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| A Song in My Heart is an Extraordinary Fusion of Music and Literature A Song In My Heart is a unique historical novel set in Minneapolis, New York, Mexico, Italy, France, Spain, and England during the early 1900's that highlights the contributions of many artists and cultures through music, art, and history. A Song in My Heart is about the life of Alejandra Stanford who is born to parents of American, Hispanic, and European heritage. As a young pianist and budding composer, "Ale" is inspired by legendary composers and dreams of one day becoming an orchestral conductor. The CD/soundtrack that accompanies the narrative includes original songs and instrumental compositions with classical, jazz, and Latin influences. It was created to "exemplify the moods of different story segments as they unfold, since music was intrinsic to Alejandra's creative and emotional expressions. As Bob Spear from Heartland Reviews who gave A Song in My Heart (5 stars) said, "This highly unusual and well-done project marries the written word with the musical words." And Archer Anderson wrote: "A Song in My Heart - Through her novel, Calatayud-Stocks establishes herself as a first-rate storyteller, showcasing her equal talents for both writing and music through the story of Alejandra Stanford. The theme of music is interwoven throughout the storyline; and Calatayud-Stocks deftly interweaves the themes of music, art, romance, passion, and history. The novel is absolutely spellbinding, transporting readers to another time and place with its words and accompanying musical journey, whisking them into the realm of the extraordinary." History and fiction converge impeccably in this historical novel infused with music, art, and romance, creating a compelling first installment to the A Song in My Heart trilogy. Book Information: A Song In My Heart Author: Roma Calatayud-Stocks Publisher: Beaver's Pond Press ISBN: 978-1-59298-395-7 Pages: 376 Published: June 2011 About The Author Roma Calatayud-Stocks is an author and songwriter. With bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Minnesota, and later additional studies at MacPhail Center for music, she turned to a professional career in music. In 1998, Roma recorded her original compositions and released her debut album Carnival of Life. In 2002, Calatayud-Stocks was the creator, artistic director, and producer of Latin Renaissance, a concert for the Minnesota Orchestra Volunteer Association at Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis which showcased the music of composers from the late 1800's to the present. She continued producing cultural events and took additional classes in fiction writing and music history at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota. A Song in My Heart is Calatayud-Stocks's debut novel. It is the literary and musical realization of many years of study, research, composition, and artistry. The musical score, to A Song in My Heart, was composed by Roma Calatayud-Stocks and arranged and performed by Chan Poling and other fine Twin Cities musicians. Calatayud-Stocks has a twenty year career working and volunteering for arts organizations including the Minnesota Orchestra Volunteer Association, Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Walker Art Center, Vocal Essence, MacPhail Center for Music, and Palladian Music. write your comments about the article :: © 2011 Jazz News :: home page |