Chapter 114
Chapter 114
Khrutaf was a skilled violinist who loved to show off, so much so that people now think of difficult pieces when Khrutafs name is mentioned.
After all, of the ten most difficult violin pieces in the world, Krutafs works account for more than half of the list. But the most technically proficient piece, Flowing Water, comes in second place among the ten.
Not to mention that Khrutaf has always made many enemies in the music industry because of his arrogant character.
In modern times, people tend to focus more on the feelings conveyed in the music than on the so-called violin techniques. Thats why the producer of this list gave the first place to the concerto of one of the greatest composers. Because this composer experienced the highest points and nightmares of his life one after another, he put all his feelings about life into this concerto, and no one can fully grasp the emotions of this piece.
Even when this piece is played, it often requires different violinists to play different movements. Even the fast and slow parts of a movement require different people to embody it.
The status of Flowing Water, known as the Devils Trill, has been declining in the music world today, as some people are slowly arguing that despite the difficulty of the technique required, Flowing Water is no different from the rest of Khrutafs showy pieces. Some have even suggested that Flowing Water should give up the second place.
However, Qing Yun did not think so. In his opinion, Flowing Water is not inferior to the first place Concerto in D major.
It was Qing Yuns turn to take the stage. He took his instrument and stepped onto the stage with determined footsteps.
The venue for the International Music Competition was at the most famous Capital Opera House, and it had been a long time since Xiang Chenyu had been on such a grand stage. When he used to play in the open square, this cheerful boy never knew how to be nervous.
But now, as soon as he held the bow, his body would unconsciously tense up like a stiff robot. Even when Qing Yun had just crossed over, he could feel the trembling of this body.
Everyone criticized Xiang Chenyus mechanical playing, but no one knew how hard he struggled to catch the tones from the violin with his right ear and how hard he tried to control himself from making mistakes.
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But even so, even with such difficulties, this young man loves the violin so much because it is the only light in his life and the only link to his carefree childhood.
The hosts enthusiastic voice rang out, Here is the twelfth contestant, Xiang Chenyu, with his performance Khrutafs Flowing Water!
With that, the host gave a faintly unnoticeable pause. Why didnt his card state exactly which movement of Flowing Water the twelfth contestant was going to play?
Its impossible for him to play the whole piece, right?
Oh, God bless this arrogant fellow! The host shrugged helplessly, thinking that maybe the person who did the count below had made a careless mistake. Otherwise, he didnt believe that someone would dare to challenge the second movement of Flowing Water in this small preliminary round, which would be a big mess if he wasnt careful.
As soon as the judges heard the track announced by the host, some of them immediately looked unhappy, while others raised their eyebrows in surprise but did not comment. The only two technical judges among the ten judges did not look very good either.
For in the opinion of the sentimentalist judges, the fact that this player chose Khrutafs piece despite their presence was, in a sense, a provocation to them.
The two technical judges, however, regarded Khrutafs Flowing Water as a divine piece in their hearts. Even they could not fully guarantee that they could play the second movement well at all, so how could they possibly expect anything from a student of the conservatory in the preliminary round?
There was even an angry judge who gave Qing Yun a zero before he even heard his performance.
Of course, this hot-tempered judge was only an exception. Due to their upbringing, most of the judges did not show their displeasure too obviously, even if they were upset. After all, it was only the preliminary round. But when the audience heard the name of the next contestant, they immediately became disinterested.
The viewers watching the live broadcast of the competition on their computers made their own comments.
[Xiang Chenyu? emmmm Ill go play a game first and then come back, or call me when his brother Xiang Chenjin comes oh]
[Hahaha, why are you all leaving? Id like to see him play Flowing Water incorrectly!]
[Furious! I hope he wont insult the Flowing Water in my heart! One should be self-aware and not easily attempt what they cannot do.]
[The technical party upstairs, retreat now. Do not say that Flowing Water as if it is very high-grade. It is just some meaningless notes. You Khrutaf party can leave!]
