The Healing Life of a Music Genius - Chapter 186



Only Noblemtl

186 Prelude

* * *

Today was my first time seeing the Queen Elizabeth Competition participants in person.

Even at a glance, these people look older than me.

Adults, or participants who could be called adults, gathered here.

As I was concentrating on the contest staff’s explanation and looking at the participants, a thought occurred to me.

The three and a half years I stayed on the uninhabited island.

I thought that if I added that time to my current age, I would become somewhat similar to them.

Some people may say that I have an ‘advantage’ in age over them, but in reality, the difference is not that much.

Thinking about it like that, it was a little fun.

I unconsciously looked at my fingers.

Now, some time has passed since I left the desert island, and unlike when I was in elementary school, my fingers have become long enough to be able to play most piano songs.

The height and physique were the same.

Until last year, I was similar to or slightly shorter than my friends, but now I am taller.

‘I guess it’s because I ate well and exercised hard.’

Anyway, I was growing a little faster than on the desert island.

so······.

I didn’t want to get attention for being ‘younger’ than those contestants.

We were on the same line.

I reminded myself of that again.

Orientation was longer than expected.

Should I say that there are many small precautions?

A detailed explanation followed.

After about an hour or so, I was able to take a break.

“You are Seojin.”

At that time, I heard some Korean language that was a bit welcome.

A woman wearing a stylish black dress.

I knew right away who she was.

“You are pianist Hyeonju Lee.”

“that’s right. I’ve always wanted to meet you. Now is the chance. nice to meet.”

We started by shaking hands.

Of the 60 people who passed the Queen Elizabeth Global preliminary examination, only two were Korean.

Me and pianist Hyeonju Lee.

I once saw in an article that a Korean pianist who had been studying abroad in Italy for a long time had come to Brussels.

I also saw on the news that the professor under whom pianist Hyunjoo Lee is studying is the youngest winner in the history of Queen Elizabeth.

For that reason, I know that there are quite a few people who predict that this sister is a candidate for the championship.

But Hyeonju’s sister didn’t seem to care about that.

“Is practice going well?”

“It’s always the same. “Every time I play the piano, I’m always in a state where I’m both happy and worried.”

“Hey. It’s similar to what the professors say. “It’s already amazing.”

“What about your sister? “Is practice okay?”

“well. It would be nice if I could just show what I’ve prepared. “I’m a little nervous.”

We talked for a while.

I had no idea that meeting Koreans in another country would be such a joy.

When I gently told her not to worry and told her that everything would be fine, Hyeonju laughed.

“okay. Hearing what you say gives me strength. Don’t be nervous either. Let’s do our best together. Understand?”

“yes. all right. “I’m sure it will work out.”

The break ended quickly.

The contest official took the microphone again, and Hyunjoo returned to her seat at a different table from me.

After orientation is over.

There was time to have a brief conversation with the participants and the masters who were invited today.

It’s been a while since I said hello to pianist Laurent, and I also said hello to several other people through the introduction of Professor Yuhan Kang.

and······.

When I was alone for a moment, a man spoke to me.

“I have some advice for you.”

“······ yes?”

“Please participate in this competition without feeling too pressured. You are still young. If you think about falling in advance, it won’t hurt so much. “Because you have so many more opportunities.”

“······?”

“I’ve seen a lot of kids like you who are doing well but then slipping. There were many cases where everyone felt like they were hitting a wall too early and let go of the music. So, take my words to heart. In this competition, just focus on the music. “I just erased things like awards from my mind.”

“······?”

A participant I see for the first time.

I looked at him, wondering if it was some sort of argument, and he introduced himself as Brian Turner.

“Did you understand what I said?”

“what······. Usually, I play while thinking only about music…”

“That’s it! As expected, you communicate well! At your age, you have to look at music a little more purely. ruler. For example, think of the green forest over there. What do you feel?”

“······ A green forest comes to mind, right?”

“No, I mean Melody. melody. Doesn’t a certain melody suddenly come to mind? Beethoven’s pastoral melody! “Ta-ta-ta~ Ta-ta-ta, something like this.”

“······.”

“Try to approach the competition that way. Do you understand?”

······ therefore.

He was a tiring person when you got close to him.

As I was trying to sneak away without answering, another unknown person came next to me.

“Turner! Are you still in check? Even to a kid like this? “It’s jingle.”

“No, Luca. Would I even do that to him? “This time, I just gave you sincere advice.”

“what?”

“For this competition, just focus on music.”

“So you said you wanted to be first.”

“yes.”

“Wouldn’t this guy want to be first?”

“so? Seojin?”

“······.”

A woman called Luca answered for me.

“look! “If you keep bothering people…”

“You’re not harassing me, are you? And then what?”

Mr. Luca pulled out his sword.

“Early? To the contest officials.”

“······.”

“So don’t bother the child.”

“I’m not a ‘kid’?”

“For now, stay still. “The public enemy is out there.”

After about a second, I nodded quietly.

“yes.”

“yes? yes? Seojin, did you say yes? “I sincerely want to help you!”

