The hall was arranged in a different structure than before. There was a stage with a piano in the center, and chairs for the judges were placed across it.
And on both sides, students belonging to other departments except piano were sitting around. As the acquisition itself already exceeded 90 people, it was quite a pressure in many ways.
“… It’s a stage with a structure I’ve never seen in my life.”
Heather, who was by her side, smiled while letting out a blank laugh. As she is not afraid of challenges in many ways, it seems that she is rather excited about this moment than nervous.
＜＜ Looks like everyone has gathered. ＞＞
And that was when Jeff’s gruff voice echoed through the speakers. The piano students all looked up at Jeff. Jeff spoke slowly.
＜＜ Today’s mission is very simple. All students will perform individually in the order of Bach, Mozart, Chopin, and Ravel. ＞＞
＜＜ Then, please stand in front of all the students who chose Bach, and the rest of the students, please sit in the seats in the back. ＞＞
＜＜ Who will play first? ＞＞
It was like that. Eight students had to play Bach first. Listening to Bach’s fugue in G minor eight times over and over could have been boring in many ways, but that wasn’t the case either.
‘······Everything is different.’
Each one was playing Bach full of their own colors. And among them, the student from Curtis played such an amazing Bach that anyone would want to hear it.
‘Your name is like Sergei… Rachmaninoff.’
It took about an hour for the 8 players to finish playing like that. And then Mozart. Jeff asked again.
＜＜ The next song is Mozart. Who would you like to play first? ＞＞
In response to that question, the pianists who were in charge of Mozart looked back at each other for a while and noticed. He must have thought that there was nothing to gain from being the first to do so.
But that’s why Rowoon raised his hand. With Jeff’s strange eyes looking at Rowoon, Rowoon said in a firm voice.
“I will go first.”
＜＜ ·······Good. Then come out on stage. ＞＞
There is no need to hesitate. There is nothing to notice. I’m ready.
It’s self-introduction time. I have to let you know. To the friends I haven’t introduced yet, to the people beyond that screen.
From noble mtl dot com
Who is Rowley?
＜ Take the Base (4) ＞ End
＜ Take the initiative (5) ＞
‘Ho, you’re leaving this right away?’
Watching Rowoon go on stage, Emile crossed his arms. Normally, he always had a grumpy expression on his face, but that wasn’t the case now. It was because I knew very well how much courage it takes to go on stage.
‘Does he have courage or is he confident…’
Mozart may sound easy at first glance. You don’t have to use a lot of pedaling, and the tempo isn’t too fast. So, after learning the piano to some extent through Bayer or Hanon, it was common to start a piece with Mozart’s sonata rather than Beethoven or Chopin.
However, that also meant that Mozart’s sound had to be reproduced entirely with the fingers. As long as the restrained pedaling could not produce a rich sound, Mozart’s songs were difficult to play that much better.
‘I have myself… is this it?’
Emil’s eyes stayed on Rowoon. A pianist of his age from the California Conservatory of Music. What about his playing?
Rowoon’s hand goes up. Mozart’s Turkish March. It is a familiar song that probably many viewers who are here, no, on the other side of the screen, must have already heard it at least once.
How will he interpret that familiar song?
‘Think of it.’
1783. A 27-year-old Austrian, Mozart was in Vienna.
During the past 250 years, Turkey and the Ottoman Empire were fighting more than 20 wars. And in such a situation, Mozart composed this song, Rondo alla Turka, literally Turkish-style Rondo. What do you mean? what do you want to express?
Rowoon tried to get into Mozart’s head. I looked back at his memories. So I was able to speak with confidence about the answer.
Austria at the time was terrified in many ways. It was not simply a level of fear that the country could be ruined. At that time, the Ottoman Empire was expanding its influence in many ways, and Vienna actually almost fell to the Ottoman Empire.
And the people of Austria had to shudder in fear that the Christian world might end because of Muslims, as much as the fear of ruin.
And like all invasions, the culture of the Ottoman Empire began to paint Europe in its own colors, as if it were natural. And the military music of the Turkish infantry, the oldest in the world, began to color not only the military music of European armies, but also music in general.
Meanwhile, Mozart wrote the Turkish March. Simply because Ottoman culture is in vogue? Want to praise Turkey? no.
Because I want to play that fear. The Ottoman Empire, the world of Christians who are increasingly being eaten by Muslims. Watching the sunset, the feeling of having no choice but to wait for the night to come soon.
‘How many people will play this song while thinking about that today…?’
In fact, this was a big reason why Rowoon could always be confident when sitting in front of the piano. The blessing of being with him is also a blessing, but he was able to play the same song with completely different thoughts.
Rondo alla Turca reminds me of playing as a child.
