I used to love Barber. The universe itself rings out a perfect B-flat: 466.164. It’s in the hum of the refrigerator, the whine of the undercabinet lights. You took your violin, but I still hear its song echoing in these empty rooms.
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Christine Hanolsy 
So, when I first read this I was at a loss for words. I could not find an adequate combination of words to convey how this touched me so deeply, so I went away for a while. Now, I’m back. I read it again and I’m still… The first time I heard the Barber I felt this way too. And every time since. There are no words… I mean maybe lovely or haunting, but no they are just not enough.
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Wow, Lisa, you are so kind. I’m really glad you liked it – I will admit that I was pretty pleased with it. Your comment made my day. 🙂
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Oh, bravo, bravo. Barber’s Adagio is one of my favorite pieces of music, and your story worked it in brilliantly.
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It’s one of mine too. I actually started with the idea of how everything seems to hum on a B-flat, and then remembered the Barber. It all coalesced around that. 🙂
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I love how you blend mundanity, science, art, love and loss with such ease, so concisely.
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Thanks so much, Sue! It took a day and a half if wrangling to get the words right in my head. 🙂
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You know how you see those questions asking “describe your writing process?” Well, I think in general “a day and a half of wrangling” sums it up pretty nicely 🙂
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Ha! It’s true, though. People think microfiction should be easy because it’s short. I find that I put much more time, word for word, into tiny pieces than long ones. “Wrangling” is the best way I can think of to describe it. 🙂
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So good! Love the reference to barber and the play on words with the title. I can hear the melody of the piece in my mind, so when I read this, *sigh* it is so incredibly moving. Brilliant in 42 words!
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It’s hard to go wrong with Barber, IMO. Thank you!
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I love how you incorporated the memory into every aspect of the empty room. Lovely set of 42 words you got there, Christine!
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Thank you, Nate! I was thinking about how, even when the house is empty and silent, it really isn’t. Glad it came through.
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Good one Christine. Now: how s the novel coming along?
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It takes me 3 weeks to write 42 words. The novel is coming slowly.
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Wonderful, wonderful. Says the physics/music double major! Right up my alley. Spoke to me. Makes me want to respond in kind. Maybe next week?
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Oh, fantastic – love the double major. It totally makes sense that those two subjects would go together. I say go for it!
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Haha that’s a cold way to speak of feelings! Nice one.
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Thank you!
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I love the poignancy of this, that she has to hear the B-flat all around her. I learned something new too, and I like the seemingly effortless blending of science and emotion. I also ended up playing the Barber piece while I re-read, only adding to its sadness.
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O, a) the fact that you re-read my piece is ridiculously flattering, and b) the fact that you sought out and listened to the Barber while you did so is awesome.
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Oh, wow. So many meanings woven through these strings. Lovely, Christine.
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🙂 Thanks, Meg! This might be one of my own favorites.
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I love that I had to google some stuff because I’m not a classical music person. I’m pretty clueless. I learn something new everyday! I really love this post. I feel drawn into the emotion of a longing sadness after a break-up. I also love the comparison of the deep void one might feel after a break-up with the vastness of the mostly empty universe that also carries the same tune.
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You’re not clueless – you got if exactly. 🙂
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oh the heavy sigh this induced in me.
“I still hear the violins”…oh yes, I do.
Such lovely prose.
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🙂 I’m glad you like it, Kir!
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I love this–one of my first thoughts with the prompt was “tuning fork.” 🙂 The Barber sets us up for the melancholy…the more I read through this and appreciate the crafting, the more brilliant it becomes.
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Thanks Jen! I actually started with the idea if b-flat, and the the Barber came to me and I thought, of course!
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