When Mr. Luca immediately raised his hand and pretended to call someone, Turner hurriedly disappeared somewhere.

Leaving behind the sound of ‘Black!’

‘uh······.’

I must have made some mistake in Brussels.

Since the people in suits and dresses were quiet, I thought there were a lot of serious people…

In the end, the Queen Elizabeth Competition was also a gathering of young people in their 20s.

I started by saying thank you.

“thank you. Mr. Luca.”

“······ Seed? How old do I look? “Why is it called that?”

“It was just an expression of courtesy.”

“I see. But what is the answer?”

I did some subtraction and answered that I was 17, and only then did Luca slightly relax her frozen expression.

He said he was 19 years old and introduced himself again.

“really! “I heard you had a relationship with Teacher Laurent?”

“uh? “How do you know that?”

“I heard the story directly yesterday. I also have a connection with Teacher Laurent. In a way, can we say that we are alumni?”

“But I’ve never learned music separately from pianist Laurent?”

“That goes for me too. It was literally just a connection. To commemorate that…”

Sister Luca took something out of her small handbag and handed it to me.

They say it is a new product purchased from a high-end Belgian chocolate shop.

Umm…

I found out that he was a really nice person.

“thank you.”

“Your expression has brightened a lot?”

“You defeated the enemy together with your sister.”

“Ah, Turner? That’s right. “Isn’t this the power of alumni?”

Sister Lucas pokes my side with her elbow.

I put chocolate in my mouth and munched on it while looking around the banquet hall.

Participants from all walks of life.

Laughing, talking, being nervous, looking forward…

Now I see that they are all the same person.

Before the banquet ends.

Participants took turns drawing lots.

I picked number 47 and got to play it on the last day.

* * *

The Queen Elizabeth Competition started two days ago.

The first and second teams of the first round successfully completed the contest.

Among them, Jankowski, who is receiving the most attention in this competition, showed overwhelming skills and attracted the attention of the judges and audience.

It’s famous and empty.

Articles began pouring in that Russia’s small light was finally starting to burn brightly.

As if they had already decided that he would win, people in Brussels mentioned Jankowski’s name first.

There were also many stories about other participants.

There was also media heaping praise on Brian Turner’s skillful performance, saying it was a beautiful performance.

There were also those who were impressed by the performances of pianist Lee Hyun-joo from Korea and Luca from France.

In fact, the two female pianists showed equally excellent performances at the Beaux-Arts.

Critics did not spare a word after seeing the performance of the two, saying that they had enough skills to advance to the finals.

In addition, there were many participants who surprised people with their amazing performances.

This year, there are especially more performers receiving attention than in previous years.

The atmosphere at Queen Elizabeth was getting hotter than ever.

It may be obvious in some ways, but interest in the ‘youngest contestant’ was gradually decreasing.

Because there were many performers who looked more amazing than that kid.

Because it seemed very difficult for that child to advance to the finals.

People who thought it only meant ‘youngest contestant’ didn’t pay much attention to the child.

Of course, some masters and judges had completely different thoughts.

Palais des Beaux-Arts in Brussels.

Entering the concert hall there, Russian maestro Bashanov exchanges a warm greeting with Kang Yu-han.

“You look healthier than last year. “I think I’ll be on active duty for another 20 years.”

“But that’s not true. Now it’s difficult to perform about 10 times a year. “I’m getting older.”

Chinese master Lang Yu, who was listening to the two’s story, spoke up.

“Last year, I saw a performance by pianist Yuhan Kang in Germany. “To be honest, you’re still the same.”

“haha. “I’m glad my playing sounded like that.”

“however······. When on earth did you train such a disciple? “This time, I got to see Han Seo-jin’s pretrial video, and I was really surprised.”

Kang Yu-han smiled slightly.

“Did you see Seojin like that too?”

“It was unbelievable. “He seemed like a genius who only comes along once every 100 years.”

Bashanov, who had reviewed the preliminary trial video with Lang Yu, speaks for him.

“This is a kid I’m very excited about. If this contest goes well… He could become a star beyond the classical music world.”

“Isn’t it too early to make predictions?”

“He’s already playing at the next level. It went beyond the level of skill. I wish I could see a performance like that today. If only I could do that… I’m sure Brussels will recognize that child’s voice.”

Those who praise their students highly.

Kang Yu-han just smiled kindly.

At that time, a cute girl next to Kang Yu-han asked a question in Korean.

“Are you by any chance talking about my brother?”

“haha. “How did you know that?”

“I heard the word ‘Seojin’ in the middle. “Can I give them some candy?”

“not without reason?”

“It means please take good care of my brother. Huh! “Professor, you may not know, but I am actually acting as your brother’s manager.”

Kang Yu-han, who burst into laughter after hearing Su-yeon’s story, of course answered in the affirmative.

“Thank you.”

“You are that child’s younger brother?”

Lang Yu and Bashanov took each piece of candy Suyeon gave them and then smiled deeply.

Meanwhile.

A similar story was going on in the audience far away from them.

They took their seats in front of a desk covered with a red cloth.

They were the 17 Queen Elizabeth judges.