Mozart’s Rondo alla Turka feared the coming of the Muslim world and wanted to sublimate that fear into music.
Which of the two will be better, isn’t it already decided?
‘show me. Rowoon.’
therefore,
‘show me!’
There is no hesitation in his hands hitting the keyboard.
Fingers move lightly, gracefully, as if flying. At first glance, it is a melody that is hard to find fear of Turkey.
But if you look closely, this is a comedy that borders on tragedy. It is a song that contains the history of the Austrian people at that time, Mozart, who laughed bitterly while ignoring the catastrophe that might come at any moment.
Between Europe and Türkiye.
between Christians and Muslims.
Instead of giving an answer to the conflict, Mozart sang about the conflict itself.
‘······what?’
And, those who opened their ears felt a strange sense of heterogeneity.
“Did the Turkish March originally feel this dark?”
“Dark? I’m not really sure?”
“Listen properly. You feel like you’re constantly falling behind while listening to something. is not it?”
“Uh… is that so?”
“It is very strange. really.”
“You came from the California Conservatory. Well, I’m not going to do a normal performance. But… aside from being dark, the keyring is really ridiculously neat, isn’t it?”
“I know. If you miss a beat for a moment, it flows right away and breaks the feeling, but how can you not make a single mistake?”
“What was his name?”
“theory. Ron Lee.”
“Lonely (lonely)? It’s a gloomy name.”
“Don’t make fun of me with my name.”
Such a whisper echoed from the crowd of students. Apparently, the structure of the stage itself was made for broadcasting, so even though they whispered so much, it didn’t interfere with Rowoon’s performance.
“Hmm… I didn’t go out first for nothing.”
And among the pianists, Emile nodded in agreement. I could understand it more as I only played Mozart for the past week. How special Rondo is now.
Radica said.
“I heard that the California Conservatory looks at personality, not ability. Is that right?”
“It’s not that I don’t have skills.”
“huh. okay. Skills are fine too. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen a clean tag like that. Besides… Hey, I heard you weren’t familiar with the Turkish march?”
“I told you. I.”
Anton interjected and grinned.
“If you’re going to win, that guy needs to be careful.”
“Huh…”
Radica looked at Rowoon with interest. It’s a pretty song. it’s a pretty play What kind of picture is drawn in the head of that person who plays like that? what kind of sound is it ringing It was a moment of curiosity.
Rowoon’s performance seems to be somewhere brilliant, but it captures the anxious mind. Whether it’s small talk or whatever, at some point they’d find me just listening to the music, not thinking about anything, overwhelmed by the emotion, even for a moment.
So when his performance was over, they all couldn’t help but be sad that this was a 3-minute performance. I wanted to hear more.
And it wasn’t just the students who thought so.
“……Is this friend okay?”
The judges the students started calling 3J before they knew it. Jennifer, Jeff and Jayden. Among them, Jayden said. Maybe he didn’t think that a young friend who was only around 20 would show off such a decent Mozart, his cheeks even flushed a little.
“I told you. He said he was pretty good during the Raccoon stage.”
“Well, friends who survived the raccoon stage are bound to do their best in this industry in one way or another. But, aside from that skill, there is something… strange.”
“It must be understanding.”
Jennifer said in a calm voice. However, unlike that voice, those two eyes were looking at Rowoon with quite a bit of heat.
“It was a performance that showed me thinking about Mozart for a long time. The instruments are different, but as the same musician, I can confirm it. That a performance like this would be impossible without an essential understanding of the song.”
“surely. That part is what I felt the other day too. Now then…”
Jeff nodded. Then, after manipulating the microphone, he turned to Rowoon. Soon the speakers spit his voice into everyone’s ears.
＜＜ Rowoon. They played a little special Turkish march. You know, of course, right? That his Turkish march isn’t normal? ＞＞
“yes. I know.”
Some of the people who heard the conversation between the two had a slightly puzzled look on their faces. It was because they couldn’t catch what part was not normal. And seeing them like that, Emile clicked his tongue inwardly. If you have ears that can’t even grasp these things, thinking in my heart that the music they can express is also really great.
Jeff continued.
＜＜ Mozart’s Turkish March is originally meant to be played with only that energetic feeling in mind. But your Turkish march was something different. I was hesitating somewhere, I was afraid, I was sad. If I’m not mistaken, can you give me a reason why that is? ＞＞
“······I thought a little about the historical background.”
＜＜ Historical background? ＞＞
“The life of Mozart and the situation in Austria at the time. At that time, Türkiye and the Ottoman Empire were threatening Europe in many ways. And as much as Europe fears Turkey, there was also a sense of idolizing it somewhere. Their culture naturally melted into Europe, and Mozart’s Turkey March is one of the songs that proves the trend in Europe at the time… that’s what ordinary people say.”