WeDidStartTheFire
Fandoms
- Classical Music RPF (10)
- 20th Century CE RPF (7)
- Historical RPF (7)
- Original Work (5)
- Music RPF (5)
Recent works
-
Third Wheel by WeDidStartTheFire
Fandoms: Classical Music RPF, 20th Century CE RPF, Music RPF, Original Work, Historical RPF, Мастер и Маргарита - Михаил Булгаков | The Master and Margarita - Mikhail Bulgakov
17 Apr 2025
Tags
Summary
It was not until I played with more music directors and guest conductors at New York Philharmonic, did I realize something peculiar about Mr. Boulez: he laughed a lot, but I never saw him smile.
Can be read stand-alone, or:
Informally, as companion piece to (1) the series Shostakovich in New York, at https://archiveofourown.org/series/2893749, and (2) From Russia With Love (Letter), at https://archiveofourown.org/works/52986889.
Formally, as part 3 of the series examining Boulez's controversial tenure and legacy at the New York Philharmonic, his relationships with Bernstein (his predecessor), orchestra players, and Frank Zappa. I may even try satirizing high culture institutions and commenting on 1970s US zeitgeist too.
Familiarity with "The Master and Margarita" not needed nor assumed. But if you are, you will have more fun.
Series
- Part 3 of There Be Dragons
- Language:
- English
- Words:
- 3,167
- Chapters:
- 1/1
- Kudos:
- 2
- Hits:
- 14
-
The Way North by WeDidStartTheFire
Fandoms: Classical Music RPF, Music RPF, 20th Century CE RPF, Historical RPF, Original Work
16 Mar 2025
Tags
Summary
Glenn Gould the pianist was always in the public eyes. But Glenn Gould the man is always a mystery, and frustrated many biographers. Undeterred by the challenge, a young scholar tracked down some key people who gradually revealed a face of the mystery.
This is a work of fiction. Any similarity to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events, is purely coincidental. As always, constructive criticism welcome!
Update 2025-03-16: last 3 chapters posted. This story is complete.
-
From Russia With Love (Letter) by WeDidStartTheFire
Fandoms: Classical Music RPF, Music RPF, Historical RPF, Original Work, 20th Century CE RPF
23 Jan 2024
Tags
Summary
On the surface, Sviatoslav Richter invited Pierre Boulez to Tours, France to conduct at a music festival. In fact, Slava had a more serious mission: he must deliver to Boulez a "love letter," so to speak, as Dimitri Shostakovich would put it later.
Companion piece: Third Wheel (https://archiveofourown.org/works/64779988).
Series
- Part 1 of Prospective Encounters
- Language:
- English
- Words:
- 2,836
- Chapters:
- 1/1
- Kudos:
- 7
- Hits:
- 51
-
Second Chances by WeDidStartTheFire
Fandoms: Classical Music RPF, Music RPF, 20th Century CE RPF, Historical RPF, Original Work
11 Dec 2022
Tags
Summary
Like a priest who turned the corner at his parish church and stumbled into a sex toy shop that had been a candy store, the tuba player looked incredulous, bewildered, and slightly amused.
Part 2 of a 5-part series examining Boulez's controversial time and legacy at the New York Philharmonic, his relationships with his predecessor Bernstein, with orchestra players, and with Frank Zappa. I may even try satirizing high culture institutions and commenting on 1970s US zeitgeist too.
Can be read standalone, as well as together with Part 1 ("First Impressions") at https://archiveofourown.org/works/39316011.
Companion piece: Third Wheel (https://archiveofourown.org/works/64779988).
Series
- Part 2 of There Be Dragons
-
At the Crossroad by WeDidStartTheFire
Fandoms: Political RPF, Political RPF - Russian 20th c., 20th Century CE RPF, Григорий Р | Grigoriy R | Rasputin (TV 2014), Historical RPF
08 Jun 2022
Tags
Summary
They prayed for no divine mercy. They longed for no worldly salvation. Because it was a holy man, a Man of God, whom they killed. No, they have no use for mercy or salvation, because they disposed of a great sinner.
Whatever happened already, will happen again.
Recent series
-
Shostakovich in New York by WeDidStartTheFire
Fandom 20th Century CE RPF, Classical Music RPF, Historical RPF, Мастер и Маргарита - Михаил Булгаков | The Master and Margarita - Mikhail Bulgakov
05 May 2022
Summary
Part 1: Celebrity Sighting
Part 2: Secret AdmirersA most renowned Soviet Composer goes to New York City. This is what happened to him.
Companion piece: Third Wheel (https://archiveofourown.org/works/64779988).
- Words:
- 4,069
- Works:
- 2
- Bookmarks:
- 1
-
There Be Dragons by WeDidStartTheFire
Fandom 20th Century CE RPF, Classical Music RPF, Historical RPF, Music RPF, Original Work, Мастер и Маргарита - Михаил Булгаков | The Master and Margarita - Mikhail Bulgakov
17 Apr 2025
Summary
You either die an avant-garde enfant terrible, or live long enough to become music director of the New York Philharmonic. Or so they say. They also said something about a hero and a villain, or maybe a knight and a dragon. But in Pierre Boulez's case, his predecessor dragon didn't die. Instead, it (he?) became Dragon Emeritus, moved to the lair next door, and still breathes fire from time to time.
A 5-part series examining Boulez's controversial time and legacy at the New York Philharmonic, his relationships with his predecessor Bernstein, with orchestra players, and with Frank Zappa. I may even try satirizing high culture institutions and commenting on 1970s US zeitgeist too.
- Words:
- 7,877
- Works:
- 3
-
Prospective Encounters by WeDidStartTheFire
Fandom 20th Century CE RPF, Classical Music RPF, Historical RPF, Music RPF, Original Work, Мастер и Маргарита - Михаил Булгаков | The Master and Margarita - Mikhail Bulgakov
23 Jan 2024
Summary
Sometimes, mutual admiration runs up against the Iron Curtain, and dies unfulfilled.
Sometimes, pride overrules curiosity and shared feelings, so another meeting never occurred.
Sometimes, it's just the short time and vast space that happen to them all.However likely or not, these are the encounters -- with varying levels of imagined veracity -- between great artists.
- Words:
- 6,876
- Works:
- 3