Brief Description
This account of foreboding doom reveals a secret between Tchaikovsky and his lover, Ivan, encoded in sheet music. Tchaikovsky's plan is to stealthily evade death. That encoded blueprint survived to this day. Coda is fiction, but is anchored on carefully researched historical literature and Tchaikovsky's letters.
Learn More about the Book
At the peak of his career and popularity, Russian icon Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky died mysteriously. Rumors were that he died of cholera - unlikely, as Tchaikovsky's house staff was well aware that water should be boiled. There are other possible scenarios of the untimely death of this healthy man in his early fifties.
In 19th century Russia, being gay was perilous. The punishment was severe; knowing someone was gay and not reporting it warranted tortuous sentences if not death. Tchaikovsky was gay.
This account of foreboding doom reveals a secret between Tchaikovsky and his lover, Ivan, encoded in sheet music. Tchaikovsky's plan is to stealthily evade death. That encoded blueprint survived to this day. Coda is fiction, but is anchored on carefully researched historical literature and Tchaikovsky's letters.
In a parallel, current-day storyline, Fred was given this mystical music in a Russian antiques shop in NYC and finds that there are modern-day zealots that will stop at nothing to destroy all evidence that Tchaikovsky had a lover. These zealots have crosshairs on those who know too much. The adventure takes Fred and friends from Brooklyn to Moscow to save a life.
In music notation, the coda is a route, an escape to the end. Its symbol is a crosshairs.
About the Author
Arthur J. Levy is a musician, physicist and writer. He has appeared in Carnegie hall, played with the NYC All City Orchestra and other settings in New York. His writing includes: the book, Trouble in Flatbush, A Year in the Life of a Boy in Brooklyn, two plays and many short stories published in a local magazine. His heritage is Russian and has a kinship to Russian history and music.
Review Quotes
1. "This is an 'I can't put it down' thriller. Its plot is intricate, its characters fully developed, and its descriptive passages rich in detail. This is a highly recommended work." -Dan Clancy, Playwright "Coda is a thriller that forever changed my view of Tchaikovsky's life and times. As it reminds us of the corrupting price of power, it is especially meaningful today." -George R. Zuber, Filmmaker/Director "Arthur Levy scripts a compelling narrative that kept me glued to the page. Tchaikovsky's doom in the extreme prejudice of Czarist Russia parallels the status of today's Russian gay community. Levy proves a plausible and unique conclusion for the Pathetique Symphony in place of the traditional music history legend." -Dr. R. Paul Urbanick, Professor Humanities/Music "Coda is fascinating reading that makes history and the story of Tchaikovsky come alive. What makes Coda an exceptional novel is the quality research behind this book, which animates the action in the reader's imagination. Arthur Levy gives life and insights to life by writing about one of the most interesting musicians in history, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. I listened to his sixth symphony as I read this intriguing book. Don't miss the opportunity to be drawn into a mystery that you won't want to put down." -Dr. Tim White, Author, Ulysses Dream, Adjunct Professor, Northwest University
