Please, come home and practice the piano

Chapter 1291, Section 511: Interlude to the Competition: Rachmaninoff II and Fate
It wasn't because he couldn't drink and drive, but because Ang Lee had an appointment with Fang Yongbo that afternoon.

When Fang Yongbo came to Sigang to give a lecture to young piano teachers some time ago, he urged Li An to hand in his homework.

The assignment Fang Yongbo was referring to was naturally the program for Ang Lee's Chengdu Summer Music Festival concert in August. Fang Yongbo had basically laid out the framework for the orchestra, and they were just waiting for Ang Lee's schedule.

Just the other day, Ang Lee was busy catching up on his homework, and this afternoon he finally had some free time.

He should also get back to the band, at least for a preliminary introduction, before discussing the rest.

The first rehearsal went more smoothly than Ang Lee had expected. Under Fang Yongbo's direction, he and the orchestra successfully completed the first rehearsal from beginning to end.

For such a large-scale work that is both challenging and substantial, it is certainly not an easy task for the soloist and the orchestra to complete it in one go.

Of course, there are also quite a few problems.

He and Rong Ai were old acquaintances, and after the first round, he offered some of his own ideas.

For example, could the volume ratio of the string section be made clearer and richer, especially at the beginning?

The violin in the first theme is actually in the lower register, while the viola is the main melody, with the cello and bass pizzicato in fourths below. This is a typical Russian grand melody.

Ang Lee wanted the orchestra to give their all here, without holding back, so that the audience could immediately feel the weight of an epic epic from the very beginning.

Ang Lee raised many similar requests. As a piano soloist, he felt it was essential to make every musician understand what he wanted.

Fang Yongbo, representing the orchestra, also shared some ideas with Ang Lee.

For example, in the development and changes of the second theme, Fang Yongbo hoped that Li An would reduce the intensity during the intensive performance to leave some space for the French horn part.

A high-quality steel association inevitably involves a negotiation process. Since everyone is already very familiar with each other, it is even more important to speak frankly and then discuss how to make trade-offs together. Only in this way can quality and efficiency be achieved.

This afternoon's efficiency was quite good.

Before the end, Fang Yongbo also used Li An's suggestion to give a warning to some of the younger musicians in certain sections.

"See? If you don't practice properly, what will you do if Master Li makes demands and you can't meet the required speed and strength?"

The musicians on stage smiled.

Although Fang Yongbo was not named, his words still served as a warning.

That's true. It's okay if there are problems the first time, but it's unacceptable if the same problems occur in the next rehearsal.

Fang Yongbo is also having a bit of a headache with the newly recruited musicians. They're basically all just lying around doing nothing. Can you believe how worrying that is?

During dinner that evening, Fang Yongbo kept complaining to Li An.

But what can Ang Lee say about this? He can understand Fang Yongbo, and he can also understand these young people today.

Learning music has been a long and arduous journey since I was a child, and now I've finally joined the band. It's like I've overcome countless hardships, and now I'm facing even more challenges?
The format is fine, but what about the direction and the goal?
Without direction and goals, who can keep moving?

Life is too short.

"Sigh." Fang Yongbo sighed, then changed the subject and asked, "When is your wife coming back, the 10th or the 11th?"

Ang Lee: "August 10th, arriving in Yenching at 4 PM"

Fang Yongbo: "It's less than half a month, and you won't have time to pick it up then."

Ang Lee: We'll see how things go then, maybe Brother Bo will come.

The two clinked glasses, and Ang Lee picked up his phone and sent Chen Xuan a voice message: "Brother Bo wants you to practice quickly."
As Ang Lee was speaking, Fang Yongbo quickly chimed in: "I didn't say anything. There's no rush. Anyway, you'll be accompanying your husband. He can play however he wants."

A moment later, Chen Xuan replied with a string of "hahahahaha" followed by a voice message: "Brother Bo, pour it on him!"

Fang Yongbo also reserved concert slots for Chen Xuan this time. On the one hand, the contract requires Chen Xuan to complete a sufficient number of performances during her internship. On the other hand, Fang Yongbo also intends to cultivate Chen Xuan into a future backbone of the orchestra.

One of the performances was this one with Ang Lee, Rachmaninoff's Second Piano Concerto, in which Chen Xuan played the second part of the flute.

Time flew by and it was already nine o'clock. The two had drunk quite a bit, so before it ended, they arranged to play a game of ball, scheduled for the day after the choral competition.

"Bye Bo, see you next week."

"See you next week. Go back and work on the piece again. The cadenza is still a bit stiff."

"Okay brother."

The restaurant was downstairs from Fang Yongbo's house, and Li An called a designated driver to go home.

On the way, he listened to the rehearsal video from the afternoon again.

Even without Fang Yongbo saying it, he himself felt there was a problem with the cadenza when he played it.

