sixteen notes
sixteen notes is a historical fiction novel written by the Spanish creative director, businessman, television presenter and author Risto Mejide. The work was published by the Grijalbo publishing house in 2023. Since its release, it was evident to readers and critics that this book represents the most important literary project of the writer, who faced it with immeasurable affection for its protagonist, one one of the greatest musicians in history.
This character is nothing more and nothing less than Johan Sebastian Bach. However, the novel does not address the legend of his life itself. Its central axis is not even situated in how he became a genius inspiring millions of artists in later times. He also does not opt for his wonderful music. This is a story of love, and how two souls chose to be free together.
Synopsis of sixteen notes
The hidden passion of Johan Sebastian Bach
The subtitle of this moving novel leaves a veiled premise hanging in the air. A reader who is fond of symbolism might suppose that this "passion" of which the author speaks is closer to the origin of his genius. and his undoubted talent for capturing the subtlety of musicality in the environment.
However sixteen notes it is beyond the skill of the composer—although there are passages within the book that highlight this fact. Bach's hidden passion is directed towards Anna, his second wife.
The latter was a brilliant soprano who captivated the musician the moment he heard her sing for the first time. A while ago, Maria Barbara Bach, the prodigy's first wife, died leaving him alone with their remaining children. A heartbroken Johan Sebastian played a violin solo in front of his grave, but a year later, thanks to several of his good friends, he realized he needed to move on. Anna was that promise of the future.
Structure of the work
Unlike other less complex books, sixteen notes It has a structure that must be fixed before continuing with the story, because the understanding and enjoyment of the reader depend on it. The novel is divided into six parts: Prelude, Sarabande, Toccata, Cantata, Fantasía y Escape. Risto Mejide alternates between them, going from the past to the present in each chapter to tell several anecdotes at the same time.
For obvious reasons, all the stories are intertwined with each other, despite the passage of time. They tell the stories of Bach, Anna, his brother Johan Casper, the researchers Franz and Ferdinand and the pianist Gould.
Each of the sections begins with a sentence or a short text that defines the plot. Likewise, the book is subdivided into small sections of between four and ten pages, which makes reading easier and more enjoyable, especially for those who know a little less about music or Bach's life.
Prelude
In the first chapters, devoted to Prelude, Several scenes are raised that show not only the work, but the narrative style and structure. The first of these occurs in the La Frauenkirche Church, the Lutheran headquarters in which Bach is named for the first time. The following passage places Franz and Ferdinand in the Church of St. John. These characters search for a specific corpse, but find three of them. Later, they realize that one of the skulls is smashed.
This gruesome finding shocks the police and the judge. The subsequent scene is set in 1955, a far cry from the XNUMXth century and ancient Roman Germany. During this period, the novel revolves around Gould, a famous pianist who performed Bach's keyboard work.. The interpreter has a conversation with David Oppenheim, a man who tells him that classical music needs to be heard again, and that he is the one to bring it back.
Anna Magdalena and Johan Casper
The protagonists of the next scenes are Anna and her brother. Ellos they lost their mother and father when they were still very young, a fact that penetrated deep into their personalities. Before leaving, their father taught them how to be more independent, Anna being the target of much of her praise and pampering, as he felt that her beloved daughter was very different from other young women.
Sarabande
This section tells how during the XNUMXth century there was no congruence between the prestige of a composer and the remuneration he received for his work. The same way, It is here that the facts regarding the sudden death of Bach's first wife are told..
How to Live Aligned with sixteen notes goes back and forth, soon Risto Mejide includes another passage from the investigation into the three corpses. The detectives think that one of them belongs to Johan Sebastián, and they look everywhere for clues.
In his inquiry, they find a strange painting. In it, as a cryptogram, they discover the date of death of the German author and conductor. Meanwhile, Risto Mejide takes the reader to the alleged murder of the composer, of which he was aware until the final moment.
Similarly, It is here that the reader discovers what the numerology of the mysterious picture means.. The novel goes much further, delving into exotic and interesting details, but to know them it is necessary to read the entire work.
Why sixteen notes?
None of the elements in this fiction is arranged randomly, much less its name. The number sixteen is hidden in every corner. johan sebastian Bach and Anna Magdalena had a sixteen-year age difference.
All the Goldberg variations they were written sixteen times; somewhere in the plot, the author falls into prison, and sixteen notes are counted for each day he is in prison... Many of the most important events are marked by this number.
Quotes of sixteen notes
- “Important people come into our lives once, but many end up leaving”;
- "The family is the set of errors that push us to try to get it right";
- "Talent is the ability to provoke something in others";
- "One ends up becoming everything with which he has broken";
- “Pianos are like books. Sometimes it is not the specimen, but oneself who finds it at the wrong time”;
- “Human beings need a reason above all else. Give meaning to things, even if they don't have it”;
- “The only thing that good things and bad things have in common is that they don't last”;
- “When one makes the decision to leave, it is because they have been gone for a long time”;
- "Life does not happen because in life you are";
- “There is a kind of fear that you only feel when you are about to do what you know you have to do”;
- "Avoiding a place is a way of annihilating memories";
- “What happens between two grown people who decide to love each other is sacred and anyone who gets between them or judges them is committing heresy. Heresy against the sacred sacrament of love”;
- “Just as there are times when it is better to leave in order to stay, there are times when you have to die to continue living”;
- "That men have written history and not women will always play in their favor";
- "You don't know someone until they no longer have any obligation to be with you";
- "No one knows how long good things last, but what everyone knows is that they never last forever";
- "Love plays and answers you what you hadn't even dared to ask yourself";
The double message hidden behind sixteen notes
In 2011 something else was discovered around the number sixteen and the story of Anna and Bach. In that year, the Australian musician Martin Jarvis published a documentary«Written by Mrs. Bach»— in which he argues that Johann Sebastian's wife, quite possibly, had a broader contribution to his work. This study is supported by a calligraphic analysis of the scores and an exhaustive examination of the pigments of the ink used.
According to the thesis of the professor at the Charles Darwin University of Australia, the authorship of the number one prelude of the work "The well-tempered clavichord" corresponds to Anna. Now, the curious and captivating thing about this detail lies in the fact that in the melodic approach of the prelude awarded to the lady there is a beautiful game between a “do” and an “mi”, sounds that are distant from each other by exactly 16 notes.
According to the researcher, this is a musical love letter from Anna to Bach, a secret that was hidden for almost 300 years and that has now been revealed to us.
But there is not everything. Risto also seeks with this book to show his position before the palpable ageism of today's society, especially due to the attacks received by his last love relationships, in which there has been a marked age difference.
About the author, Risto Mejide
Risto Mejide
Risto Mejide was born on November 29, 1974, in Barcelona, Spain. He studied in the economic areas, obtaining a degree in Business Administration and Management. Later, she taught classes in this same sector. In the same way, she has provided her services in some of the best advertising agencies in her native country. He has also participated in several radio and television programs, where, in fact, the conditions were given for the author to obtain fame from him.
He is well known for his controversial public statements, as well as for having been a presenter and director on the television show Chester, where he shared the scene with pleasant and aggressive fellow members.. Risto Mejide made the leap to letters with Negative thinking, a non-fiction book published in 2008. Thanks to this title, the writer won the Punto Radio Award for revelation author.
Other books by Risto Mejide
- The negative feeling (2009);
- May death be with you (2011);
- #annoyomics (2012);
- don't look for work (2013);
- urbrands (2014);
- traveling with chester (2015);
- X (2016);
- Dictionary of things that I did not know how to explain to you (2019);
- The gossip (2021);
- Second aid manual (2022)