The Healing Life of a Music Genius - Chapter 103



Only Noblemtl

103 Beginning and End

* * *

Schumann’s Fantasia.

Schumann – Fantasie in C major, Op. 17.

Often, when we think of fantasy, we think of a song created in a fantastical atmosphere.

However, in classical music, Fantasia is used in slightly different meanings.

First, a song with an improvisational nature.

Second, it is a song from the romantic era with a dreamy atmosphere.

Third, instrumental music from the 16th and 17th centuries that followed strict counterpoint.

Fourth, a free-form sonata.

Although further classifications can be made, this can be considered a representative ‘classification of fantasies’.

Schumann’s Fantasia was the fourth case.

That is, a free-form sonata.

It can be seen that the composer can freely express his music as he wishes without any major restrictions or rules when composing music.

The word freedom is good.

No matter where the music goes or where it is headed, acceptance becomes possible with just one word: freedom.

But freedom is difficult.

I can’t figure out where to go.

If there is a set path, you can just follow it.

What would you do if you were on the sea with no path?

A situation where you have to sail in the middle of the ocean without a compass or map.

I thought it would be good to compare Schumann’s Fantasia that way.

This song was so huge.

The composition was both overwhelming and extremely complex.

When first encountering this score, most performers feel breathless and suffocated.

Among the pieces presented in the second round of the Ettlingen final, Schumann’s work could be said to be the most difficult.

Fantasy.

Fantasy in English.

Phantasic in German.

Fantaisie in French.

However, Schumann named the fantasy separately, Fantasie.

Compared to French words, there is no i.

In a word, it is a proper noun created by Schumann.

Schumann gave meaning to the word fantasy.

So what on earth did Schumann want to show through this proper noun?

Schumann’s life was very complicated.

Oisebius represents his introverted side.

Florestan represents his passionate side.

Schumann, who had these two personalities, suffered throughout his life.

Did those two selves really exist?

Unless you are Schumann himself, you cannot know for sure.

However, we can also see that Schumann did not hide these two personalities at all.

Schumann clearly revealed his personality.

There were times when he signed his works with ‘Eusebius’ instead of ‘Robert Schumann’.

This fantasy was the solo piano piece created by Schumann and is considered the greatest work.

then······.

How on earth should I interpret this song?

The boy on stage was calmly explaining it.

difficult.

It’s never easy.

The boy’s music was not simple and contained many things.

In literature, it could be explained clearly using clear words and sentences.

In music, it must be expressed only through melody.

What does The Boy’s Fantasia mean?

What is being expressed… that makes my heart ache so much?

Anna Becker, who was watching the stage from the front corner of the audience, bit her lip.

Listening to his music brings tears to my eyes.

Anna’s eyes were still filled with tears.

The boy continued to speak through this free song.

Trying to bring out the inner story.

The constantly conflicting reality and elusive fantasy are expressed through melody.

that······.

It was very beautiful, yet sad.

Anna agreed with the boy’s music.

At the same time, I felt myself becoming smaller and smaller.

‘This is your music…’

Anna’s feelings were complicated.

Although I wanted to applaud the boy, I also wanted to hide my shabby appearance.

however.

The boy was proudly exposing himself.

As if there were no obstacles in this world.

The fragile image of a child and an elusive fantasy are expressed through this song.

I was almost amazed.

The breathtaking pianissimo and major melody that scattered like fragments grabbed my heart.

I have never heard a performance like this in my life.

Anna Becker did not run away after hearing the boy’s performance, like she did in the first stage of the last finals.

I faced the boy’s music while resisting the desire to step back and take a step back.

the boy says

What is your music?

The girl answers.

I don’t know yet.

The girl wanted to get at least one step closer to the boy.

So, I watched the boy’s performance.

Meanwhile, the people sitting in the judges’ seats on the first floor began to put down their pens one by one.

Evaluation beyond this was thought to be meaningless.

‘Overwhelming performance. A new interpretation of Schumann. ‘It can no longer be called a competition stage anymore.’

‘haha. I never thought the dynamic expression would be this outstanding. ‘It’s so perfect technically.’

‘The level of interpretation is amazing. A 13-year-old boy can sing a melody like this? People who haven’t seen the Ettlingen stage won’t easily believe it.’

‘During the first round, I thought I was imitating a master. I never thought he actually had that side. I don’t think Maestro Hoffman and the Lion of the East have the same feeling… ‘Then who is that child’s real teacher?’

The 11 judges quietly looked at the boy on stage.

And it was the same for the musicians on the second floor.

Max Richter barely opened his eyes when Schumann’s Fantasia was almost over.

A mysterious child.

