stepsisters had started forth again, Cinderella went to the hazel tree and said: ‘Shiver and shake, dear little tree, gold and silver shower on me.’ Then the bird threw down a still more gorgeous robe than on the previous day…
On the third day, when her parents and sisters had started, Cinderella went again to her mother’s grave and said: ‘Shiver and shake, dear little tree, gold and silver shower on me.’ Then the bird threw down a dress which was so magnificent that no one had ever seen the like before, and the slippers were entirely of gold.”
–Cinderella
Fairy tales often include these types of three-fold repetitions. Something will happen, it will have an effect, and then the Continue reading “The “Fairy Tale” Genre in Music”
How to Grocery Shop like a Superhero
Ugh. It’s time to go grocery shopping. But instead of being bored, listen to the first movement of Mahler’s Symphony No. 5 in D minor while you shop. If you have time, listen to the other movements, too.
As you’re walking down the aisles, searching for the right brand of whole wheat bread or the firmest tomatoes, connect with your inner superhero backstory through Continue reading “How to Grocery Shop like a Superhero”
If Mermaids Wore Suspenders Is On Twitter
You heard right.
Now you can follow me on Twitter where I’ll be posting links to blog posts as well other related bookish and music related stuff.
P.S. Does anyone know how to use Twitter??
Clair de Lune: Music From “All the Light We Cannot See”
SPOILERS
This is the piece a starving Marie-Laure blasted from the attic to draw Von Rumpel to her. Imagine yourself as Marie-Laure, listening to this music and waiting for the murderer to find you with a knife in your hand. Imagine yourself as Von Rumpel, hallucinatory, sick, and dying, following Continue reading “Clair de Lune: Music From “All the Light We Cannot See””
If Mermaids Wore Suspenders 