Old-time musicians

Several older gentlemen in exquisite black suits walked slowly into the auditorium.

All the students stood up and saluted until the teachers sat down in the first row of chairs.

Dean Gould walked to the podium on the front side.

"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen!"

A mellow voice sounded. The sound pickup effect of the carbon electrode microphone was not ideal, but the decibel was loud enough.

"I think the most exciting and anticipated thing for me in the graduation season in June every year is the graduation concert."

"The history of St. Lenya University is not the oldest, only more than 140 years so far. But the Conservatory of Music has produced several world-class art masters and a large number of influential musicians."

"Let me think about it. The three representative figures of the period of authenticism, except for Master Gilles, the other two came from here. Master Meyer premiered the "First Symphony" at the graduation concert of the college in 791, and Master Karatani premiered the "First Symphony" in 81 The "Fifth Piano Sonata" was premiered at the graduation concert in 1944. Later, the "First Piano Concerto" premiered by Maestro Niemann in 1988 became the first peak of romanticism in his artistic career."

"I believe that leaving a work at the graduation concert of St. Lenya University will be the honor of your life! ..."

"...Then, students competing for the selection of large-scale works, go on stage and start improvisation, and accept the most fair evaluation of the professors!"

Dean Gould's speech ended quickly, but the purpose was achieved, which made everyone fascinated and wait and see.

Indeed, not to mention all, but many music masters here became famous from the first blockbuster performance at the graduation concert.

The empire awarded the title of nobility to artists with outstanding merits. Artists, like scientists, are one of the groups that are extremely respected. Whether it is a long-standing aristocratic or a new business owner, they all want to be named by a master's work and regard it as the honor of the family.

Life is only 50 or 60 years old, but art is eternal. The masters sleep in the ground, but they are commemorated every day all over the world, their music is performed, and inspiration and comfort are found in the spiritual world.

The final situation of this work selection competition is that 182 people will participate in the collection competition of small solo or chamber music works, and 22 people will compete for large works.

"Black envelope No. 1, Roberta Maugham, fourth-year composition department." The voice of the staff sounded.

The thin and tall man in a black dress came on stage, opened the envelope after saluting, took out the music paper inside, and stared at it for a while.

"Play and show us the material in front of you, Maugham, and then you can start."

Dean Gould sat back on the main judges' seat and reminded gently.

Maugham finally recovered, nodded, expressed his gratitude to the judges, and then walked to the nine-foot black Boethius piano and took off his gloves.

He stretched out his left hand nervously and played a melody of only 4 bars in the middle and low range, in C major, all white keys, with a clear and calm sound, and two ornaments.

"A distinct Kashoic style theme, and the piano's tone is really beautiful." Fanning commented silently in his heart.

Kashoic, born in 621-685 in the new calendar, was born in the Kingdom of Holy Janus in the Western Continent. He was a representative music master of the late medieval music (430-about 700 in the new calendar).

This period is similar to the Baroque period in Fanning's previous life. The music was either as solemn and sacred as a church, or as gorgeous and elegant as a court, with a variety of gorgeous ornaments, mostly polyphonic music.

The concepts of tonal music and polyphonic music are opposite. The former can roughly regard the music composition as melody + accompaniment, while the latter is the interweaving and staggered development of two or more independent melodic parts, creating a harmonious beauty of movement.

In small works, there is a relatively clear boundary between the two, but large works are usually a combination of the two methods.

"This first question is difficult." Someone whispered.

"It's better to improvise the main theme music, how to improvise this?" Cecil, the leader of the third grade group, pondered.

"If I get this question, I will force it to have an accompaniment, and then improvise it with the main theme method, but the style may not be right." The leader of the piano department, Murrich, was also silent.

The melody was developed by Maugham's left hand. In the 5th bar, his right hand added a new creative melody, which maintained the original theme's bright and generous singing, and brought a sense of rhythmic power to form a contrast.

There were even two off-key modulations in the middle, and the change of sound brought a difference in the color of the music.

Fanning was a little shocked. Improvisation of polyphonic music? The music students in this world are much better than he thought.

Why do they have such high inspiration and talent?

Maugham's interpretation style is relatively pure, in line with the characteristics of late medieval music, with some wrong notes and rhythm counterpoint errors.

The music stopped at the 24th measure. Maugham wiped his sweat with a handkerchief, bowed and left the stage. It was obvious that he was very nervous.

The time was indeed not long, more than 40 seconds, and it did not end in a complete phrase or section (16 or 32 measures), but it was already rare.

Many audiences, including several professors, showed praise in their eyes.

The average statistical result of the score was announced soon, 5 points, and the full score of the first round of test was 20.

"These professors like to lower the score. This score should be quite high. The specific score will depend on the comparison later." Fanning thought to himself.

It may be that Maugham's performance was very eye-catching, and the performances of the next few were mediocre, 0 points, 4 points, and 6 points.

"No. 5, Edward Murrich, fourth-year piano major. Next, Ning is ready."

After the group leader sat on the piano bench, he slowly opened the envelope.

Then he smiled slightly, and his right hand struck out 6 bright and warm notes in the high pitch.

"Three in a group, it should be a three-beat rhythm, right?" Although Fanning couldn't see the score, he thought to himself, "The material is a set of square and roundabout patterns. If you want to develop it beautifully, it depends on the improvisor's next harmony direction. Well, the melody also needs some adjustments, otherwise it will be too rigid."

After showing the material, the piano genius left the keyboard with both hands, adjusted the distance of the piano bench, tried the feedback strength of the pedal, and then brought a powerful three-beat accompaniment in the bass area with his left hand.

The right hand immediately joined in, and the six even notes were corrected in different lengths, forming a syncopated rhythm across the bars, and developed into a waltz melody full of passion and elegance.

"It reminds me of the wonderful dance we attended last night."

"The melody is so beautiful. I didn't expect that a simple D major chord could be transformed into such a charming one." Two ladies in the audience were sincerely amazed.

Including those who were responsible for composing, although they had already opened the topic, they were not in a hurry, because the opportunity to watch a genius performance was rare.

While referring to the musical inspiration of the performers on the stage, they sorted out their own creative ideas.

The mood eased slightly, and the music went to the middle interlude and turned to the parallel minor. The mood became a little more gloomy, and there were obviously several more key changes later, forming a long-lasting contrast.

"Oh my God, his key changes are so natural and charming, and they are improvisations. I have to think for a long time even to write them. First, it turned to the parallel key, right? What happened next? He seemed to have changed the tonality several times." A female student from the music department asked Fanning in a low voice.

"After B minor, from B flat minor to A minor and then A major, the descending chromatic harmony improvisation prepares for the theme reappearance. This is very romantic, completely different from those coquettish and cheap things in the market music." Fanning commented without looking back.

"How did you get such a good ear? So good."

"The old Carloen could hear it, and Fanning on Earth could hear it too. Now I am Carloen Fanning, and I am even stronger, okay." Fanning crossed his arms and thought to himself.

The main melody of the test question was reproduced under Murich's hands, and the music returned to elegance and magnificence. Finally, the mood gradually rose and ended with a gorgeous and bright major chord forte.

The professors and the audience gave warm applause, expressing their full affirmation of this improvisation.

The score was given: 9 points!

It was very high, but it was well deserved. In the improvisation of more than 2 minutes, Murich formed a well-structured two-part form, which was much more complete than the previous few people. The melody development method and the modulation technique in the middle were all amazing.

"Dinning, Department of Music!"

The crowd became strangely silent, without a trace of transition, and even made people wonder if there was something wrong with their hearing.

Everyone turned their heads and looked at Fanning who was sitting in the back row.

Including the professors in the first row.