Please, come home and practice the piano

Chapter 1190 450. Two recordings, Lin and Xiaoxing [Part ]

The rain outside the window was getting heavier, hitting the glass of the rehearsal room with a crackling sound.

"Brother Feng, why don't you leave?"

"You guys go ahead and drive carefully."

Tang Qianfeng returned to the office and opened the curtains. The gloomy sky looked like a huge mouth that was about to swallow up the earth at any time.

After standing by the window for a while, he returned to his desk, took out his mobile phone and opened the video sent by Li Ang.

After a few seconds of rustling, the sound of a piano began to play from the phone's speakers along with the video screen.

Well, it’s a good start and very exciting.

Tang Qianfeng rubbed his temple, put his phone on the desk, and let the piano music continue.

After rehearsing Wagner for an entire afternoon, the buzzing sound of the brass part was still lingering in his head.

This is an occupational disease for music practitioners, and there is basically no way to cure it unless you stay away from music and the stage.

Usually Tang Qianfeng doesn't listen to music outside of working hours.

Coupled with today's depressing weather, if the person who sent the video was not Ang Lee, he really wanted to wait and see.

He had just gotten off work and it was really painful.

Ben was feeling a little impatient, but after listening for a while, Tang Qianfeng picked up the phone again.

Looking at Che Lin playing in the video, he looked like he was back in working mode.

A six-minute video is neither long nor short.

After listening to it for the first time, Tang Qianfeng started listening to it again for the second time.

After listening to it for the second time, he started listening to it for the third time.

Although Tang Qianfeng's background is in string music, he also knows a little about piano.

He has played all of Chopin's works except for some unpopular and niche passages. When he was young, he also performed Chopin Concertos No. 1 and No. 2 with the orchestra on the international stage.

When he was young, he didn't like Chopin's works very much, thinking they were too feminine.

Perhaps this is why, when he later embarked on the path of conducting, he particularly preferred Beethoven but disliked Brahms.

Tang Qianfeng likes powerful sounds, whether it is the work or the performer.

He listened to the improvisational fantasy performed by Che Lin four times in a row.

Then I listened to the Brahms performed by Ang Lee at the beginning of the year.

Then I listened to Che Lin's fantasy improvisation again.

Then he listened to the polonaise that Tang Xiaoxing sent him the day before yesterday.

After comparing them back and forth, he seemed to understand the old man's intention.

Maybe it was the right thing to give Yun'er to Li Ang.

He didn't know how long Che Lin had practiced this fantasy improvisation, but based on the recording that Ang Lee sent him, although there were many flaws, the outline of the piece was very clear.

The tough shell retains the natural brightness of Chopin's works, giving people an auditory experience of flashes of inspiration from time to time.

On the other hand, Yun'er has been practicing the Polonaise for two months.

To him, this performance recording from another month ago was not as good as the one recorded a month ago.

What do you think of Tang Xiaoxing's recent performance of the Grand Polonaise?

At this moment, Tang Qianfeng wanted to hear what Li An had to say.

For him, it was stable enough, but failed to give people a refreshing feeling.

Tang Qianfeng remembered that when he was studying in Germany, his classmates, including him, played the polonaise with the same flavor.

More than 30 years have passed, and it seems that German teachers are still teaching the same thing.

Tang Qianfeng certainly did not deny the German-Austrian piano school, but only expressed it objectively. And it is an indisputable fact that the Austrian-German piano school has not produced a Xiao competition champion for many years.

The student’s talent is certainly the first priority, but the teacher’s role also plays a decisive role.

Just by comparing the performances of Che Lin and Li An, we can draw this conclusion, which may be just an isolated case.

In his performance of the second piece, Mr. Li An was able to show the poetry of the melody without relying on indecisive emotional preparation, just like the natural insight displayed by student Che Lin in this improvisational fantasy.

After removing the outer coverings of both works, the remaining parts become clearly visible.

The teacher and the student have an amazing consistency in their handling of the works - there is a trickle of water flowing under the flamboyant appearance, the voices sound solid, and the sentences are delicate and rational.

If it weren’t for Che Lin, Teacher Li An would still have this style.

But if there was no teacher Li Ang, would Che Lin's performance still be the same?

So what if Che Lin is not an isolated case?

If Yun'er is handed over to Li Ang, what will Yun'er be like in a year?

Tang Qianfeng cannot predict this at the moment.

But if Yun'er continued to wander between Berlin and Moscow, Tang Qianfeng seemed to have seen the result in a year.

He had a hunch that it would be just like the video he received the day before, in which Tang Xiaoxing tried very hard to play a more than steady polonaise.