The boy’s playing was deep and profound.

It expresses unimaginable depth.

Yet there was purity in it.

It twinkles like a star.

Max Richter even felt nobility in the spotless performance of the boy.

What on earth could have made that boy like this?

Because of the kind of education I received.

Because I was with someone.

Everything was full of doubts.

The boy’s playing begins to slow down.

The performance that I had hoped would last a little longer was finally coming to an end.

A melody similar to the introduction, almost inaudible, is played…

The boy’s melody disappeared into fantasy.

Still, the boy did not take his hands off the keyboard.

It seems as if even the very quiet reverberation of the piano is part of the performance.

It stayed like that for a few seconds.

No one in the audience took their eyes off the audience.

After a while, the boy stood up.

And then he says hello to the audience.

Nevertheless, the audience was cautious.

I couldn’t make a sound easily.

I’m afraid this atmosphere will be broken.

Or to remember this atmosphere a little more.

The silence that seemed infinite ended…

It was then.

.

.

.

The audience erupted in cheers.

I’m finally letting out the emotions I’ve been suppressing.

The boy looked surprised.

Only then did the musicians on the second floor also open their mouths.

“ha ha ha! It’s fun. “You’re still a kid.”

“It is not easy to experience such silence. More than that, the audience understood the boy’s performance. “It was a difficult performance.”

“I guess the audience level is that high. “The boy’s performance was that clear.”

“It was a performance where lingering emotions were important, and the audience tolerated it well. “The playing was very delicate.”

“After touching the last key, it felt like I was experiencing a vast ocean. “This is my first time seeing a competition stage like this.”

“I never thought a 13-year-old boy could express something like this.”

“It was really great.”

One of Ettlingen’s members secretly asked Max Richter what he thought.

The concertmaster is the second most powerful person in an orchestra after the conductor.

I was curious about his opinion.

But Max Richter shook his head with a faint smile.

“It’s not polite to give my opinion before the judges make their presentations.”

“Ah… I’m sorry.”

“No. Because I think I fully understand what you are curious about. Still, shouldn’t we watch the remaining musicians’ performances first? “If you are a member of Ettlingen.”

“······.”

The member immediately apologized, and Max Richter accepted his apology without any hesitation.

Meanwhile, some musicians who had been with him for a long time seemed to know Max Richter’s deep thoughts.

A little while ago, Max Richter had his eyes closed while the boy was playing the piano.

The meaning is…

‘It probably means that you only enjoyed music. In fact, the boy’s performance was amazing…’

‘A 13-year-old boy moved the hearts of Dresden’s melodies?’

‘I guess that means you were paying attention.’

‘That kid, I don’t even know if he’s already got one of the greats on his side.’

Max Richter is looking indifferently at the boy on stage.

Although his eyes twinkled deeply,

There was more warmth than ever before.

* * *

The next evening.

The results of the second stage of the finals were about to come out.

A competition official enters the lobby of Ettlingen Palace holding a roll of paper.

Similar yet different from when the first results were announced.

The only difference is that the number of reporters has increased significantly.

I was able to roughly determine their identities through the badges they wore around their necks, and among them was a reporter for a classical music magazine I knew.

‘It’s a little strange. It was a music magazine that I bought and read at the bookstore every month. ‘I can’t believe I got to see that magazine reporter in person.’

Should I say that the feeling is new?

I felt that way a little bit.

“Are you nervous? Are you nervous? Is that by any chance?”

“······.”

“I heard you played well? I told you I did a good job. I even shed tears? There’s nothing to worry about. “If you fail, it’s not good for Ettlingen.”

“······.”

Of course, there was one person who interrupted my appreciation.

I turned my head towards the source of the sound and saw a blonde girl looking at me closely.

Anna Becker.

He was a kid I could never understand.

“Then I will make an announcement.”

At that time, a scroll was hung on the bulletin board.

The reporters’ cameras keep flashing.

but.

I knew the result before I even checked the name myself.

“good job! look! Am I right? Seojin, if it were you, you would definitely have passed? “Your Schumann Fantasy was by no means a common performance.”

“Hey, Anna?”

“huh?”

“I also want to experience it a little personally.”

“uh? enjoy? What is it? Do whatever you want. Because advancing to the finals is that great. good job. Seojin.”

“······.”

“By the way, I passed too.”

“······.”

On the list, I also saw the names of participants that I was now slowly becoming familiar with.

“I also got to go to the final stage~”

Louis Wolff.

Pan Hui of China.

Lily White from the United States.

“Ah, I passed too.”

Most of the participants in the finals were from Europe.

Lewis also came towards me, as if checking the list.

