At the end of classes on their first day, Akkad gave Qi Mu atask: develop all the pictures they took over the past few days.
In fact, this was strange from the start. Now with digital technology,it was rare to find a full-fra SLR cara like his professor's that stillused tape.
Although Qi Mu didn't understand, he went and developed thehundreds of photos. Then he sat and looked through them all, the beautiful sceneryand rare shot of himself laughing, and his heart trembled. . . Now, heunderstood.
Akkad ntioned he lived like the dead, refusing to lethimself go.
So. . . his teacher dragged him around to play so he couldlet go a little?
A vulnerable smile touched Qi Mu's lips, warmth swelling inhis chest. His teacher might be old-fashioned, eccentric, and temperantal, but.. . he was cute.
He carried the photo album to the music room and saw Akkad sittingon the sofa with a few scores in hand.
The large windows faced south, and the warm sunlightfiltered through the glass, giving the room a subtle glow. Qi Mu walked overand set the album on the table.
Akkad hardly acknowledged him aside from opening the album torandom pages. He looked up at Qi Mu, "Well, Small Seven's photography anddevelopnt skills are good, we'll go out and play so."
Qi Mu, caught between tears and laughter, suggested, "Teacher,I do not understand. . . how about you take a picture later?"
"Small Seven, I'll let you take a picture of , are youstill not happy?"
The two laughed then Akkad set aside the album and looked athim. His expression was stern as he stared at the youth opposite him, "When youdeveloped them. . . what did you feel?"
Qi Mu's lips curled at the corners, and he replied, "Yes, Ifelt. . . I was forced to play so much to make teacher happy."
". . ."
After repeating "Don't care about the child" three tis inhis heart, Akkad snorted. "Feel good about yourself. I have a song here. Youshould be familiar with it, but after a couple weeks, I hope to hear adifferent version."
Qi Mu sighed in relief, "Teacher, what song is it?"
Akkad handed him the score he had set side, and Qi Mu openedthe cover. When he saw the na, he stilled. He looked up at Akkad in amazentand saw his teacher wore a terrible smile as he spoke, "Paganini 24, the 24th Capriccio."
The pure white cover had a single white character——
《i》
When Farrell recomnded Qi Mu to Akkad, he had emphasized, "Theboy's skilled. His grasp for rhythm and tone is incredibly accurate, especiallyon a Paganini song. His technique was beautiful and smooth, his perception isunique and creative."
And for Qi Mu, when Farrell ntioned Akkad's na, hisfirst reaction was: "the contemporary Paganini."
Akkad recorded many albums in his life, an among them, hisrecording of the "24 Caprices" was the most outstanding. The Master often playedthe 24 songs at concerts, and the depth of his feelings toward Paganini's rhapsodiesbrought him to the pinnacle of his career.
But. . . Qi Mu didn't understand one facet of Akkad's words.
"Teacher. . . A different version? You want to adapt thissong?" Qi Mu could only ask this after thinking about it for a while.
Akkad nodded. "Didn't I say it at the end of Bai Ai's concertlast week that I wanted you to practice adapting a song? This is the first. Ihope to hear an innovative 24th Capriccio, unlike anything I've heard before.Small Seven, you will have to integrate yourself with this song, and in twoweeks, show what you pull out."
This kind of task was difficult, but Qi Mu was not afraid.
The sun's golden light poured through the window onto theface of this young man. Qi Mu nodded, his tone brisk, "Alright, Teacher, I willwork hard."
Qi Mu was excellent with Paganini's songs——sothing manypeople knew.
But, being good did not an he was proficient at everysong. Unfortunately, he was only familiar with the 24th Capriccio. If Akkad wantedhim to play it, he could imdiately, but. . .
Asking him to make an adaptation, that was a bit embarrassing.
Especially because it was so familiar, if he closed his eyes,the lody of the song rang in his ear. It was a ferocious obstacle in his pathto adapt it. For a long ti, he didn't know what to do.
The situation was so stagnant that he left the music for twodays, took it up every now and then to practice, but he still had no idea.
He was most likely too imrsed in the music and could not pullhimself away from it. The next evening, when he returned to his apartnt, he rubbedhis hair dry as he walked out of the bathroom and heard his phone buzzing. QiMu picked up his phone and found six texts and a missed call.