Tang Qianfeng did not want to use the four words "play hard" to describe Tang Xiaoxing's performance in the video, because it sounded a little clumsy.

But it is what it is.

From this we can see that Tang Xiaoxing must have wanted to perform this piece as well as possible.

To the point of overexerting yourself.

The problem behind this is self-evident: Tang Xiaoxing's condition is no longer right.

"Hey."

Tang Qianfeng rubbed his temple again. Fortunately, he would be back next month.

After a while, he sent two messages to Li An.

He plans to formally invite Ang Lee to his home for dinner after the rehearsal the day after tomorrow.
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It was already eight o'clock in the evening when Li An saw Tang Qianfeng's message.

He just woke up.

He was originally groggy, but he immediately woke up after seeing the message.

Tang Qianfeng did not respond to his questions about the video, but only asked him when he would arrive in Yanjing and whether he was free the day after tomorrow night.

Ang Lee thought for a moment and replied: Sorry, Mr. Tang, I arrived in Yanjing this afternoon and just woke up in the hotel. I have no plans for the day after tomorrow night, please give me your instructions.

After replying to Tang Qianfeng's message, Li An replied to Xiaoche again.

Then I called Boss X. Boss X had just returned from the airport at 7:15 and was waiting for Li Ang to wake up downstairs.

"I'll be right there, just tell me what you want to eat tonight."

After throwing the phone away, Li An quickly put on his clothes and went downstairs.

In the end, the two of them discussed it to no avail, so they listened to Yuan Xiaoyu's advice and ordered a takeout of braised pork.

Of course, Ang Lee had to treat the meal because he lied to the military intelligence and said he had a flight in the evening.

Of course, his starting point was that he didn't want Boss X to make another trip for him.

Good buddies are good buddies, but shouldn’t good buddies be considerate of each other?

Just like last night, Haitao and Xu Li both said they would take him to the airport at noon today, but he refused both times.

Who isn’t busy? Besides, we’re not in a rush.

"Brother Yan, Xiaoyu, I'll wait for you to go to Rongcheng."

Ang Lee raised his glass again and clinked it with Boss X's as an apology.

Boss X was happy: "Okay, okay, let's get down to business first. Old Tang called me at about six o'clock and said that we would go to his house for dinner the day after tomorrow and asked you to make arrangements."

Li An immediately said, "I was just about to say that. Director Tang also sent me a message asking if I had any plans the day after tomorrow, but he didn't mention dinner."

Then Li An told Boss X what happened before and after he sent the car video to Tang Qianfeng, and played the video during the conversation.

After listening to this, Boss X asked, "How long have you been practicing?"

"Less than ten days." Li An calculated. "It can be ten hours in total? She has to attend classes during the week, and sometimes she has to do homework when she gets home at night, and she also has to follow up on other songs."

Less than an hour?!
Yuan Xiaoyu couldn't help but: "Fuck."

Boss X almost couldn't hold it back, "What else are you practicing?"

Ang Lee: "The Skylark is almost done, and the three movements of K.333 are also played, and there is nothing else to do."

Boss X smiled bitterly and said, "What else do you want? It has only been two weeks since the repertoire was finalized, and this is enough to get all the main repertoires for the Grand Theater concert."

Li An continued, "She also gave a concert at school a while ago, which delayed a Saturday. Otherwise, Schumann's skit would have been almost done."

Boss X and his apprentice looked at each other in bewilderment. How could people survive like this?
Yuan Xiaoyu drank a glass by himself: "How does she arrange her time?"

Li An accompanied him with a drink: "Just like before, I practice whenever I have time, but after this competition, my efficiency has really increased. I feel like I have finally gotten the hang of it."

Boss X: "..Do you know how much you deserve a beating for saying that?"

Li An waved his hand: "Hey brother, it's not what you think. I mean..."

Boss X interrupted directly: "Have another drink!"

Li An drank another glass, put down the glass and said, "Time is really tight. Xie Lao can wait until September, and she has a solo show in August at Rong Ai."

Boss X frowned when he heard this: "You should also let the child take it easy."

Li An sighed, "I know, but since Bo Ge asked, I can't refuse. Besides, this kind of opportunity is really hard to refuse."

Yuan Xiaoyu: "It seems that Xiaolinzi was in good condition last night."

Li An: "I'm not exaggerating, she's really good. Just last night, we went to her house for dinner and left her at home, wanting her to rest for the whole morning. But she got up at 5:30 in the morning and took the bus to wait at the store entrance. When Lao Tang went to open the store at 7 o'clock, she had already finished her breakfast at the door. She practiced until just now, and she still has to go to make-up English lessons in the evening."

