The Fifth String

by John Philip Sousa

This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery.

Genres: Fiction, Music

66 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1902

Reviews

[Debbie Zapata · Rating 3 out of 5]

John Philip Sousa ~~ The March King, the inventor of the Sousaphone (marching bands worldwide owe him a huge debt for that!), long-time leader of the United States Marine Corps Band.....and author. Who knew that last tidbit?! Not me, not until I came across a certain cookbook filled with recipes 'by men for men' and made up a challenge list for myself based on the contributors. I've neglected that list a bit and during the rest of this month I thought I would see if I could shorten it up a little.

Sousa contributed a recipe for spaghetti with Portuguese meatballs in a tomato sauce. Not sure just what it is about the meatballs that make them Portuguese, but the recipe sounds yummy.

When I looked to see if he had written any books and could therefore become part of my Stag Reading List, imagine my surprise to find The Fifth String at Project Gutenberg. Onto the list it went, and here we are.

At first I thought this story would be strictly a fluffy Society Romance, and while it had that element to it, there was more going on than just a young socialite and a violin player discovering each other.

Angelo Diotti is The Best Violin Player ever, so how can he possibly fall in love with this silly but beautiful creature who says that she never feels anything when she listens to music or looks at a work of art. She sees other people responding in raptures, but she herself is unmoved, thinking instead of brush-strokes or how the piano works.

He cannot believe that he cannot touch her emotions with his music. What will he do? Study harder? Practice longer? Ah, he is just a man. She deserves a god. He flings down his violin in disgust, saying that if the powers of heaven will not help, maybe he should ask those of darkness.

Dude, be careful what you wish for! The Prince of Darkness will give you a new violin, but it has an extra string, and you must never touch it while you play or else ~~ well, just never touch it, okay?

Will he awaken the heart and soul of Miss Cold Fish with this new instrument? What will her father say when he finds out about all of this? Could it really be true what The Prince said about that fifth string?

I was delighted with this story, and plan to keep my Gutenberg eyes open for other fiction by Sousa. I think I'll try making those meatballs, too!

[Meghan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unexpectedly funny with a fairly predictable ending, but who knew that John Phillips Sousa was an author? A violin virtuoso makes a deal with the Prince of Darkness for an instrument with a mysterious 5th string. Will he win his beloved’s heart? What will happen if the 5th string is touched?

[Estott · Rating 3 out of 5]

A young violinist makes a deal with the Devil for an enchanted 5 stringed violin. Four of the strings can excite different emotions (pity, hope, love, joy) but to play on the fifth string means Death. Not badly told, but if you are familiar with Faust you will recognize the general arc of this story. Sousa was a better writer than you would expect, but he wisely stuck to composing.

[Derek Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun and simple Faustian story with a "be careful what you wish for" moral. I think I only have one problem with it. When the old man (whose name I forget) died playing Diotti's violin, I thought it would lead to Diotti getting arrested because the authorities mentioned what looked like bruises on the corpse. But nothing really came of it. Honestly, the old man's death seems like it should have been cut; I was waiting for that plot thread to be unraveled and was put off because it was just abandoned. Also without the old man's death, the story would have been much simpler, and the theme would have shined through better. But that's just my opinion.

[Rahja · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75
A read different from my typical ones so it was really refreshing. I enjoyed the language of the book and the narration. A uniquely simple concept. My only complaint is that I wish they end had a bit more build-up, more grandeur writing explaining the way Diotti played in his dying moments.

[Susan Molloy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent, excellent story that deserves to be read multiple times and not collect dust from being on the bookcase shelf.

💥 Recommended.
🟣

[Amy]

RTC

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

AMAZING story.