Somebody on substack wrote a good (and old) hint for authors: Don’t spend the first part of the book establishing motives and background info. Get down to action first, then the reader will be INTERESTED in the reasons for the action.
I agreed and added that classical music worked like this until the modernists spoiled it. The overture hits you with drama and action NOW, then moody introspection comes later in the andante movement.
For some reason** this made me hungry for Mendelssohn’s Italian Symphony. I looked on Youtube, and the first two clips spoiled the fast start. They showed an establishing shot of the symphony hall, then moved into the auditorium, then applause while the superstar conductor strode onto the stage. Eventually the superstar tossed back his hair and started the damn symphony.
Finally I found a clip that just showed the record jacket of Karajan’s performance, and satisfied my hunger for action and drama NOW.
** Later, it’s probably the birdsong I’ve been hearing each morning. The initial background resembles the ‘answer’ and the main theme resembles the ‘question.’
Polistra's Mill 