Monday, August 16, 2010

No music editor?

"Patient as ever, Jamie listened carefully to the "A" of the fork, and sang again, producing a sound wedged somewhere in the crack between E-flat and D-sharp."

--Diana Gabaldon, from "Dragonfly in Amber"

We constantly see bad music references in books. Is this one reeeeeally bad, or is it just saying the guy's pitch was so bad, it was neither E-flat nor D-sharp?? I don't think so. Thoughts?

5 comments:

Unknown said...

Maybe it was supposed to be funny? Haha though I doubt it.

Anonymous said...

I would say it's a reference to just intonation...except, obviously? It's not. Sigh.

Anonymous said...

I think it was supposed to illustrate just how tone deaf this character is supposed to be. I think it is also intended as a funny reference.

Unknown said...

I think it's an intentional reference to intonation. Gabaldon's books are usually pretty well researched and in those books the character Jamie is known for his lack of singing ability :)

Sarah Rose Ocheltree said...

Perhaps it was E-quarter flat?