He lightly congratulates me.

I also congratulated him.

“I passed too~ Me too~”

But this wasn’t the end.

This time, the scores of successful applicants will be announced soon after.

The score can be an indicator of the participant or an advantage in determining the order of the concerto in the final.

From now on there were no more drawings.

Meritocracy.

Participants who produce results will receive clear benefits.

“I passed too…”

“Well… I guess no one ever compliments me.”

“Lewis and Seojin just… I guess they don’t care… Things like that happen, too.”

Anna was so persistent in talking to me that I had to praise this chatterbox.

“Anna, you did well too. Yes, Chopin, I heard it briefly in the waiting room and it was good. “I was worthy of passing.”

“Really?”

“okay. When it comes to music, I speak as honestly as possible. “I really did.”

“Well… if that’s you, then I guess that’s the case? Hmm. I see~ I see~”

Anna was very happy with my compliment.

He even smiles brightly.

Anna, a second-year middle school student.

It seemed like it would take quite a long time to understand this child.

The eliminated contestants began to leave Ettlingen Palace one by one.

Unfortunately, no one cared about them.

Because the remaining people had work to do as the remaining people did.

“The ten finalists will have the opportunity to practice with the Ettlingen Orchestra in the future. “With over 60 active performers here to help you, we hope you do your best.”

After an explanation from the competition staff, the 10 finalists began moving to the huge hall inside Ettlingen.

Meanwhile, reporters were interviewing me from time to time.

Questions about your future mindset and the things you consider important when playing.

It seemed like it was done this way on purpose to make it look a little more natural.

When we arrived at the hall, we sat down on the chairs in numerical order.

In the first round, Anna got to sit next to me because she picked number 3.

“That’s a great seating arrangement. right?”

“well.”

“Huh? What do you mean by that? “What do you mean?”

Fortunately, one of the contest officials stood in front of us.

Anna purses her lips with a pouty face.

The contest staff once again explained to us what we already knew.

The score announcement started from the lowest score.

Reporters even took note of this.

In a way, it’s a cold competition.

In other words, it can be seen as a competition where the evaluation details can be proudly disclosed to the public.

“Lily White 8.7 points.”

“Wow!!!”

Before I knew it, the name of the 5th place participant was mentioned.

17 years old.

I heard from Lewis that he was from the United States and had prepared for this competition for quite a long time.

‘You like it a lot.’

Actually, even 5th place is pretty good.

Each participant has a preferred performance order.

If you are in 5th place, you can avoid the non-preferred turn, so in a way, it can be seen as a natural reaction.

“Fan Hui 8.8 points.”

The Chinese participant expressed his impressions after hearing his score.

At the same time, they exchange some stories with the interpreter.

A participant who continued discussing with contest officials for a while.

In the end, he left before the event even ended.

‘You have a bit of personality.’

Anna quietly whispered in my ear. I saw Fan Hui a few times in Munich and he was a scary person. Don’t get close.

“And you?”

“me? “What am I?”

“Someone you shouldn’t go near.”

“Are you funny? “What did I do!”

Now the remaining rankings are 1st, 2nd, and 3rd.

There were also three people left.

The contest official coughed once and then called the third place winner.

“Louis Wolff 9.0 points.”

For the first time, 9 points came out.

Lewis saw us at the far end and waved.

There are now only two ranks left.

Competition officials announced the scores almost simultaneously.

“Anna Becker 9.2 points.”

“Han Seo-jin 9.7 points.”

I can hear reporters muttering.

Anna spoke to me as if it was nothing.

“The score difference was big enough for me. But I will come back in the finals.”

“okay. To work hard.”

“But you got to choose your turn first? What time are you going to play? Boldly first like your number? That’s not bad either. Because you don’t have to worry about other participants. For your information, my strategy is to make people have reasonable expectations…”

Suddenly my right ear started itching.

Lately, I’ve been thinking that today might be the day I put the most strain on my right ear.

Anna talked to me a lot, so I asked her one question.

“Anna.”

“huh?”

“By any chance… was Louis the only person you usually talked to?”

“huh! “No one listens to me!”

“······.”

It seemed like it would be so.

At that time, a contest official asked me a question.

“First place in the second round of the finals, participant Seojin Han. Have you decided on your turn? “I can give you some time to discuss.”

This meant that I could use the phone.

But there was no need for that.

Because I had something in mind from the beginning.

If I make it to the final stage…

“I’ll play the 10th. “It’s your last turn.”

I wanted to be the finale of this competition.

An opportunity I created myself through my performance in the second round of the finals.

As a result, I was in charge of the beginning and end of Ettlingen.