Music has a remarkable ability to evoke deep emotions, reflect societal issues, and transform characters. It’s no surprise that many novels explore the lives of musicians, the world of classical music, and the role of art in shaping personal identity. The following eight books examine these themes, each in its unique way, illustrating just how essential music can be to the human experience.
1. Concierto Barroco by Alejo Carpentier
Alejo Carpentier, a Cuban novelist, musicologist, and journalist, was a major figure in Latin American literature. His novel Concierto Barroco takes us on a fascinating journey into the Baroque period, imagining a meeting between three iconic composers: Antonio Vivaldi, Georg Friedrich Handel, and Domenico Scarlatti. Carpentier employs vivid language to blend history and music, creating a unique narrative that reflects the tension between European classical traditions and the reality of colonial life in the New World. The novel illustrates how music transcends cultural boundaries, merging political and artistic themes in a truly mesmerising way.
Scarlatti’s Sonata in B minor, K27 performed by Michelangeli:
2. Nocturnes: Five Stories of Music and Nightfall by Kazuo Ishiguro
Kazuo Ishiguro is one of my favorite writers, and in Nocturnes, he masterfully weaves together five stories where music plays a pivotal role. One of these, titled “The Cellist,” focuses on a famous cellist named S. The story follows the cellist’s life after his career begins to fade. Once a symbol of classical music, he has grown distant from his audience and his own passion for music. The plot revolves around his encounter with a much younger woman, an aspiring singer who seeks him out, captivated by his former greatness. Their interactions explore themes of nostalgia, regret, and the passage of time, as the cellist struggles with the decline of his artistry. Music becomes a reflection of the character’s inner life and a means of exploring memory, identity, and loss.
3. Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami
Norwegian Wood is one of Haruki Murakami’s most cherished novels. It intertwines romance, loss, and the power of music in a way that feels raw and intimate. The story centers on Toru Watanabe, a college student who is caught between two very different women. One of them, Naoko, is a gifted pianist, and her music plays a crucial role in the novel’s emotional depth. Named by one of the Beatles’ songs, Murakami incorporates classical music, particularly the works of Beethoven and Schubert, as a backdrop throughout the narrative, reflecting the inner turmoil and emotional struggles of the characters. A standout reference is the Beethoven piece “Für Elise,” which expresses Naoko’s feelings and the themes of memory and loss. Through the story, he delves into how music can help define personal identity and both anchor and unsettle us. The novel was beautifully adapted into a 2010 film directed by Anh Hung Tran.
Für Elise Performed by Lang Lang:
4. Bel Canto by Ann Patchett
Ann Patchett’s Bel Canto tells the unforgettable story of a hostage crisis in a South American mansion, where opera singer Roxane Coss performs for a group of diplomats and wealthy elites. As the crisis unfolds, music becomes a central force that brings the characters together in unexpected ways. The novel’s title, referring to the art of beautiful singing, highlights how music transcends language, politics, and even the violence surrounding them. Bel Canto explores the deep connection between people that music fosters, showing its ability to heal and unite even in the most dangerous and divided circumstances. It was adapted into a film in 2018, directed by Paul Weitz.
5. Do Not Say We Have Nothing by Madeleine Thien
Set against the backdrop of China’s Cultural Revolution, Do Not Say We Have Nothing by Madeleine Thien tells the story of a group of musicians whose careers and lives are shaped by political turmoil. Music in this novel becomes a metaphor for resistance, survival, and personal expression in the face of overwhelming oppression. Through the struggles of these musicians, Thien explores themes of memory, loss, and the search for identity during a time of political chaos. The novel shows how art, especially music, persists even when all other forms of communication are silenced.
6. The Piano Tuner by Daniel Mason
In The Piano Tuner, Daniel Mason tells the captivating story of Edgar Drake, a London piano tuner sent to Burma to repair a rare piano in a remote military hospital. The novel blends adventure, music, and personal transformation, using music as a metaphor for self-discovery. As Edgar embarks on his journey, he uncovers deeper truths about his life, profession, and relationships. The piano evolves from a mere instrument into a symbol of both harmony and discord, reflecting the music and the human experiences surrounding it. In 2004, British composer Nigel Osborne adapted the novel into an opera.
Nigel Osborne’s Heading Eastwards from The Piano Tuner performed by Hebrides Ensemble:
7. The Cellist of Sarajevo by Steven Galloway
Set during the Siege of Sarajevo in the 1990s, The Cellist of Sarajevo follows a cellist who plays in the ruins of the city as an act of resistance against the horrors of war. Amid the Bosnian War, he performs Albinoni’s Adagio in G minor for strings and organ, using the music to maintain hope in the face of destruction. While playing, a shell strikes a bakery outside his apartment, killing 22 people waiting in line for bread. Through this haunting scene, Galloway illustrates how music becomes both a symbol of defiance and a source of hope. The mournful notes of the cello echo the pain and devastation of war, yet also provide solace and a sense of unity. In this novel, music serves as a powerful force, connecting and healing people in one of history’s darkest moments. The book was adapted into a 2008 film directed by Paolo Barzman.
Adagio in G minor for strings and organ by Tomaso Albinoni
8. The Noise of Time by Julian Barnes
Julian Barnes’s The Noise of Time is a biographical novel about Dmitri Shostakovich, the famous Russian composer, who lived under the constant threat of Joseph Stalin’s regime. Barnes explores the complex relationship between Shostakovich’s art and the political pressures he faced, showing how music could be both an expression of individual identity and a response to political oppression. The novel is a meditation on fear, survival, and artistic integrity, capturing the tension between the composer’s personal life and the demands of living under totalitarianism. A film adaptation of The Noise of Time by Julian Barnes is set to begin in January 2025.
Shostakovich’s XII. In der Verbannung from Lady Macbeth von Mzensk’s Suite (performed by the Frankfurt Radio Symphony):
These eight novels illustrate the incredible power of music to shape individual lives and cultural narratives. Whether it’s the struggle for artistic freedom, the unifying nature of music in times of crisis, or the profound emotional connection between music and personal identity, each book reveals how music can transcend language, politics, and geographical boundaries. Are there other novels that explore this topic? Please share with us by leaving a comment.
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