And after a while, when Heather got on the stage, sat down in front of the piano wearing that checkered dress, and started playing Chopin’s Prelude step by step from number 1…
Gregor seemed to know what the difference between Heather and him was and why. It wasn’t simply a matter of good or bad performance. Heather glowed. There was a charm like magic that captivated people. why. Where does that charm come from? is it a skill? Is it emotion? is it a talent is it an effort what is it
Gregor was troubled. I looked at Heather, listened to her playing, and felt my heart move as she played. Where he gets moved, where he feels good, where he gets depressed, and where he gets happy.
And I realized
‘huh. okay. This is it.’
Heather looked happy. Whether it’s a sad song or something, Gregor felt thrilled and moved by each tone I produced with each key she pressed. A sensation he seldom feels, an emotion.
Gregor, who had been observing Heather for a long time, suddenly remembered something and turned his head. Then he looked at Rowoon who was sitting next to him. What if it was Rowoon? Does he, like Gregor, have the expression of feeling various thirsts?
I don’t know why, but Gregor’s eyes were filled with anticipation and concern at the same time as he looked at Rowoon’s face. And soon, Gregor’s expression could not help but harden for a moment.
Rowoon was smiling.
As if he no longer felt thirsty while listening to Heather, no, he didn’t need to. It was worth it. Rowoon was no longer a pianist who could be said to be inferior to Heather. Although his reputation may still be lacking, his performances and evaluations were never inferior to Heather’s. Just looking at the fact that he was simultaneously appointed as the soloist of Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto No. 2, isn’t it?
‘······Ah, is that so. You won’t have to do that anymore. Heather’s music doesn’t have to be stressful anymore. It could just be music, to you.’
Gregor was deeply envious of it all over again. So he set his eyes on Heather’s playing again. As if he would catch everything Heather showed off on stage, so he would somehow make it his own.
On the other hand, as Gregor saw, Rowoon didn’t feel any more stuffy after watching Heather’s performance. It was already because he had passed that stage before. Of course, Heather was still a good pianist and rival who gave him a lot of stimulation, but stimulation doesn’t have to be given only in such a difficult form.
‘Surely your playing is fun. header.’
In the past, when I expressed Heather’s performance, I thought a lot that she was Chopin, not like Chopin. And in fact, Heather’s playing had that feeling. However, after Rowoon’s advice, no, I don’t know if it’s entirely because of Rowoon’s advice, but Heather’s playing began to show more attempts to understand Chopin.
Of course, that didn’t make a dramatic difference in her playing. Her interpretation was still original, heretical, and idiosyncratic. Her playing now was only at the level of the previous one with a hint of Chopin added.
But originally, a drop of oil changes the grade of food.
Heather’s self-indulgent playing certainly had its own charm in the past, but now, the playing has gone beyond simply being ‘unique and attractive’.
‘Hmm… is it time for this friend to be completed?’
‘huh. I guess so.’
‘I wondered if I could end up with a flash of light after only pursuing characteristics, but… I don’t know if I’ll be able to see you for a really long time.’
‘Still, I don’t know. How cruel is this floor? I can’t guarantee the future just by entering a stable period.’
Various experts, including critics, musicians, and professors, each nodded and evaluated Heather’s performance. Although each tone may be a little different, there is no doubt that Heather has grown up in the end.
So, when the stage was over and Heather bowed toward the stage with a sweaty face and a smile, people’s applause was bound to resonate with each one’s sincerity. Rowoon’s was the same. As was the case with the Rachmaninov Piano Concerto, again, Heather was Heather. She never failed to create her own lively color in any situation.
‘I have to show it too.’
Just as Heather changed under the influence of Rowoon, he also changed a lot because of her. In a recital where only his voice can be heard, Rowoon wanted to show it as it is.
And just like that, looking at Rowoon smiling at the thought of my stage, Gregor had a new thought. I won’t be able to ignore you any longer. I just had to enjoy music, I should stop masturbating and standing in place like that. And even for that, I had to attend Rowoon’s recital.
A few days after that, everyone including Gregor found seats in the same concert hall again. However, the only difference this time was that it was Rowoon’s stage instead of Heather’s stage.
Rowoon went up on stage and greeted people with a flawless expression, like a person celebrating a festival. Sitting in front of the piano wearing a white shirt and black slacks, he matched the piano so well that anyone could say that he was a pianist.
The first song that opens the introduction is Chopin’s Dog Waltz. It was a song that Gregor and Chris had already listened to a few times. As such, they listened without much expectation, but after a while, they had no choice but to lean forward by giving strength to their backs. Their pupils trembled in strange shock.