[No, no, no, I dont think its a problem with the piece. This guy seems to be very boring every time he plays. Although he doesnt make mistakes, I always think his tone is too mechanical. No matter how emotional the piece is, in his hands, it will be ruined.]
[I agree with the upstairs. Its like ruining the song. I really dont know how Xiang Chenyu was hailed as a prodigy when he was a child].
There were sarcastic remarks about Xiang Chenyus skills, as well as attacks on Khrutaf and the song Flowing Water, which made Xiang Chenyu and the piece he was going to perform a target.
It is no wonder that the audience reacted strongly because Xiang Chenyus previous performance was indeed not satisfying enough. Still, his skillful technique was praised, and that is why he was able to enter the preliminary finals.
However, everyone who heard his music said that there was something missing in his music, which is why it was tasteless. Those who are still on the scene or squatting in front of their computers to watch his performance are already in the minority. Some of them have already left in boredom, thinking to wait until the next contestant comes on stage before coming back.
More than the booing, the seats below the stage were mostly empty, which was the worst situation for performers. Qing Yun did not care about the reaction of the people off stage. After all, he had already suffered the sharpest attacks and had already received the highest praise. He was in a state of mind that had long been pampered and disgraced.
He held the violin in his left hand and slowly rested his cheek on the cheek rest. He wanted to completely release this poor boys dream and his hearts unswerving love for music.
The hot-tempered judge, who angrily gave Qing Yun a zero score, was about to brush his sleeves away when a strange tone struck him.
The judges musically sensitive ears twitched twice, and he just froze and let the notes flow into his ears like water, invading his nerves.
It is an extremely strange sound, like the cold and unforgiving rules of nature. However, it carries a quiet leap, as if something precious is sprouting.
The melodious sound of the violin, accompanied by the figure of the teenager with his eyes closed, broke into the hearts of the crowd at once.
The viewers, who were just about to get up and leave in front of the computer, could not help but be attracted by the music that was like the tinkling of water and stopped in their tracks.
The drizzling rain, the tinkling of the spring, and the rustling of the stream, these sounds of nature in all its natural glory came from the hands of that dark-haired teenager.
In an instant, they were taken from the noble and wide opera house to the mountain forest where the fine rain was drizzling.
Is this just the sound of water? No, there seems to be something in the sound that makes people look forward to it. It is brewing, lying dormant, but makes people want to pursue it, just like expecting a newborn baby.
Even indescribable anxiety is conveyed in the first movements slow movement. This anxiety is like watching a chick pecking away at an eggshell and like a father wandering back and forth outside the delivery room.
Water, which nurtures life.
Xiang Chenyu has already learned Khrutafs life by heart to better master this piece. From Qing Yuns own experience, it seems that Flowing Water, as the last piece of Khrutafs work, definitely had a different significance in his life.
In his later years, Khrutaf experienced a serious illness. Still, he was lucky enough to pass the test of life and death and win the battle against the disease.
The recovered Khrutaf became exceptionally open and spontaneous. He did not hang around in various high-class concerts anymore. Moreover, with a change from his usual arrogance, he devoted himself to nature. He dragged his old body, saw the whole worlds mountains and landscapes, and composed the piece Flowing Water, which surprisingly used the stringed instrument to perfectly express the various sounds of flowing water.
After making the Flowing Water piece, Khrutaf never wrote anything else. He even passed away helplessly the day before the performance of Flowing Water.
However, it is recorded that Khrutaf passed away without any regrets, and his face was full of peace.
Some say it was because he had finally made the ultimate breakthrough in his technique and that Flowing Water was already at the top of his game, which is why he passed away so peacefully.
Qing Yun, who had struggled with his illness for thousands of years, did not think so. He can fully appreciate the transformation one can obtain after overcoming fate.
The reason why the high-minded Khrutaf stopped showing off his skills was that the piece Flowing Water completely overturned the previous creed of his life, and even more so, brought him a new life.