Boss X sighed and said, there was nothing that could be done about it. He deserved to play well and deserved to practice quickly.

"Okay, just keep an eye on it."

Boss X got back to the point, "You should be mentally prepared the night after tomorrow."

Li An stopped the chopsticks he had just picked up, looking puzzled: "What do you mean?"

There was no one else in the room, so Boss X said directly, "I guess the old man wants Xiao Xinghe to stay with you for a while."

Let Tang Xiaoxing stay with him for a while? Li An was stunned for a moment, and then became even more confused: "What do you mean, isn't Xiaoxing in Berlin?"

Boss X: "Xiaoxing will be returning to China next month."

Li An was completely clueless for a moment. Boss X didn't sound like he was joking with him, but this was too much. Tang Xiaoxing should submit his audition video for the Xiao competition next year. Seeing that half of this year had passed, what did the old Tang family think? And even if Tang Xiaoxing returned to China next month, there was still Boss X.

Boss X is Xiaoxing’s piano teacher in China.

If the Tang family really had this intention, suddenly, Ang Lee thought of Xiao Che's solo performance to be held at the Grand Theater in June.

"Don't worry, I'll tell you about this slowly." Boss X asked Yuan Xiaoyu to play the recording. "This is what Xiaoxing sent me the day before yesterday."

After a burst of noise, the sound of piano began to come from the cell phone on the dining table.

Ang Lee: "Grand Polonaise."

Boss X: “I’ve been practicing for almost three months.”

The rain outside the window showed no sign of abating. Ang Lee just held his chopsticks and quietly listened to the recording from beginning to end.

Yuan Xiaoyu put away his phone, and Boss X picked up a piece of cake and fed it to his mouth: "What do you say?"

Li An: "Xiao Xing is not in a good state recently."

Boss X: "Well, things started to go wrong when she returned to Moscow after the Chinese New Year. It's been almost four months now, on and off. Her father and I have been with her during this time, but we can't seem to be able to help her."

Li An: "I don't know her specific situation, but as far as this piece is concerned, it sounds very stable, but I can feel that she is struggling to play it."

Boss X: "Just speak frankly. I want to hear your true feelings. To be honest, I don't know how to deal with Xiaoxing's situation at the moment. As far as I know, Xiaoxing will not go abroad for the time being after he comes back next month. Mr. Tang told me this in person on the phone the day before yesterday."

Li An was slightly startled, and then he heard Boss X continue: "Before I had the chance to recommend you, Old Master Tang took the initiative to ask about your situation. I guess she might want Xiaoxing to take classes with you for a while."

"Brother Yan, this is not appropriate." Li An was interrupted by Boss X before he finished speaking, "Listen, even if Mr. Tang didn't ask, I would still recommend you."

Boss X sighed and said, "I think it may be because I have taken care of her for too long, since she was 4 years old. At that time, she was not as tall as the keyboard. Now, she is a big girl. She has grown up so fast. Especially when I was with her last time, I felt like I was with my own child. Sometimes being a parent is like this. You can teach other people's children, but you can't teach your own children. You know what I mean."

Li An nodded.

Boss X: "Eat, talk while eating. But you said you want to hand it over to someone else. I'm really worried. Xiaoxing likes you very much. This is very important. I think if she knew she would have classes with you, she would be happy. She has changed three teachers since she went abroad, and she doesn't like any of them. She doesn't say it, but I know that this child has been like this since she was young. She keeps everything in her heart."

Ang Lee filled Boss X's glass with wine.

Boss X and Li An touched each other and said, "I tell you this to tell you not to worry too much about whose student this is. As long as Xiaoxing can get better, I support her no matter who she studies with."

"Similarly, if Che Lin encountered this situation, I think you and I would feel the same."

"Yes." Li An would never deny this, as long as the child can get better, "Brother Yan, I understand and can appreciate it, but I really can't teach. I don't have any Xiaosai experience, and..."

Boss X interrupted again: "But you helped Linlin get full marks from four foreign judges, including the fourth place winner of the previous Xiao Competition and the chairman of the Xiao Competition jury for two consecutive terms."

Lee Ang: “This is different.”

Boss X: "What do you think of the Chopin Competition? There are famous Chopin teachers all over Europe, and there is only one first prize winner in each competition. Do you think you have any choice?"

As he spoke, Boss X filled Li An's glass with another glass.

"Lee An, tell me, do you have any other choice?"