‘······what is this?’
okay. same song But the performer was different. Between Rowoon then and Rowoon now, there was a clear gap that could not be easily narrowed.
Rowoon’s performance brought everyone in the audience down to his swamp.
＜ California Music Festival (17) ＞ End
＜ California Music Festival (18) ＞
‘I thought it was a puppy waltz again…’
The dog’s waltz was like a song that announced that Rowoon had come out of a slump. Through the puppy waltz, Rowoon broke the shackles that had bound him for a long time and flew up into the sky as if he had never been attached to the ground.
So it’s no surprise that Rowoon’s dog, Waltz, is of a different standard. But even so, at this moment, Gregor could not help but feel a subtle shock that crept over his whole body.
‘Something is different.’
Rowoon’s dog, Waltz, was originally on the unusual side. It’s definitely a song with a refreshing melody development, but when the song touched Rowoon’s hand, I felt a sad resonance somewhere. okay. that much. The feeling that Rowoon conveyed through the puppy waltz in the past was exactly that.
However, this performance now is essentially different. Weight, timbre, depth, all of them, Rowoon has grown beyond compare to before.
First of all, the blessings of being with him right now were significant. six fingers. eye of music. Mirage Rubato. and the swamp of sound. Those blessings helped Rowoon borrow some of the talents of the old masters, and the experience gained from looking into the performance and composition journals of numerous musicians was certainly accumulated in Rowoon’s body.
In addition, he learned how to find his own color through Heather, and the dog waltz was even the song Rowoon could sing with the most confidence. As such, some might think that this puppy waltz was simply an intro to lighten the mood, but in reality it was also Rowoon’s secret weapon.
and,
‘·······.’
Rowoon enjoyed the weight of the keyboard and felt the ‘sound swamp’ pulling him. I can’t argue if it’s better or worse than the others, but it’s definitely the most attractive one. Through the eyes of Bach’s music, I felt that the notes that were clearly heard as if I could see them with my eyes flowed out with their own charm one by one.
Every time he pressed a key, the swamp rocked and changed its color and shape. Then, he grabbed Rowoon’s feet and hands and tried to swallow him. A sense of ecstasy took over Rowoon.
Rachmaninov’s world.
Rowoon, immersed in playing to the limit, was now in contact with the world that Rachmaninoff describes as a ‘swamp’. Neither the stage nor the spotlight could touch Rowoon’s consciousness any longer. He was now in a world without a piano and nothing else. Just like when playing back a performance log, all he could sense was the story the keyboard was telling.
And because of that, his performance has no choice but to resonate with a denser sense of weight than ever before.
In short, the Swamp of Sounds was a simple blessing. It helped Rowoon become much more immersed in his performance. It was good to say that it increased his concentration. But that simple blessing, that’s why it had no choice but to shine even more.
Right now, from what his audience feels, it’s different from before.
‘······Are you in good shape? or not······.’
Heather felt the same way as she listened to Rowoon’s performance. I’ve heard of Rowoon’s dog Waltz. However, compared to that time, I felt that Rowoon’s performance had become much more appealing.
In Chopin’s Ballade No. 2, which followed, Heather felt the same way. His ballad No. 2 also had a delivery power that was hard to compare to before. Should I say that I can clearly feel what I want to say?
‘That’s how it feels. It’s as if you can feel that you love Chopin more than anyone else, as if you’re happy just by playing his music…’
And when a pianist can give such an impression, his performance can finally have the power to completely overwhelm the audience.
Heather’s expression softened. Competitiveness or something, I wanted to postpone this moment for now. It was a very good performance to burn the heart with a competitive spirit. It was a performance that made me want to fall in love.
‘Yes, this is how it feels… listening to good music.’
I have no particular interest or affection for classical music, ‘How great is Chopin?’ Even if you are a snort, your thoughts will change when you come to this stage now. ‘Ah, that’s why. His song is so awe-inspiring. A melody can be so sophisticated and enchanting.’ and understand the genius of Chopin. You will understand the value of classics.
And in other words, it was a story that Rowoon’s playing had grown big enough to explain the value of Chopin.
‘······also.’
Alice, sitting in the front row of the audience, close enough to see Rowoon’s facial expression, trembled while holding the pen tightly. A huge conflict was brewing inside her right now. Should I quickly write it down in a notebook before this emotion I am feeling disappears, or should I just enjoy the performance quietly as one of the ordinary spectators.
‘Thanks, Heather. I think Rowoon is one of the greatest gifts you gave me.’
To be a pianist who can be seen growing every time I see him. As a fan of classics, as a journalist, is there a more attractive opponent than this? Normally, even if you grow up, you can only see the grown up after a year, but Rowoon always showed a much better figure than him before.
