From Memory's Shrine

From Memory's Shrine by Carmen Sylva

The narrative unfolds as a series of reminiscences centered around a profound connection to music and the life of a celebrated pianist. The protagonist recalls her childhood experience of attending a concert, where she first encountered the pianist, whose melancholic presence deeply affected her. This initial encounter is juxtaposed with the protagonist's own family struggles, including her mother's illness and her father's decline, which shaped her understanding of suffering and resilience. Years later, the protagonist reunites with the pianist during a time of personal grief following her father's death. The pianist becomes a source of inspiration and strength, offering lessons that transcend music, revealing her own trials and the burdens she carries. The story delves into the pianist's tumultuous life, including her early marriage to a brilliant composer whose mental health deteriorates, leading to tragedy and financial hardship. As the pianist navigates her responsibilities as a mother and artist, the narrative highlights themes of sacrifice, duty, and the enduring power of music. The protagonist learns valuable life lessons through their interactions, ultimately portraying the pianist as a symbol of strength and artistry amidst adversity. The work culminates in reflections on love, loss, and the indelible impact of music on the human experience.

By Carmen Sylva · First published 1987 · Genre: Poetry, Historical, Romantic · 17 chapters · 79,780 words

First lines

It is but fitting and natural that I should open with this revered name the series of my reminiscences, as my childish recollections hardly go further back than the date of the first time I heard her, when I was only eight years old, at my very first concert in Bonn. That was so great an event in my life, and I was so impatient for the evening to come, that I hardly know how I got through the whole day that preceded it. Seldom has any day since appeared so interminably long. Still, the evening did come at last, and I remember accompanying my mother to the concert-room, into which she was wheeled in her invalid-chair, for, although still quite young, she had been for many years in ill-health and unable to walk. But whether I walked by her side, or how I got there, I no longer know, for I have only a sort of confused recollection of having been brought there without any effort on my own part, as though I had been borne thither on wings! My first concert! My heart still beats loud when I think of it.

What this Textopian page supports

From Memory's Shrine is listed on Textopian as a novella by Carmen Sylva, dated 1987 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

Good citation fit

Similar titles

Genres

Tags

memory · nostalgia · identity · loss · family · relationships · self-discovery · cultural heritage · emotional journey · personal growth · reflection · time

Contents

More by Carmen Sylva