“By the way, will you go to the raccoon stage? Aren’t you a little nervous?”
“・・・・・Is there anything else to be more nervous about?”
“The raccoon stage is a different story. There are quite a few well-known big names coming there often, and students are more interested. In other words, it’s a position that could definitely nail you to the star of the conservatory. Aren’t you excited?”
“well. It makes my heart flutter… but not because of that.”
From noble mtl dot com
Rowoon ran his hand over his pants for no reason and checked the Walkman in his pocket. Yesterday, Rowoon played the Walkman as soon as he entered the house. While wondering what kind of evaluation Rachmaninoff would have given his playing.
But it wasn’t just Rachmaninoff’s praise that returned to him. And because of that, Rowoon had no choice but to have more expectations for the stage itself than the aftermath of the Raccoon stage. Because I was sure that if he went on stage again, he would be able to show a better performance than he did on yesterday’s stage.
‘Did they say they were rivals…’
Heather strongly denied it, but in any case, at the LA Concours, he took first place. What will happen on this raccoon stage? Will it be 2 wins and 0 losses? Will it be 1 win 1 loss?
First of all, it was something to know when you saw today’s stage. That day, Rowoon went to the waiting room and met Heather. The orchestra people didn’t look too tired after playing so hard yesterday. Rather, Heather’s complexion looked a little pale, which made her a little worried.
“…are you okay?”
“no. it’s hard.”
“What happened?”
“I don’t know. I wonder if eating donuts this morning made me sick. I ate sweets on purpose because I wanted to cheer up… but I feel sick inside.”
“Should I get some digestive medicine?”
“no. it’s okay. Digestion must have happened a long time ago. It’s just a problem because the intestines are surprised.”
“Don’t worry too much. Just do what you do. Because your playing is good enough.”
“Ugh, are you already teaching me that you did well yesterday?”
“You are worried. men and horses.”
“Whoops… ok. I won’t worry. But let me close my eyes for a moment. I’m kind of tired.”
Heather said and closed her eyes. I don’t think I drew eyeliner, but somehow the bottom of my eyes was a bit dark. It was a worrying look in many ways.
‘······ I’m going to do well.’
As a pianist is also a person, the quality of the stage was bound to differ markedly depending on the condition of the body. It was inevitable that there would be a difference in the total amount of energy that could be poured out.
However, after a while, when Heather opened her eyes, left the waiting room with a still tired face, headed for the stage, sat down in front of the piano, and raised her hand to play,
Rowoon realized that his worries were for nothing.
‘under.’
In good or bad form, Heather was Heather. Even her lack of energy was used as a material to embellish her performance. Originally, it was an intro part that captivated the audience with a heavy hit. However, when her hand touched the intro, the sound rang faintly as if it would leave their ears at any moment, leading the audience to hold their breath as if strangled.
If a pianist is a leader, some leaders find dignity only by raising their voices loudly, and some leaders clearly reveal their presence with a low and quiet voice.
‘It’s a sophisticated performance.’
Even the Rachmaninoff playing he remembers did not have such a refined resonance. It was not a performance that could be said to be better than Rachmaninoff’s, but Heather’s performance certainly had another charm that Rachmaninoff did not possess.
‘So I guess I was happy. When Rami-senpai said I was your rival.’
Because he is a person who can play like this. Because I am a pianist with this ability. In the past, I wouldn’t have dared to pursue it, I could only watch it from afar.
Some say that all classical musicians are like imitation singers specializing in covers. It was often said by those who wanted to disparage classical musicians, but to some extent, Rowoon thought that their remarks were not unfounded. After all, their performances are bound to be imitations. It is a fact that cannot be denied even if one wants to deny it.
However, some imitations sometimes surpass even the original song and have a more beautiful resonance.
It cannot be said that Heather’s performance has already reached that level. However, her performance was clearly ringing with that possibility. Listen. Listen carefully. You may think you know this song, but after hearing me play you’ll find out that you don’t. whispered so
That’s what classic is. Hundreds, thousands, or tens of thousands of musicians reinterpret a piece over and over again, studying and trying to understand it. And sometimes their efforts elevate the song to a higher level, finding something beyond the original intention of the composer.
Heather’s performance was a performance that contained the contradictions, identity, and answers of classical music as it is. Looking like she might collapse at any moment, she throws everything she has into her performance.
‘Rachmaninoff, listen to this performance.’
You can confirm that your life was worthwhile just for that stage alone. Rowoon whispered that to Rachmaninoff. To the music of a musician who doubted whether I had the right to continue playing music, these young musicians fall in reverently and devotedly, as if the song itself was a gift from God.
And, when their performance is over, the audience applauds as usual. cheers Rowoon grabbed the Walkman as he watched from the backstage the sight that seemed unfamiliar, but always thrilled his heart whenever he encountered it.
Again, he recalled the words Rachmaninov had left him. He didn’t judge his performance. I didn’t say anything about what I lacked or what I liked. Instead, he said:
[ Thank you. ]
Perhaps, by now Rachmaninoff is saying the same thing to Heather as he was telling him.
‘I’ll make you more grateful. Rachmaninoff.’
Rowoon looked down at the Walkman in his hand. The promise to Rachmaninoff was not simply a bluff. Rowoon was really confident of that. In a way, it was good to see that there was an obligation. Rachmaninoff didn’t just thank him, he also handed him a present.
swamp of sound.