Qi Mu opened the last ssage and was surprised to see thesender.
Min Chen: 【What happened? Reply quickly.】
Qi Mu checked the ti on the next ssage. It was sent threehours ago——
Min Chen: 【How are you?】
Another half an hour later——
Min Chen: 【Are you busy?】
After another half an hour——
Min Chen: 【Qi Mu？】
The last two were almost at the sa ti.
【？】
【What happened？】
Half an hour later, Min Chen directly called him, but Qi Muwas in the shower and didn't hear it. Qi Mu didn't know the man was patientenough to send so many ssages.
He smiled and texted back: 【Sorry, I was thinking about a song allafternoon and didn't even notice my phone vibrating. I'm not doing anything.】
Not long after, there was a reply: 【Hmmm.】
Another ca a mont later: 【What song?】
Qi Mu thought about Akkad's original task and said: 【Paganini's24th Capriccio. Teacher wants to innovate it.】
Qi Mu canceled the vibration on his phone and continued toweldrying his hair. He looked in the mirror and thought: . . . When did my hair get so long?
He didn't get to linger on that thought for long, as hisphone suddenly rang. Qi Mu jerked a little in surprise and grabbed his phone. Hechecked the flashing na and picked up the call. "Min Chen?"
The man's magnetic voice passed over the line all the wayfrom distant London, "Hmmm. Is the adaptation demanding?"
Qi Mu wasn't expecting the question and laughed a little, "Teacherdidn't have any requests other than giving him sothing new in two weeks. Ihaven't a clue, and it's been two days. I don't know about demanding but. . . probablyhigh?"
Min Chen was silent for a long ti.
Since the other didn't intend to reply, Qi Mu added, "I'm abit lost on how to start. I've adapted songs before, but never a classic track.. . I'm a little hopeless."
After a mont of silence, Min Chen's quiet voice asked, "Isit convenient for you now?"
Qi Mu looked around and smiled in reply, "I'm at myapartnt, it should be?"
"Well, I happen to be in a music room."
Qi Mu: ". . ."
"I'm at the house in London, there's a music room here."
. . .
Various rumors he had heard from mbers of the ViennaSymphony Orchestra flashed through Qi Mu's mind, specifically: there were overa dozen Steinway nine-foot grand pianos in the Bertram family. At first, he hadthought it was a joke, but. . .
To have a music room with a piano in London as well. . .
It's possible to have over a dozen, ah. . .
Not noticing the strange silence, there were a few crispsounds of a piano over the line then Min Chen said, without waiting for Qi Mu'sresponse, "The piano version of 24th Capriccio is famous. If it'sconvenient for you, listen to this version first."
Qi Mu thought of declining but suddenly recalled what Akkadsaid. "Min Chen has that point, the oneyou're missing." So he accepted the other's kindness and smiled, "Alright,I'm afraid I must trouble you."
After a mont, the rapid notes of a piano spilled from thephone's speaker. They leaped like the steps of a dance, twisting dramatically betweentension and confrontation.
Qi Mu could envision the man on the other side of the phone,his fingers dancing over the black and white keys.
Because it was transmitted over the line, there were sodeviations in the sound, but even then, it couldn't weaken the elegance of thispiece's music.
After Liszt adapted Paganini's 24th Capriccio forthe piano, it beca a favorite for many piano prodigies. Liszt was the crazymaster of illusion, and his skill on the piano spanned across the era, earningthe disdain of his peers.
In fact. . . Min Chen could also be regarded as soone wholiked to show off his skill, right?
He rembered 《The Night Tsunami》 theman had played at Hong Kong Disneyland. At the ti, the man's slender fingersfly over the piano's keys as though they were born for it.
There was a beautiful portanto, and it pulled Qi Mu from themory. Shortly after, the short 24th Capriccio ended, and silenceremained.
"The piano and violin are a bit different, but there arestill. . . so things in common. If you have questions, call any ti."
Qi Mu's face broke into an uncontrollable smile, "Alright."
Teacher really was being playful, ah.
Look at Min Chen, how zealous, how kind, ah!
Translator(s): Bet
Editor(s): Bet
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