A review by b00kw0rms0fthew0rldunite
The Instrumentalist by Harriet Constable

challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

 The Instrumentalist: The Story of Anna Maria della Pieta. In a quiet corner of a bustling city, where the echoes of dreams collided with the realities of life, lived a young girl named Anna Maria. Given away at mere minutes old, fate had dealt her a challenging hand, yet this resilient spirit found life a little different to most. She could see sounds from their splendid and vibrant colours to their murky and dim. 
 
Anna Maria della Pieta is one of those figures from history who we know so little about due to the unfortunate circumstances of being born in the age where being female amounted to little, and being poor, even less. She is one of the standout ladies of her time for achieving a Maestro level of accomplishment through her sheer determination, skill and perseverance. Each note she played resonated with the raw emotions she felt—loss, hope, joy, and despair—evoking a profound connection not only with herself but also with the world, which seemed to unfold in vibrant colours through her music. 
 
This story takes the figures from history and gives them a voice. While this is a work of fiction, the author has quite the story at the back where she shares her facts and research and how she gave voices to those without. We know that Antonio Vivaldi shared his musical skill with the girls of the Ospedale Della Pieta but we also know that the 18th century males had so much more opportunity afforded to them for the glory of being born male. Did he get his start from the hard work of the orphan girls, did he accomplish wonders because of them or by leeching from them? 
 
Anna Maria's journey, from a young ‘orphan’ to a renowned violinist, serves as an inspiring reminder of the transformative power of music. It illustrates how art can transcend barriers, heal wounds, and foster connections. Through her story, we are reminded that even in the face of adversity, hope and resilience can lead us to extraordinary heights. 
 
Through her music, Anna Maria learned resilience and the power of perseverance. She often dreamed of performing on grand stages as a girl, imagining herself captivating audiences with her talent. She worked tirelessly, mastering her craft with unwavering determination. Each piece she learned unfolded a new layer of her spirit, allowing her to express emotions she struggled to articulate in words. The violin became an extension of herself—every string, every note, an integral part of her identity. 
 
I loved that reading this book provided such a richness and authenticity to Italy of the 18th century. I learned so much about the people, the way of life, the poverty and desperation of the day. 
Reading this book opened my eyes to a real lady missing from a lot of history books. Hopefully showing us Anna Maria della Pieta through this medium has helped her to become as renown as she should have been all along. All of this from a debut author too! 
 
I read this book as a readalong through Tandem and loved the discussions that it enabled and the friendships it has started.