Rachmaninov’s blessing, as it were, had a slightly spooky tone to it.
＜ California Music Festival (16) ＞ End
＜ California Music Festival (17) ＞
At first, I wondered what kind of ability it was. swamp of sound. Rowoon’s first guess was like that. Yeah, maybe it’s the ability to control the weight of notes. If the mirage rubato develops the beat and the eye of music develops the sense of absolute pitch, then the swamp of sound is a blessing that helps you feel the depth of the sound more sensibly when you press the keyboard.
It was a Rachmaninoff-like blessing. Because each of his songs was often criticized for expressing the unique depth of romanticism. Maybe his blessing was related to those long fingers, but I thought this blessing was also a blessing that expressed Rachmaninov’s colors well enough.
Rowoon’s guess was not so wrong. After obtaining the Swamp of Sound, Rowoon practiced and focused on understanding the changes that had been given to him. And soon I had to realize.
The bog of sound develops a sense of sonic depth, but I can’t say it’s purely a sonic depth blessing. The Swamp of Sounds was a blessing beyond his imagination.
It wasn’t about sound. It was for the performers.
Long story short, it was this.
The moment his concentration reaches a high level while playing, that instant…
Rowoon was able to enter Rachmaninov’s world, the ‘Swamp of Sound’.
#
“Did you hear? I heard that Ron and Heather are going to perform on the Raccoon stage.”
“Ah, yes. Are you talking about Rapihyup?”
“Yep. Did you go to listen to his Rafi hyup?”
“No, I couldn’t go.”
“why? What have you been busy with?”
“hmm. what······.”
Gregor scratched his head at Julie’s question. In fact, there was no good reason for not going to see Rowoon’s stage.
No, there was a reason. Why can’t I speak confidently? I didn’t have the confidence to go see Rowoon’s stage. His relationship with Rowoon, who was in a position where he couldn’t even compete with him until his days at the California Conservatory, was in a swamp and was now reversing.
It’s not that I didn’t like Rowoon’s growth. It was obviously sincere as much as congratulating him. But congratulating Rowoon didn’t mean that Gregor didn’t take any stress from him.
‘ugly. Gregor.’
Gregor helped himself. And, he tried hard to hide his ugly self.
“I’m just not feeling well.”
“Sorry. It was great.”
Seeing Julie say that, Gregor became curious inwardly. She was also in a position to play the piano. Seeing Rowoon shine so bright in front of the piano, what did Julie think?
Was it just admiration? Is that possible? Didn’t he try to estimate how much distance there was between Rowoon and her, and didn’t he feel intimidated for nothing at the thought of how difficult it would be to close that distance?
It can’t be. It can’t be. I can’t help but be conscious The stronger Rowoon’s light became, the thicker the shadow she cast.
It was an unanswerable question. That curiosity would have only left scars on them all.
It was then. muttered Julie.
“Ah, I think it would have been fun if I went to the music festival this time too.”
“……Didn’t you audition this time?”
“I thought it would fall if I looked at it, but I also thought it would have been nice to see it even if it fell.”
“well. Speaking as a person who has fallen, again, it’s not that good.”
“Of course, the best sticks. Going on stage together, playing in front of people…”
As Julie said, she moved her fingers in the air as if she were playing a keyboard. In the end, it seemed that she also felt regretful about taking on the role of a marginal person at this music festival.
“It’s gonna be fun. Heather and Rondo.”
Gregor said nothing to that. Julie didn’t really need an answer or anything. Instead, she asked again.
“Are you going to see their recital?”
“・・・・・Uh, yes. I have to go.”
Actually, it was still something I was worried about, but that was because I had even received tickets directly from Rowoon and Heather. To be honest, I couldn’t help but go see it.
It was Heather who gave the solo recital first of the two. As Gregor, Julie, Chris, and Rowoon and other friends huddled together and sat together in the audience, the sound of people whispering and chattering here and there reached my ears.
“Is this the same friend who played Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto No. 2 the other day?”
“huh. He played a very delicate Rachmaninov. It didn’t feel like I was copying a clumsily played pro.”
“I’m already at the level where I can come up with my own interpretation…. The future is bright.”
“I heard that the name Heather Hong is already quite famous in the music world?”
“Hmm, then you can look forward to today’s solo recital.”
When she heard such muttering, Julie smiled for no reason and boasted.
“It’s also Heather. See what people are already looking forward to.”
From noble mtl dot com
“Heather got the compliment, but how come it seems like it’s up to you to be happy all the time?”
Chris said with a smile. said Julie as if it were natural.
“If my friend gets compliments, doesn’t that mean I get compliments too?”
“I don’t know, but let’s pretend we understand it for now.”
Rowoon laughed and said. As he listened to their conversation, it occurred to Gregor that he would understand why Julie was usually so exaggeratedly cheerful. Being proud of Heather to the point of overdoing it and talking about her in a good way, isn’t it an expression of not wanting to be jealous of Heather or comparing yourself to Heather?
‘You’re desperate too. Julie.’
Gregor slowly buried himself in the chair. In front of Heather’s stage, it was felt that the members of the audience were clearly different from usual. First of all, there were more professors. It must be the story that they are expecting that much, and it must mean that Heather is showing a decent performance.