The Healing Life of a Music Genius - Chapter 99



Only Noblemtl

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* * *

Concours orientation has ended.

However, I heard that there are still documents that participants must sign in person.

After you fill it out, you can go back to your accommodation.

‘I said I would do my best to play… that’s what I said.’

This part definitely felt old. Although it can be interpreted as a competition with a lot of tradition.

At the refreshment corner on one side of the banquet hall, I selected snacks and plastic bottles of herbal tea one by one.

All of this is funded by participation fees for contest participants.

‘This can be said to be a legitimate right.’

After thinking for a moment, I chose another chocolate cookie. This should be okay. The number of snacks remaining seems to be sufficient. Even though there were 40 participants, they prepared quite well.

As I picked up the snacks and looked around, several participants caught my eye.

I see brothers and sisters who look a little older than me.

The upper age limit for the Ettlingen Competition was 17 years old.

In Korea, second year of high school.

Rather, it seemed like there were more participants in that age group.

‘I said I was the youngest.’

A few people who made eye contact with me slightly turned their heads.

And why are they whispering among themselves?

One interesting thing is…

“It’s him, right? “13 years old.”

“At that age? Ettlingen? “Is that possible?”

“He looks so young? Are you 13 years old? “Anna is 14 years old.”

“More than that, how did you get Conductor Hoffman’s recommendation?”

“That doesn’t make sense?”

Their whispers could be heard quite clearly.

I don’t know if it was because of the structure of the hall or because they thought I couldn’t speak German and talked loudly.

Anyway, their voices were quite audible.

‘Well… that’s not important right now.’

I carefully opened one of the two cookies.

This is the first chocolate confectionery brand I have ever seen in my life.

It was a pretty tense moment.

‘I hope it’s delicious.’

Out of curiosity, I put one in my mouth. oh? This tastes pretty good…

“you! “How did you get recommended by Professor Hoffman?”

It’s a surprise!

I looked back and saw a blonde girl glaring at me. I looked at the girl’s face as she munched on her cookie.

The kid sitting across from my table.

‘Was it Anna Becker?’

The child suddenly started questioning me.

“Are you that good at playing the piano?”

“······?”

“I will never lose to you. “Just wait and see.”

I picked up the second cookie and ate it.

“The person who deserves the most attention here is me. Otherwise, I would feel very unfair.”

“······.”

“I’ve only been learning piano for three years. That’s so unfair. Do you know what would have happened if I had had the ‘opportunity to learn’ as much as the average other kids?”

I picked up the third cookie and ate it.

“He must be on a concert tour by now! I will reclaim the opportunity that was taken away. With my own hands! therefore······”

I picked up the fourth cookie and ate it.

Wow, but this is really delicious.

I would like to buy it as a gift when I return to Korea.

How many should I buy?

First of all, I thought I would have to buy it in boxes.

That way you won’t have any regrets.

While I was thinking about that, Anna Becker sighed in front of me.

“Whew. no. You don’t speak German. My thoughts were short. But how can a child who wants to learn German music not speak a word of German?”

“that······.”

“There is no need to force it. Still, I think people should at least study. Because that’s polite. You too, try to be polite from now on. “More than that.”

Anna said, looking straight into my eyes.

“You’re 13, right? “You look like a child.”

“······.”

wait for a sec.

I’m a lot bigger than last year?

You really grew up a lot?

You’ve grown up so fast?

The group I was chatting with just now also keeps seeing me as younger than 13 years old.

‘Is it because I’m Asian? I heard that Asians are relatively younger than Westerners. ‘So you look young?’

It felt a little unfair, so I said something.

In German, of course.

“I’m sorry, but I think you should be more polite.”

“······ uh?”

“When you meet someone for the first time, it’s polite to introduce yourself first. And I don’t think it’s polite to ask about the recommendations.”

“······.”

Anna Becker’s eyes grew wider.

“And I’m 13 years old. I also studied German hard to learn German music. Lastly, I think it is also impolite to judge others like you do.”

“······.”

“That’s just it. My name is Seojin Han. Please take care of me.”

“······.”

Anna Becker’s face is getting redder.

She shouted at me.

“You know how to speak German, so why didn’t you answer just now?”

“Because it’s polite not to talk while eating.”

“Stop being polite!”

“By the way, you started first.”

“That’s true!”

And then.

A boy with brown hair came between us. A good-natured look. He looked at me and said.

“I’m Louis Wolff. Our Anna seems a bit rude, doesn’t she? Sorry. “I will apologize on your behalf.”

“Louis!”

“But he’s not a bad kid. “He’s a little social, has no tact, only thinks about his own business, and speaks without thinking, but I think he’s basically a good person.”