At the end of the first movement, after a tiny pause, the tempo suddenly turns faster, and a new life has sprouted out. Everyones mood cant help but become cheerful, and the music is like a merry flowing river emitting laughter.
At this point, even the camera crew could not help but squint their eyes and began to sway their bodies to the music. The camera was fixed on the teenagers slightly curled mouth.
No one wondered if the youth would skip the second movement.
Because the second movement had already arrived. The extremely technical trills emerged, and the river flowed with occasional ripples. While the joy was hidden in the heart, anxiety, and worry emerged again.
The rhythm of the music accelerated, but a silent depression surfaced in peoples hearts. The audience present could not help but widen their slightly narrowed eyes to look at the young man on the stage who was immersed in his own music.
His forehead was already seeping with sweat, and his expression had become grave.
Here it comes, the Devils Trill.
It was the ultimate depression. The constantly bubbling tremolo portrayed a strange but familiar drumming. No one knows what sound it belongs to. Someone once used electronic instruments to simulate each movement of Flowing Water and then analyzed, section by section, exactly how many sounds of flowing water are depicted in this piece.
They all managed to correspond the music to the flowing water in nature, except for the second movement.
No one knows exactly what sound the second movement depicts, which is why it is named Devils Trill. But Qing Yun knew that the second movement was more than just flowing water. This movement depicted the blood pumping in the human body.
It is the sound of blood rushing into the heart and is pumped out violently. Even more so, the sound of blood continuously drumming in the arteries.
This sound makes humans subconsciously feel oppressed, yet they cant break free and can only stare at the teenager on the stage.
Pain, sorrow, and unexpressed surprise all intertwined and exploded in the hearts of the listeners!
Inside the lounge, Xiang Chenjin jerked up from his seat and took his eyes off his phone. This is Flowing Water? The Flowing Water which is known for its technique?
Xiang Chenjin looked in the direction of the stage in disbelief. Usually, even when musicians played Flowing Water, people were mostly judging their skills.
But now, who can spare their mind to evaluate the youths playing skills?
They were all completely pulled into the realm of music by the teenager, and the emotions contained in this piece had filled their heads, leaving them no room to think about the so-called musical techniques!
Seeing that the second movement was about to end, Xiang Chenjin looked at the players in the lounge who were also immersed in the music and couldnt help but grit his teeth in anticipation, make a mistake! Make a mistake!
There is a very difficult twist at the end of the second movement, and no one but the best violinist will be able to go through it smoothly!
However, Qing Yun would never let Xiang Chenjin have his way.
In an instant, as if a hundred rivers had entered the sea, the previous depression was swept away. There was a vast expanse in front of them, and the rhythm contained in the music became stable.
Everyone could not help but exhale a breath, wiping the sweat from his face.
Immediately after the music calmed down, the expression of the youth on the stage also became relaxed. As if they had just experienced a big battle, the listeners all leaned back in their chairs and closed their eyes to enjoy the moment of peace.
The melodious and calm music turned into a trickle once again, but it was like two old people in their twilight years, holding hands and strolling in the sunset. They had walked through their lives, experienced various ups and downs, and finally entered the twilight of their lives.
The sound of the violin slowly became faint and disappeared, leaving only the soft gasp of the young man on stage and the sound of sweat hitting the violin case.
Everyone opened their eyes, but there was no desire to talk.
It was like waking up from a dream and having experienced a full life. This was the feeling everyone had and combined with their own unique experiences, each had their own unique taste in their hearts.
The young man quietly exited the stage already when the audience present remembered that they forgot to send their applause. Suddenly, the applause thundered, and the original sparse audience was stunned to hear the applause at this time. When they turned their heads and looked around, the companions who had left at the beginning somehow all walked back. They forgot to sit back in their seats and simply stood at the door with their reddened faces, applauding for the boy.
The scores will not be announced until the end of the competition.
The judge who had given Qing Yun a zero score was shamelessly grabbing his number plate back from the staff: No, no, no! No, no, no! Let me change it!
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