A Symphony of Stories
James Mayhew
Otter-Barry Books

This stunner of a book is a companion to James’ Once Upon a Tune. Herein the author/artist features works by composers from different parts of the world that will be familiar to many – Saint-Saëns, Vivaldi, Debussy, Holst and Stravinsky – and also introduces a work new to me and I suspect many other readers, a famous Chinese piece by Chen Gang and He Zhanhao . As the author says in his introduction, ‘Most of the stories are retold from the original tales that inspired the composer.’

First, readers are invited to Saint-Saëns’ The Carnival of the Animals which is cleverly imagined with a regally-attired lion cheerily introducing the show in a sequence of riddling descriptions as the various creatures participate in a procession through the streets of Paris.

Next is Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons wherein the author uses his own research into the composer’s life imagining him being inspired by living in the countryside. Third, Claude Debussy’s The Sunken Cathedral has its origins in an ancient Breton myth and plunges us into a tragic love story.

The focus of The Planets (Gustav Holst) are stories of the Roman gods and goddesses that they were named for.

Also with its roots in tragedy, a Chinese legend of thwarted love The Butterfly Lovers tells of a girl who. to fulfil her longing to be educated, disguises herself in her brother’s clothes. On her long walk to the college clad in male attire she encounters a boy who offers to show her the way. The two become ‘sworn-brothers’ undividable: the boy, Shanbo forms a very deep bond with Yintgai but can the two ever be united?

Originally written for a ballet, Stravinsky’s The Firebird is the final piece, as engagingly told as the previous stories. Having visited magical realms, readers are brought back to reality with some musical notes from the author and the book concludes with some recommended recordings of the music to stream or download.

An absolutely terrific celebration of creativity through art, music and words. A book to keep and to give.