“It’s finally today.”

“You said it was number 47, right?”

“That’s right. Seojin Han. Number 47.”

“Can we really show a performance that is as good as that video?”

“well······. I’m hoping so. “It was great in the CNN interview video.”

“ah! That? I saw it too. “It was pretty good.”

“I want the child to have a general understanding of the piano. Only then will we be able to make it to the finals.”

“Iknow, right.”

Those who were talking in whispers fell silent when they heard the bell ringing in the hall.

10 minutes to go.

From then on, the review had to begin in earnest.

Time passed quickly.

The final team screening of the first round began, starting with number 41.

Beethoven, Mozart, Bach, Handel, Liszt…

Participants prepared various songs.

The first preliminary round consisted of free songs and only had to last more than 10 minutes, so some performers prepared two or even three songs.

In a normal competition, participants are all asked to play the same song and are compared.

However, the authoritative Queen Elizabeth was confident that she would accurately evaluate whatever song the contestant had prepared.

Before I knew it, the 46th performance had begun.

The audience that filled the Beaux-Arts Hall quietly watched the performers.

The audience came to watch the first preliminary round, not the finals.

Most of them were European classical music fans who came to see the Queen Elisabeth Competition every year.

When the performer slightly misses the touch, many people in the audience take a deep breath.

Those who could respond to only one note among many had come to Brussels.

The judges were also busy moving their fans while listening to the 46 performances.

‘I think I’m too nervous.’

‘It’s a shame. I started shaking after a missed touch. It was good until then.’

‘Point deduction…. Deducted points… Deducted points… It will be difficult to get past the first round.’

‘The interpretation has become strange. ‘Do you think we can go back to the way things were?’

‘Tsk. Mozart, who was sleeping in his grave, has now woken up.’

A sober assessment.

Number 46, who was tapping the piano keys with his teeth clenched until the end of the song, stood up after hearing a small round of applause from the audience.

Number 46 made an effort to keep his stiff expression, greeted the audience, and returned to the waiting room.

“Participant number 47 is Seojin Han from South Korea.”

The contest host bows his head and informs the judges of their turn.

Two minutes were given between participants.

The time when the contestants on stage return to the waiting room and the contestants in the waiting room come out.

In normal cases, participants come straight to the stage and perform.

There was no need to waste time and upset the judges.

however······.

Participant number 47 did not appear even after 1 minute and 20 seconds had passed.

‘Did you go to the bathroom somewhere?’

‘I’m disappointed if you’re nervous.’

‘The youngest participant. ‘That’s probably the only way the name will remain.’

’37 seconds. 36 seconds. 35 seconds. Umm. ‘It must be difficult.’

The red electronic clock on the stage continues to blink and the numbers decrease.

When there are 30 seconds left.

Finally, the waiting room door opened.

Participant number 47, Seojin Han, slowly walks to the center of the stage.

The audience began to murmur softly when they saw his appearance.

Because that boy looked younger than anyone else who played at the Queen Elisabeth Competition.

The boy puts one hand on the grand piano.

I raise my head slightly and look at Beaux-Arts.

The boy soon greets the audience with a faint smile.

Even though there are only 20 seconds left…

That boy was relaxed.

Thanks to that appearance, the judges laughed a little.

‘I need to know one thing about confidence.’

‘ruler. ‘Can you show me a performance worthy of that appearance?’

‘The appearance of a pianist. Are you saying that you are the one leading the stage?’

‘haha. Has there ever been a participant like that in Queen Elizabeth’s history?’

‘It’s fun.’

The boy was already sitting on the piano chair.

Unbutton and sweep back the tailcoat.

He stared into space.

5 seconds.

4 seconds.

3 seconds.

2 seconds.

That moment.

The boy’s hands fall on the keyboard.

As if he would not be swayed by anything, the boy closed his eyes and started playing.

Frédéric Chopin’s Prelude.

Frederic Chopin – Prelude in D flat major Op. 28No. 15.

This beautiful melody by Chopin is commonly called ⌜Raindrop Prelude⌟.

It slowly flows out through the boy’s languid hands.

⌜Raindrop Prelude⌟ was not a song commonly chosen by Queen Elizabeth Competition participants.

Because the difficulty level was surprisingly easy, it was a very difficult song to appeal to the judges and audience.

But that boy…

As if the difficulty of the song has nothing to do with it.

I began to express this lyrical song calmly.

A♭ on the left hand represents endless raindrops.

slowly.

Well, by dragging it long enough.

Raindrops fall sadly from the sky.

The raindrops never stopped.

From heaven to earth.

Drop by drop. Drop by drop.

It falls endlessly.

Down there.

It digs up the soil in the forest and seeps deep into the ground.

The melody the boy creates…

It was very sad and beautiful.

Then, one of Queen Elizabeth’s judges stopped moving his pen.

He put the pen down on the table.

Here for a while.

I just watched the boy.

I just watched the melody being created by his infinitely delicate hands.

‘I can’t believe I can express this tone with a piano… This······. I can’t believe it…’

The thoughts that the pianist has…

It fills the space of Brussels with silence.