|
About This Author
|
Max's Musings #1084274 added February 23, 2025 at 12:27pm
Restrictions: None
Soundrack, Feb 23, Softly and Tenderly
"Softly and Tenderly" was written by Will L. Thompson in 1880 as part of the American Restoration Movement. It is based on the Bible verse Mark 10:49. It is among the most used gospel songs, and has circulated far beyond its original evangelical origins.
Growing up, my rather stern Congregationalist church never used this hymn--at least to my memory. Not paricularly a propos of anything, the history of this particular congretation included having the father of Robert Milliken as it's pastor. MIlliken won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1923 for measuing the mass of the electron. His autobiography describes my home town in the 1880s as having more saloons than taverns on main street.
That tedious anecdote aside, here's another. My first enocunter with this song that I actually remember was while watch the film Junebug. That's the performance I've linked below. In this scene, Allesandro Nivola sings the song a cappella, along with two extras from the local congregaton where the scene was filmed. The reactions from the other characters while he's singing add amazing depth to the performance.
It was this scene and Nivola's performance that inspired the associated story. In this case, it's final chapter of "Dreamin' Life Away"  , "Chapter 11--Softly and Tenderly" . Dante is back in the subway to hell 1950s Tulsa and he hears two street magicians, a pianist and a violinist, performing an instrumental version of the song. For completeness, I'm including a link to the song Dante hears, but it's not what motivated its inclusion in this chapter.
If you want to read this chapter or any of the chapters, please email for the passkey. Here's a complete list of eleven chatpers:
Max Griffin
Max Griffin 🏳️🌈  
Novel
Genre: Slipstream, Supernatural, LGBTQ+
Teaser. Dante's boyfriend just dumped him. He's moved into a new place. Oh, and there's a locked door in his kitchen.
"Chapter 1. Sleep Walk" 18+: Dante can't sleep
"Chapter 2. Take Five" 18+: The Subway
"Chapter 3. Over the Rainbow" 18+: At the downtown subway station
"Chapter 4--Danse Macabre" 18+: At the Cool Cat Clothiers
"Chapter 5--Everyday" 18+: Everyday life's headed this way, faster than a roller coaster.
"Chapter 6--Mad World" 18+: Dante is back in his new digs
"Chapter 7--So What, Gymnopédies" 18+: Back in the subway station
"Chapter 8--You Belong To Me" 18+: The Screen Test
"Chapter 9--Get Happy, In Dreams" 18+: At the Club of Dreams
"Chapter 10--Rider on the Storm" GC: Back in Dante's bedroom
"Chapter 11--Softly and Tenderly" 18+: Back on the subway
"Songs in "Dreamin Life Away"" E: Links to the songs referenced in the story
Here's Nivola singing in Junebug.The movie is definately worth watching.
|
© Copyright 2025 Max Griffin 🏳️🌈 (UN: mathguy at Writing.Com). All rights reserved.
Max Griffin 🏳️🌈 has granted InkSpot.Com, its affiliates and its syndicates non-exclusive rights to display this work. |
