But the composer closest to her heart is Domenico Scarlatti, who wrote five hundred fifty five sonati for the fortepiano. Pamela aspires to perform all of them.
Pamela is a third-year student at Old Ivy; an experienced fugalist, she tutors Molly and Anna on the esoteric art of Counterpoint. Today, she demonstrates the Cantus Firmus, according to the rules:
1. The cantus firmus is traditionally written in alto clef, a member of the movable clef family known as "C" clefs. C clefs include the alto clef, the tenor clef (both still in use today), and the soprano clef. In all C clefs, middle C is located where the arms of the clef meetAnd so forth, through Rule 14:
2. The cantus firmus begins and ends on the tonic of the key or the final of the mode. The penultimate note should be the note a step above the tonic or final (the second tonal or modal degree).
3. All notes are of equal length; the whole note is the traditional value.
14. There should be a good balance between ascending and descending motion; the cantus firmus should possess a pleasing shape and should change direction several times.Pamela practices perfect penmanship: her whole notes are perfectly elliptical, centered precisely on the staves and equidistant from one another.
Pausing, she pouts. Today, Pamela has a problem.
Anna and Molly show concern. "What's wrong?" asks Molly.
Pamela puts her pen down precipitously and primps her pink pleated skirt. "My birthday is coming soon," she says, sadly.
Anna smiles. "That's wonderful! Happy Birthday! But why so sad?"
"I'm going to be twenty-one."
"Even better! Congratulations!"
Pamela bursts into tears. Anna, sitting next to her, pats her shoulder and hands her some Kleenex. Molly frowns, puzzled. "Tell us what's bothering you," she whispers. "Maybe we can help."
On hearing this, Pamela sobs even harder. "N-n-n-no, y-y-you c-c-c-can't." She buries her head in her hands.
There is a pregnant moment as Pamela despairs. Anna and Molly look on helplessly.
Pamela peers out from behind her hands, eyes red and rimmed with tears. She lowers her voice. "I-I-I-I'm a v-v-v-v-virgin," she says, trembling and looking around in shame.
"Oh!" says Anna, suddenly understanding. "The Rule."
"Yes," says Molly. "The Unwritten Rule."
Pamela nods.
Molly leans forward. "How much time do we have?"
"Two weeks."
"I think we can help."
"Really?"
"There's someone we'd like you to meet."
"Someone who can help me with my problem?"
"Someone with the same problem only, you know, different."
"Does he like Domenico Scarlatti? I would never let a man fuck me unless he likes Scarlatti."
Molly ponders that one, partly because she's a little surprised to hear Pamela say the word 'fuck', and also because she never expected to hear the words 'fuck' and 'Scarlatti' juxtaposed in the same sentence.
"Yes, I believe he does."
Pamela is pleased to hear that one who is passionate for Scarlatti might have prurient designs on her purity.