‘I don’t think it was like this at the LA Competition.’
On the border between professional and amateur, I could feel that Rowoon was heading towards a pro. At least at this moment, as far as the presence he shows on this stage, and the power of attraction that captivates the audience, he is by no means inferior to most pros.
Alice slightly turned her head. Beside her, Jeff was staring at the stage with his usual stubborn stubborn face.
‘How are you, sir? Are you still sad?’
Alice actually already knew the answer. Alice neither begged nor demanded that Jeff go to this stage. Nevertheless, Jeff contacted her first and asked if there was another stage for Rowoon.
‘I can’t help but like it, right?’
As much as Alice is feeling, Jeff must be feeling too. That this young pianist is by no means lacking in qualities compared to the world-renowned great pianists. The fact that Rowoon will eventually step on the steps they took step by step, one by one.
And there was only one thing Alice wanted from Rowoon. As much as she’s been doing these repairs, growing into a really great pianist so that it doesn’t make a fuss. Furthermore, one day she would be able to speak. Even before he was still in the public eye, I recognized him and let him know, just like that.
It was greed that felt more fan-like than journalistic, but what about it? After all, she lives as a music reporter because she loves music.
Rowoon was an opponent who had no choice but to have such greed. Every time the sound of Chopin he evoked tickled her, captivated her, Alice felt her heart pound like a girl in love.
And, finally, when Rowoon’s fingers started playing Liszt’s Mazepa, following Chopin’s Ballade No. 2.
The audience had no choice but to fall into yet another shock.
‘Mazepa…’
Jeff stared at Rowoon in the same way he was shaping his beard. The reason why Jeff is respected by everyone as a music critic is because he is a pianist who was once expected by the world, but also because he shows a very deep understanding of each and every song.
So I was able to immediately see what Rowoon was trying to express through his performance. It was also seen that he followed Liszt’s fingering as he put his finger on it, and in the horseshoe part, it was felt that he was truly trying to capture Mazepa’s narrative in the performance.
‘······A friend who knows how to think.’
That part was to Jeff’s liking. He was a person who did not recognize performers who could only see music as music and who lacked consideration of the numerous narratives and historical or cultural characteristics behind it.
Music is a much more multifaceted and complex art and culture than is commonly thought. However, if the performer does not think of that part, how can the audience know and understand him? That’s why the performer had to think for as long as he practiced, and he had to do it deeply.
From noble mtl dot com
At least Rowoon passed that part. In his performance, most of what Liszt tried to capture while composing Mazepa was well pointed out. To be honest, even Jeff was a little surprised. Because even most pros have relatively neglected this part.
‘It’s nothing else to capture the emotions of the original song well. In the end, it’s a matter of understanding the original song or not.’
And of course, Rowoon, who can replay what the composer was thinking when composing the song and what he went through through the composition log… couldn’t help but boast of a better understanding than anyone else.
‘okay. Alice. I can see why you like this friend. If you keep going like this, you’re a friend worth expecting.’
Jeff’s eyes darkened. Of course, Rowoon did not feel that gaze. All of his consciousness and senses were being used to feel and express Mazepa.
Tied to a horse and exiled to the wilderness, Mazepa eventually became a hero,
Rowoon, who had knelt in front of the keyboard, came back to the stage like this.
That subtle connection further strengthened Rowoon’s performance. He helped him to express the joy in his heart through the glory of Mazepa. And then, without realizing it, the audience had no choice but to check the goose bumps growing on our forearms.
‘······Excellent. Rowoon.’
Jungwoo showed this and smiled. I knew that Rowoon was a good pianist, and I knew roughly what his playing felt like, but in many ways, the first stage he faced today gave Jungwoo a good stimulus. Because there are pianists like this, I wonder if the piano is still so loved.
I wanted to return the emotion and joy he felt right now to Rowoon. My fingers itched. I wanted to get on his stage as soon as possible.
And after a while, when Mazepa ran towards the end,
When Rowoon’s finger stopped,
people stood up Applauded and cheered. And in the cheering, in the spotlight, watching Rowoon’s sweaty face wet with a bright smile, Jungwoo, Rami, Heather, Chris, Gregor… everyone in the audience thought. felt.
Somehow, I think I understand why the piano was created…
＜ California Music Festival (18) ＞ End
＜ California Music Festival (19) ＞
After getting off the stage, Rowoon headed straight to the waiting room. It was as if all the bone marrow had been sucked out, and there was no energy left in the body. Even so, the reason why he was still able to smile, albeit vaguely, was because the pleasure brought by the performance left a scar on his face.