I didn't notice the problem when I was practicing alone, but it became apparent when I played with the orchestra.

The cadenza is only one part; there is also the opening piano motif, as well as the interface between the development and recapitulation of the first movement. This almost went wrong during the first repetition; if Fang Yongbo hadn't adjusted the orchestra's tempo in time, it probably would have ended.

Even now, listening to it again, Ang Lee still feels lingering fear.

This is probably the true nature of Rachmaninoff's Second Piano Concerto—awe-inspiring and captivating.
-
After a busy day, Ang Lee finally felt a bit tired as he stepped into the elevator.

However, once he stepped out of the elevator, he instantly regained his energy.

The time on my phone is now 9:50.

The faint sound of a piano drifted from inside the room; if he wasn't drunk, he would recognize it as the melody of Mozart's K448.

After returning from Yanjing, he never heard the two children play this piece again.

For a moment, Xin Xiao wondered if the two little ones had heard some rumors.

Upon entering the house, Li An glared at Ba Wan and this time hung his car keys directly on the hook in the entryway.

The two children were so engrossed in playing their instruments in the study that they naturally didn't hear the commotion outside the door.

Seeing that it was already ten o'clock, they couldn't continue playing if they hadn't had enough fun.

The two closed the zither and walked out of the study. Tang Xiaoxing seemed to still be immersed in the music, dancing around like a crazy little girl. It was a scene that was hard to imagine unless you saw it with your own eyes.

Just then, "Teacher!"

The lights in the living room were off, but the little car still spotted the figure on the sofa immediately.

"Ah!" This startled Tang Xiaoxing, who immediately stood at attention.

The driver turned on his car lights and smelled the strong odor of alcohol in the room. He complained, "You didn't even say a word! You scared us to death!"

Tang Xiaoxing: "Exactly!"

Li Anle: "You didn't even tell me what you ate tonight. Come on, sit down."

Tang Xiaoxing bounced over: "We ordered rice bowls for delivery. Teacher, where did you go this afternoon?"

Ang Lee: "I went to Rong'ai for rehearsal."

"Oh?" The little car quickly walked over with a cup of hot tea. "Teacher, did you go to rehearse La Er this afternoon?"

Ang Lee: Yes.

Car: "You didn't even tell us!"

Lee An-lo: "Not telling you is for your own good, doesn't that make sense?"

Tang Xiaoxing thought it made perfect sense, and that they would be very conflicted if they knew.

Practice the piano or listen to the teacher rehearse? This question is too difficult.

Xiao Che put down his teacup and rubbed his hands together: "Do you have a video to share with us?"

Tang Xiaoxing also let out a loud, clear laugh, just like Fang Zheng.

Ang Lee: "Let's get down to business first. How did you two get along today?"

How well do they get along?
Xiao Che was the first to realize what was happening and explained, "Teacher, we just wanted to try playing four-handed piano together, so we practiced for an hour."

Tang Xiaoxing then added, "I've spent the rest of my time practicing on my own."

Ang Lee: "So what were the results of your test?"

The two little girls looked at each other, both with a slightly smug expression.

Upon seeing this, Ang Lee understood. The two probably didn't know yet, so he took the opportunity to give them a task: "You two will go first at the summer camp opening ceremony concert."

Car: "?"

Tang Xiaoxing: "!" Ang Lee picked up his teacup and blew on it; it was at a temperature he could drink directly. "Last year's theme was Baroque period works, so this year's theme definitely can't be Romantic period."

Tang Xiaoxing: "The Classical Period".

Ang Lee took a sip of tea and nodded. "Very clever."

For a moment, Tang Xiaoxing felt like a fool and decisively shut up and stopped talking.

Ang Lee: "So naturally, the first piece for our opening ceremony will be chosen from composers of this period. Haydn, Mozart, or Beethoven? What are your thoughts? Feel free to speak."

The car looked at Tang Xiaoxing, and Tang Xiaoxing looked at Li An.

Ang Lee: "Say whatever you want, Xiaoxing, you go ahead."

Tang Xiaoxing: "I think Beethoven is a more suitable choice."

"Beethoven lived during a pivotal period of transition from Classicism to Romanticism. His works followed the sonata conventions established by Haydn and Beethoven, while also pioneering Romantic music."

"So performing his works at the summer camp opening ceremony allows everyone to feel the important turning point in the evolution of his musical style, and it can also be seen as setting the stage for the next summer camp."

After a pause, he remarked, "The theme for next year's competition will definitely be the Romantic era, right?"

Ang Lee: "Very clever."

Tang Xiaoxing: Teacher

Hahahaha.

Ang Lee: "Xiao Xing is right. Lin Lin, what do you say?"

Xiao Che: "I agree with Xiao Xing's idea. That's what I think too."

