Like Ted Dalbottens previous books, Winterreise and Triptych a Mystery (Part I, The Painting) which among other material dealt with various aspects of both the performing and non performing arts, the present volume aside from its examination of the human condition concerns itself particularly with musical matters, though not only performing issues. Since music has been the predominant activity of the author now in his eighty fourth year it was almost inevitable he would eventually seek to explore this aspect of his life in some extended fictional form and in some depth. Aside from his work as both dance and vocal accompanist, for the last twenty four years he has been involved in a small group calling themselves Two Piano- Eight, which meet regularly and of which he is one of the founding members. Their activity is reading through arrangements of mainly orchestral and chamber works for two pianos, eight hands to which he has contributed over seventy five of his own transcriptions of both large and smaller works.