“What are you saying to my competitor? And those are all bad points!”

“Oh, is that so?”

“······ competitor?”

Louis continues speaking while nudging Anna.

“Anna seemed to think that way about you. In fact, everyone is a competitor in a competition. Did you say your name is Han Seo-jin? “Is my pronunciation correct?”

“that’s right. “Exactly.”

Lewis explained things to me.

Anna Becker.

A gifted German pianist who is rising these days.

He also told me about the relationship between Mr. Hoffman and Anna.

“Anna is my favorite teacher. That’s why she’s jealous.”

“I’m not jealous!”

“You don’t have to listen to him. “I’m right.”

“why! why!”

“······.”

It feels like I’m watching some kind of comic. Still, after Lewis intervened, it seemed like conversation was at least possible.

So I briefly introduced myself.

I was attending a middle school in Korea, and I became connected to Mr. Hoffman through performing at a church in Germany.

When Lewis heard that story, his eyes lit up.

“I see. no wonder. “I didn’t think there was any way that Mr. Hoffman would just write a letter of recommendation.”

“I think I was lucky.”

“To be precise, I think all the participants here are lucky. “Receiving a letter of recommendation means meeting a good person.”

Louis Wolff. 15 years old.

A participant who goes to the same gifted center as Anna.

He seemed to have a fairly calm personality.

Lewis tried to introduce me to other friends.

But for now, I refused.

“I think I’ll end up hearing something similar to what Anna said to me.”

“What am I! “Are you funny?”

“but. Because now is the time to focus more on the ‘concours’. Everyone is risking their lives. Participants who must demonstrate their skills to receive sponsorship. Participants with an upper age limit. A participant who received great support from the country. “Everyone has no choice but to be sensitive.”

“Can’t you guys hear me?”

It was just as Lewis said.

While there were participants like us who were having conversations like this, there were also people who were studying sheet music even here.

After a while.

A contest official visited Anna and Louis. They were called separately to fill out the documents.

Anna glared at me and warned me until the end.

“I won’t lose! And I will be watching you closely during the first round. “If you don’t meet my expectations…”

“then?”

“Then I will be very disappointed in you! You can’t do that after receiving a letter of recommendation from Professor Hoffman! “I’m the only one here who deserves the best treatment!”

Then, he snorts and trudges towards me, saying “Hmph!”

Lewis chuckled as he looked at Anna like that and then said to me.

“Actually, I’m looking forward to you too. Because you were the one recommended by the teacher over the genius from Munich. “It would be very disappointing if I failed in the first round.”

Louis looks into my eyes for a moment.

Then he quickly goes to Anna’s side.

I smiled slightly at them.

Ultimately, these are children who have become sharp by competing to achieve results.

Even Lewis, who was mediating between me and Anna, seemed to have this side of him.

‘I think I’ve been like that too. It was a long time ago, though.’

Children who have been playing music since a young age and have nothing else to do.

Then…

‘You won’t be able to enjoy music as music.’

If I could take just one step back, I would be able to enjoy the music a little more.

I felt a little sad that I couldn’t do that.

‘Because I was just like those kids before I met Uncle Miller.’

Even so, I had no intention of making a fuss.

I didn’t think my story would work, and I knew very well that it wouldn’t work.

“Participant Seojin Han. “Please sign the document~”

When the competition official called me, I went to the front of the banquet hall.

and.

I immediately signed that I would do my best to perform.

* * *

Ettlingen, a small city in southern Germany.

I spent three days in Berlin and moved here.

At the center of the city was the huge and majestic Ettlingen Castle, with many cafes and shops lined up around it.

The day I arrived in Ettlingen.

All participants gathered on the first floor of the competition association building.

It was to decide the stage turn.

“I’m so nervous.”

“I hope it’s not the first one.”

“that’s right. The last number is better. “Number 1 is constantly compared to the last number.”

“Let’s just pick the middle number. Middle numbers only. “Not the first one…”

‘It’s like watching the entrance exam to middle school.’

Each participant who is called draws a ball with a number written on it.

The method was the all too familiar drawing of lots.

Still, after saying hello once, Anna Becker caught my eye a little more when she drew lots.

“Anna Becker, Germany, number 3!”

And I think it was the same for Anna. He walks away while glaring at me so much that light comes out of his eyes.

“Participant Seojin Han, please come forward.”

Finally, I was called.

All 39 participants look at me.

After glancing at them, I went forward and stood in front of the contest officials.

I put my hand into the box and pulled out the first ball caught.

There was no need to worry, and no reason to worry.

