Old-time musicians

Fan Ning's gaze under his drowsy eyelids stayed for a few seconds longer on the words written down by Teacher Anton.

Then, little by little, my mind regained consciousness.

Music playing...is a ritual? What's the meaning?

Can a concert still be treated as a mystical ceremony? How come I have never thought of this idea, nor have I heard others discuss it?

Fan Ning compared some related hidden knowledge in his mind, and suddenly seemed to think of something.

He quickly unscrewed the cap of his pen, opened his notebook, and wrote down his guesses and analysis:

"The secret ceremony has its relatively fixed steps, and the music performance also has various stylized elements: entrance, greetings, lighting arrangements, sequence of the track list, the time sequence of each note of the music itself, audience etiquette, applause, curtain calls, Encore performances, exits..."

Fan Ning's eyes lit up as he wrote this.

Perhaps, there is some truth!

"Therefore, we might as well regard the performance of a serious music as a secret ceremony. Then, the performance venue constitutes the altar, the revelation of musical inspiration points to the witnesses, the conductor and performers are the executors, and the audience is the assistant or the influenced …The inspiration and sweat given by the musicians have become sacrifices, the musical instruments are naturally ritual vessels, and the music itself serves as a prayer. As for the secret atmosphere, on the one hand, it has something to do with the lighting arrangement of the performance venue (altar), on the other hand , major concert halls will also freely add different fragrances according to preferences..."

This can indeed be compared with the various characteristics of the secret ceremony!

"An unintentional valuable discovery in the field of mysticism... However, what enlightenment does it have on my current predicament? What is the specific methodology?"

Fan Ning fell into deep thought.

For example, what about the current, more special premiere?

"The most important thing about the secret ritual is to choose the appropriate form and steps. So for the premiere of my "Symphony No. 1", which has such a special significance, what is the most appropriate form and step?"

What does a premiere mean? ——Before this, that piece had never sounded in history, and had never been remembered by anyone; but after that, the date, time, participants, listeners, and subsequent reactions of the premiere have all become fixed. The history of China is gradually remembered by the world, whether big or small, long or short.

What are the qualities of the First Symphony? ——Long-length hints, symbols, foreshadowings, and penetrations all start from the images of nature...power accumulates in the subtleties, and is ultimately irreversible, overwhelming, until the arrival of divinity at the last moment.

An idea that was somewhat unrealistic at first appeared in Fan Ning's mind, but as he thought about it over and over again, he felt more and more that it might be feasible.

"Ding-a-ling-a-ling, jingle-a-ling-a-ling..."

The sudden phone call rang in an absolutely quiet environment, startling Fan Ning!

It was pitch black outside the window, the office building was empty, and the clock on the wall pointed to 4:45 in the morning!

"This is Teacher Anton's office. Who called? Someone knows that I come here often recently, but I don't spend the night here every day...at this time..."

"Hello?" His voice was alert and low.

"Mr. Fan Ning, I apologize for disturbing you late at night." The man on the other end of the phone spoke with a strong nasal voice.

"Who are you?..." Fan Ning felt that the voice was vaguely familiar, but she couldn't remember who it was.

The man opposite laughed softly, and then said, "Meyers Benjamin."

Pressing the phone receiver, Fan Ning's entire face suddenly tensed up.

It turned out to be the phone number of the Special Patrol Office!

"Mr. Benjamin, do you have any instructions?" Fan Ning asked cautiously.

"At seven o'clock this morning, please come to the Uvranser branch of the Special Patrol Office, located at No. 360 Parliament Street, Pushor District."

Without waiting for Fan Ning to respond or ask, the other end of the phone hung up.

Being so straightforward and decisive only shows that no matter how Fan Ning responds, there is no second possibility.

In just two conversations, Fan Ning once again experienced what Dupont once said about the strong style of the Special Patrol Office. The last time he roughly understood it was when he was interrogated by Benjamin at the Police Security Bureau.

"Could it be that Qiong has been taken there? But, what did the Special Patrol Office ask me to do?..."

Fan Ning first thought that he should make some preparations, but then he felt that there was nothing to prepare.

A feeling of loss of control arose in his heart again. This was a feeling that he hated very much, but this feeling would appear every time when it came to the Special Patrol Office.

This organization, which represents the authorities and still does not know whether it is an enemy or a friend, is not something that I can question or confront now. Perhaps not even my own father or the guiding school can do so.

I just hope that my strength can grow faster, at least I can have an equal dialogue sooner, and I won't feel so out of control.

Fan Ning suppressed these thoughts, turned off the lights, and lay on the sofa for an hour to regain his energy.

After making a simple call to the front desk of the Guidance School, he went out.

The sky is still gray and dark, but the first workers have appeared on the streets, and food vendors have begun selling.

Fan Ning finished his breakfast on the carriage and arrived at 360 Council Street, Pushor District, more than 40 minutes later. This is a gray six-story building with the sign of the Police Security Bureau. It is tightly guarded but does not have any other signs. or words.

If you have a higher perspective, you can see that it is separated from the Ufranser Parliament Building at address 1 by two intersections, facing each other.

At first glance, the interior of the Special Patrol Office building looked similar to an enlarged version of the Police Department, at least from what he could see. The carbonized light was pale and bright, and there were offices on both sides of the corridor.

After explaining his purpose, he did not encounter any obstruction, but was guided by police-like personnel all the way.

In a conversation room, Fanning met Benjamin again. His appearance had not changed much. He was wearing a gray windbreaker, a silver-gray felt hat, a wide forehead, cold eyes, white gloves, and a dark red pipe in his mouth.

"Half a year, Mr. Fanning, you have become a member of the official organization of the Empire, and have been promoted to the middle level in a short period of time. Congratulations."

Benjamin spoke calmly and blew out a few smoke rings.

"Mr. Benjamin, do you need any instructions?" Fanning was extremely afraid of this member of the Special Patrol Office who had killed several middle-level knowledgeable people across levels, and he might have been promoted to the middle level now.

The man opposite put down his pipe, took out a bank check and a document similar to a receipt confirmation from the drawer, and handed them over together.

"Sign it, and you can take it." It clearly said 1,000 pounds.

"What is this...?"

"A personal reward for destroying the gathering place of the secret organization. At the same time, 3,000 pounds have arrived at the public bank account of the Guidance School branch. The reward notice will also be sent to all official knowledgeable people in Uvlansel after work, and reported to the superiors." Benjamin said slowly.

"Thank you for your contribution to maintaining the security of the empire and the stability of the mysterious side."

"Thank you." Fanning was doubtful, but didn't say anything. He took the check and signed it.

That's it? A phone call in the middle of the night called me here?

"The second thing." Benjamin smiled under his soft felt hat, "Let's talk about your graduation concert, and by the way, your first flute, Miss Joan Nissimi."