A Testament to Wind and Stone

Twin brothers, separated at birthOne raised Christian, one raised JewishReunited through the power of musicThis description refers to the large-print edition.Identical twins Ari and Archer grow up worlds apart in the Texas Panhandle, each unaware of the other’s existence. Ari is raised by a wealthy Jewish family in the oil business, while Archer is loved by a hardscrabble Christian ranching family. Yet both boys shared an inexplicable gift-music flows through their veins, inherited from their birth mother who is a renowned pianist.The boys are prodigies who master instruments with ease, hearing melodies in the ordinary world around them: cattle mooing, coyotes howling, wind breathing through canyon stone, the rhythm of city traffic and sirens. Each boy follows his musical calling. After a sports injury cripples his left hand, Archer channels his passion into composition, earning his way to Juilliard. Ari, meanwhile, becomes a promising young conductor, studying at Tel Aviv University, where he learns the art of weaving individual instruments and voices into symphonic unity.Against the turbulent backdrop of the Vietnam War and Israel’s struggles in the Middle East, their destinies converge when Ari is commissioned to conduct a people’s orchestra celebrating Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin’s Sinai Interim Agreement in 1975. Unknowingly, Ari selects a composition by Archer for this momentous event and enlists their birth mother as the starring pianist.A Testament to Wind and Stone is a captivating story that explores the mystical bonds between twins, the bridges and barriers between Jewish and Christian families, and the universal language of music that transcends all differences. It’s a heartfelt tale of resilience, faith, and the unbreakable connections that unite us.This large-print edition uses 15.5-point Atkinson Hyperlegible Next font for easy reading.