The contest official checked the ball I picked and immediately shouted.

“Han Seo-jin, Republic of Korea, number 1!”

I was the first.

* * *

Around morning.

One by one, people gathered at Ettlingen Palace.

They are busy chatting while holding the pamphlets handed out at the entrance.

Among them, a French woman in her 40s walked quickly.

There were times when she stopped walking for a moment because a few people recognized her, but it didn’t really matter.

‘It’s finally the day I can see that boy play in person.’

When young French master Chloe Laurent handed over her ticket at the entrance of the hall, a competition official flinched and greeted her.

“Chloe Laurent. “It is an honor to meet you.”

“you’re welcome. I want to be an audience member today, so feel free to guide me. Is the performance order as written in the pamphlet?”

“Ah yes. There are no changes. “It will proceed as is.”

“It’s good. “It will be fun.”

Inside the concert hall with luxurious decorations and numerous murals.

There, in the first row on the second floor, Chloe Laurent exchanged greetings with several musicians and then sat down.

There were separate judges’ seats on the first floor.

Even though there was quite a bit of time left until the competition started, some judges were already seated.

“I think everyone is curious about number 1. Looking at the judges coming out in such a hurry. “It’s probably because of the teacher’s recommendation.”

Hoffman smiled lightly at Chloe Laurent’s words.

“I guess so. “She would have been louder if she hadn’t stepped down as a judge.”

“You did a good job. “I heard you didn’t even meet that kid in Germany?”

“It did. “Because I didn’t want to be the subject of gossip.”

“Then I guess it’s up to that boy from now on. “Completely.”

2nd floor, 2nd row.

Kang Yu-han, who was sitting right behind them, briefly joined the conversation.

“By the way, that kid always did it on his own. And he always exceeded expectations.”

While Chloe Laurent was talking with Kang Yu-han, she noticed a pretty little boy sitting next to him. I wave her hand and she nods.

‘cute.’

The seats began to gradually fill up.

Chloe Laurent, who was chatting with musicians, glanced at her watch.

9:50.

The boy comes out in 10 minutes.

Concours officials announced the last entry time.

Now, no one can enter the concert hall until the intermission (break time between performances).

The judges’ seats were full.

There were a total of 11 judges, including Germans and musicians of various nationalities.

9:55 p.m.

The entire hall began to become quiet.

The audience today seemed very polite.

Since this is a competition that is open to the public and anyone can be an audience member, basic courtesy towards participants must be observed.

The participants must have put in a tremendous amount of effort to prepare for this contest.

At least it shouldn’t be a hindrance.

Even before the competition began in earnest, the audience began to remain silent.

For today’s great stage.

They eagerly waited for the performer.

9:57 p.m.

Ettlingen Competition officials came on stage.

It briefly explains the introduction and precautions about the contest.

The calm atmosphere continued.

9:59 p.m.

The door between the stage and the waiting room opened.

People started applauding.

Finally, the boy appeared.

Chloe Laurent looked at him quietly.

‘Can you satisfy the expectations of these many people? If you can’t do that, it’s going to be a pretty difficult competition. 1st round of finals. ‘This is really just the beginning.’

After saying hello, the boy immediately sat down in front of the piano.

I unbutton my suit and look intently at the keyboard.

Then suddenly I look at the audience.

Ettlingen Palace.

There was no sound in this hall where the competition was being held today.

People watched the participants’ actions,

The participant looked at the audience for a moment.

That series of actions was like…

‘You’re already a pianist.’

The boy looks at the keyboard again.

Are you concentrating?

The boy’s arm, which had been motionless, slowly rose.

and.

The performance started suddenly.

Beethoven Piano Sonata No. 17 Tempest (Storm).

Beethoven – Piano Sonata No. 17 d minor, “Tempest”

This song was written after Beethoven wrote a will-like letter when he had serious hearing problems.

Beethoven’s masterpiece, in which he overcame a death-like crisis that befell him solely through creation.

It is said that around this time, Beethoven sent this letter to his friend Kromholz.

‘I am not satisfied with my work so far. From now on, I want to take a new path.’

The boy was in no hurry, as if he was talking about the calm before the storm.

The arpeggio chords flow quietly.

Calm atmosphere.

But the storm came suddenly at some point.

The tempo changes to Allegro (fast), indicating a sense of crisis.

Numerous chords pour in, creating anxiety.

That was when the dramatic change raised the tension to its peak.

“her.”

One of the musicians in the first row on the second floor let out an exclamation.

Even before the first movement of the sonata was over, the boy had already raised the audience’s expectations to the very end.

No. 1 in Ettlingen.

It was the moment when the competition standards were set.