S is for STACCATO

Welcome to Day 19 of the Third Annual A to Z Challenge!

My theme my 26 fiction posts will revolve around something musical – it could be anything, as long as it's musically-related… maybe a song title, an artist/band, musical terminology, musical instruments, words relating to sound/rhythm/movement/dance etc.

I've been so pressed for time – and there are only 7 more days left to visit as many new blogs as possible… So once again, I have re-posted an old piece, which I changed a little, tweaked here and there and… voila…

MUSICAL ASSOCIATION/CONNECTION. STACCATO – a form of musical articulation; it signifies a note of shortened duration, seperated from the note that may follow by silence; a dot placed above or below the note indicates that it should be played in this short, detached manner

                                                  

Can you trust a machine?

One that dictates life or death as it emits an erratic beat?

It is there.  A tiny dot of promise… a blip on the radar screen of life…

Then it is gone…  hold your breath… it returns and lingers, a reminder of the steady, faint glow of a lone firefly amongst the shrubs as your tiny frame crouches in the garden, peering, squinting, trying to penetrate the darkness, eager to locate the exact spot.

The beat is barely audible, now… a reminder of the tentative hold on life, fragile hope… the flickering glow from a hundred fireflies a reminder of the countless moments of laughter, an unforgettable gift.

                        *         *          *          *          *          *          *         *         

GENRE: FICTION                                                

20 Comments

  1. huntress on April 22, 2012 at 3:03 pm

    The word takes me back to my days in high school band.

    • michelle on April 23, 2012 at 8:07 pm

      Sounds like a wonderful memory!

  2. Alex J. Cavanaugh on April 22, 2012 at 5:25 pm

    That one is sad…

    • michelle on April 23, 2012 at 8:08 pm

      Definitely is just that. 🙁

  3. Damyanti on April 23, 2012 at 2:51 pm

    Can you trust…good question.

    • michelle on April 23, 2012 at 8:09 pm

      The machine above "dictates" a life or death scenario…

  4. Elise Fallson on April 23, 2012 at 4:13 pm

    It's sad, but I like the firefly imagery.
    Can you believe we are almost done with A-Z? Only one more week to go…(: 

    • michelle on April 23, 2012 at 8:11 pm

      I knew you would love the firefly imagery… 🙂 It seems like we started just the other day… I can't wait for the week to pass! I am over-tired…

  5. Jessica Marcarelli on April 23, 2012 at 5:44 pm

    Sad but poignant.  I like it.
    Also, thanks for partcipating in my Saturday challenge!  I picked your suggestion and wrote a flash fiction off of it.  I posted it here, if you'd like to take a look.

    • michelle on April 23, 2012 at 8:11 pm

      You did? COOL! I'm off now to check it out——————-

  6. Tasha Seegmiller on April 23, 2012 at 8:16 pm

    I just found your blog – love the theme.  I teach piano lessons and make the staccatos a bit happier than this, but I loved this image.  Great job!

    • michelle on April 23, 2012 at 8:34 pm

      Hi Tasha and welcome to my corner of the blogosphere! 🙂 It's so nice to meet another piano teacher.

      I agree that the staccato is a happier concept than what I've portrayed in the above scenario. The short, detached method of articulation which underlies the technique – the brevity – is more what I was interested in… thanks for the visit! I'm off to your place now————–

  7. Leslie Rose on April 24, 2012 at 2:24 am

    I just had a vision of my vocal teacher clapping her hands in sharp little smacks and saying "Staccato! Staccato!"

    • michelle on April 24, 2012 at 5:20 pm

      I know what you mean… *smiles*… I do it to my piano students

  8. mary aalgaard on April 24, 2012 at 1:30 pm

    That's a sad way to think of the staccato. A fleeting blip. The final blips on the heart monitor. Then, flatline.
     

  9. michelle on April 24, 2012 at 5:23 pm

    I know… I've actually turned the concept in the opposite direction. It's meant to be short and detached in a fun, positive, light-hearted manner…

  10. Sherry Ellis on April 25, 2012 at 1:43 am

    I had never thought of staccato that way.  It always seems so full of life and energy.  A new thing to think about!

    • michelle on April 25, 2012 at 10:28 am

      A different and fresh perspective… the opposite of the normal lively & energetic meaning…

  11. Rekha on April 25, 2012 at 6:59 pm

    Your stacatto wants to make me weep, the power of imagery your words offer

  12. michelle on April 25, 2012 at 7:16 pm

    That is a powerful statement, Rek! Thank you for the encouraging comment. It gives me a fresh burst of inspiration!

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