Ang Lee: Anything to add?

After a moment of reflection, Xiao Che said, "Summer camp is an activity about personal growth. For everyone, compared to Haydn and Mozart, I think Beethoven's works have more positive values."

"He experienced many hardships in his life, but with his indomitable will and love for music, he created many moving works."

Ang Lee nodded: "Is there anything else you'd like to add, Xiao Xing?"

Tang Xiaoxing: "Beethoven's music is full of the spirit of fighting against fate, which has a strong infectiousness and inspiration, and is also suitable for the opening."

Ang Lee: "Linlin."

Xiao Che: "Beethoven's works occupy a pivotal position in music history and possess extremely high artistic standards."

Ang Lee: "Little Star".

Tang Xiaoxing: "Beethoven's works are widely sung and easily resonate with people."

Ang Lee: "Anything else?"

The two girls couldn't think of anything else they could add.

Ang Lee: "I also think Beethoven is more suitable. I've already chosen the pieces for both of them."

The second child immediately perked up his ears.

Ang Lee: "Fate".

Symphony of Destiny?
After a brief moment of surprise, the second child seemed to have realized something.

Then, the three of them, teacher and student, smiled at the same time.

"Teacher~ You're not going to make Xiaoxing and me play a four-hand duet, are you?"

"if not."

"Hehe, thank you, teacher."

"Thank you, teacher!"

"No need for thanks. Just make sure it's all set up properly for me. I've already put the sheet music on the second shelf for you. As for how to assign the parts, you two can decide for yourselves. I'm going to sleep now. Goodnight."

Goodnight, teacher!

Goodnight, teacher!

No sooner had Ang Lee returned to his bedroom than the two young girls came back to the study and found two sets of sheet music for practicing the Symphony No. 5 (Fate) with four hands.

On the very top of the second row of music stands, a thin layer of dust had settled on the cover of the first sheet music.

It looks like the two sheet music scores have been here for a while now.
-
The two little girls felt that today should be their lucky day.

Not only has the accompaniment for the burst of courage made new progress.

The teacher also rewarded them with a chance to perform a four-hand piano duet on stage. At lunchtime, they were still fantasizing about when they could collaborate as a whole.

Then that night their wish was granted!
It was on the opening ceremony stage of the summer camp, how could they not feel lucky?

Although there are only twelve days left until the summer camp opening ceremony, the fact that the teachers are only informing them now means that there is plenty of time.

Back in the cabin, the two carefully read through the score from beginning to end, and just as they had expected.

The entire score contains only the first movement, and according to the tempo indicated on the score, it should only take about nine minutes to play the whole piece.

Based on the difficulty of the score, they believe they can play the piece at the speed required by the score in just three days.

Use it for another three days to combine.

There is plenty of time.

So before we officially begin practicing, the last question is how to assign voice parts.

"Xiaoxing, which part do you want to play?"

"I want to play them all, Linlin, you choose first."

"I want to play them all too, um, shall we draw lots?"

"it is good!"

Then the two of them made two lots with scrap paper, one with "high" written on it and the other with "low" written on it.

If you catch a high note, play the high part; if you catch a low note, play the low part.

The little car scrambled the two crumpled pieces of paper, then grabbed one in each hand and said, "Little Star, you choose."

Tang Xiaoxing turned around and chose the right side of the car without hesitation.

Upon opening it, I found the word "High" written inside.

And just like that, the two of them easily decided on the voice parts.

In actual performance, there is no distinction between high and low. The two of them are very clear that for such a piece, there are no supporting roles, only the perfect combination of the two parts can make the piece produce the most shocking stage effect.

Before turning off the lights and going to sleep, Tang Xiaoxing asked, "Linlin, did the teacher plan this all along?"

Xiao Che smiled and said, "It's also possible that the teacher initially planned for him to play with Teacher Chen."

Tang Xiaoxing immediately pictured the two teachers sitting together playing the piano of fate, and couldn't help but smile.

Goodnight, Linlin.

Goodnight, Little Star.
-
The two children had just fallen asleep when Li An, who was video chatting with Chen Xuan next door, suddenly received a message from Wang Xiaohu.

Wang Xiaohu: Teacher, are you asleep?
Ang Lee: No, what's wrong?
Wang Xiaohu: Can I make a phone call?
Ang Lee: Just say it.
moment.

Wang Xiaohu: Is it your idea to screen members for the choir?
Ang Lee: What your school leaders mean is, don't think too much about it, get some rest.

Wang Xiaohu: Goodnight, teacher.
Ang Lee: Goodnight, sleep well

"Who are you texting?"

"Wang Xiaohu is throwing a tantrum because the choir is screening members."

"Haven't they all been arranged in order?"

“It can be better.”

"did you mean?"

"Ah."