The day of the piano competition finals arrived without a hitch.
Most of the locals and guests from the allied kingdoms were all wearing cheerful expressions, while those from the Vanderfords were all shrouded by gloom.
The attitudes of the delegates from the Green Wave Continent were still as elusive as people knew they were.
Regardless of these circumstances, everyone was looking forward to the events before the conclusion of the tournament.
The venue was already full and jam-packed. This was because more spectators were now available to watch the finals.
This also gave the usually unpopular music competition to become the main event in the tournament.
This time, Eli did not leave Desmond's side from start to finish.
Moreover, access to the backstage was also more stringent than before due to the previous incident.
And so only the mentor and participant are allowed to enter, and they have their own resting spots throughout the competition. Only a select few from the organizers were also allowed to roam around the area, and all else must be on the audience side.
Eli took a quick glance at the audience area and immediately noticed the surroundings of the stage.
She then looked around and whispered to her student, "Desmond, do remember the 3rd lesson I gave to you back then?"
"Yes mentor… about sound projection and how different would it affect my music if I play in different places…" Desmond softly answered, ensuring that no one else will hear.
"Indeed… since you are the first person to play, you must keep in mind that you are playing in a venue full of audiences… You have to play differently this time, watch your pedaling and fingering.
Take advantage that your piece had those slow opening notes and hear how the sound projects. Although you will be at a disadvantage because the first section of your piece lies on the lower register of the piano… but I trust that you will know how to manage that." Eli smiled and gave Desmond her last reminder and tips.
She knew that Desmond practiced so much for this moment. She will not allow his performance to be dampened by the mere neglect of the surroundings of the hall.
For classical music especially in their era, it is important for a musician to know how they will let their music be heard from the front stage to the farthest person at the back.
Eli saw to it that she taught these basics to Desmond, Lainie, and even their orchestra group, so that they will know how to deal with playing in different types of atmospheres, just like today.
"Yes, mentor! I have also practiced different sets of pedaling routines so that I can adjust to the music before realizing it too late. Thank you for your reminder!" Desmond nodded and breathed deeply.
"Alright, off you go!" Eli tapped his shoulder once again as his name was called on stage.
'This is it…' Desmond looked at the view of the piano backstage, it was particularly bright in the stage area and he could barely see the people in the audience.
But he was sure that all eyes were on him at the moment.
The hall was silent, and all Desmond could hear was the rustling of his tailcoat as he carefully sat on the piano stool.
The bright yellowish light showered his nervous countenance in the hall. Raya and the bunch clasped their hands in prayer to wish him well throughout the performance.
There were only five finalists in this rigorous competition, and he was the very first one to perform.
Now he had two goals.
First, to perform really well and set the bar high for the succeeding pianists.
Second, to perform so brilliantly that the jury would not even dare to forget his music even as the tournament ended.
It was a bold and ambitious goal, but Desmond who was stepping out in the open on such a big stage like this felt that it would be worth a try.
Sonata in B flat minor Opus 32, is the very first sonata published by Frédéric Fran?ois Chopin. This is one of the monumental works he made as it was made at the time when the classical era and romantic era is in the midst of transitioning.
The piece was created at the point where there was great pressure in Chopin's life back then. He was dealing with the pressure of making new music that must not hide in the shadows of Beethoven's works while dealing with society, his health issues, and matters of the heart.
For Desmond, the story behind this music captured his heart really well and he felt that he had an affinity with the composer of the music.
And so he decided to play this even at the risk of being questioned like Raya for playing another 'lost piece'.
Dun… dun dun…
Feeling his fingers run across the keys, a haunting melody started to play.
Desmond took time, a slightly slower tempo to let the sound travel in the large hall. On the first measure, he was able to get the audience's attention.
Dun…
After another string of notes, exciting yet panicky music started to play. It was like the sound of horses running fast from something, afraid that the one that chases would catch up.
Thus the first theme was introduced, and it was death.
In just a few measures, the jury and the audience all knew what the music was all about, and they were able to connect with the fear of death catching them.
Suddenly, the music slowed down. As if entering a different world, lovely and romantic. The audience was taken aback, from death, there was love.
How come?
Desmond took this moment to feed their interest by playing the next part of the first movement, which is actually a fight between the two themes, death and love.
A shocking battle of melodies flowed in the ears of the audience, making them immersed with intrigue and fascination.
The chasing melody of death and the gentle caressing notes of love, how could this sound so perfectly like this?
How does such a contrasting theme sound perfectly in their ears?
After that, they were carried away by a dramatic exchange of the two themes in the recapitulation stage.
In a moment of rest, the listeners prepared for another journey for the second movement. Since the first movement was such an aggressive melody, the people somehow expected that the music would be slower and more relaxed.
However, the next movements of the sonata were getting deeper, desolate, and emotional.
Only when they heard the third movement that they realized that Desmond was already playing a funeral march.
Instantly, the people understood what the music was all about - especially the citizens of Prasinos.
In their minds was the imagery of death and chaos that was brought by the curse users during the war.
And the funeral march triggered them to remember their lost loved ones whom they shared a part of themselves with.
Desolation, emptiness, and confusion.
Why do they have to go?
Why do they have to run?
Why do they have to hide?
Why do they have to watch their loved ones die helplessly under the oppression of evil ones?
These, and all their emotions and experiences awakened their minds as tears and pain flowed into their eyes.
Yes, they were the blessed ones who survived.
But they were also the ones cursed to live through the pain of being left behind.
Left behind to remember the lost lives…
The entire auditorium was destroyed by the pain and the struggle, reliving the hard times.
The music was not only able to affect the locals who witnessed the pain of the war. Even the jury and the rest of the foreign spectators were also affected by the piece.
It was such a sorrowful, painfully beautiful piece written in such an ingenious way.
To end it with a funeral march could not bring them any more pain… and so they thought.
The last movement was actually short, simple in construction and melody, and yet, it was the perfect conclusion in such a piece that contained a theme of death.
Notes weaved upward and downward, like a struggle of a person going up and falling down the stairs.
Continuously repeating struggling in many different ways.
Up until the end, the audience finally understood the last part - it was the tale of man's life and the beauty of his death.
After the last note, the hall was completely silent.
How could the people, including the jury, recover from such a heavy and spiritual piece?
Moreso when they were listening to it in the middle of a competition?
Generations will pass, yet the tale of a young pianist would continue to be told to the young ones.
Here is a man, who brought such a profound piece.
Brought a piece of lost music to life through the music about death.
The pianist Desmond, the student of the great inventor and musician Eli, made his name known at this very moment, on this very stage.
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