Please, come home and practice the piano

Chapter 1299, Section 519: Preliminary Round is the Final Round? The Vanished Lyrics [Part 1]

The atmosphere is there, but the competition can't start right away.

As is customary, the host will naturally give a speech when the competition officially begins.

Communicating the spirit is essential, but the children's attention was still focused on the order of appearance.

When they heard someone clapping, they clapped along.

After several rounds of applause, it was time to introduce the judges, which was followed by another round of applause.

Finally, Jiang Zhigang, as the representative of the judges, read out the competition rules.

"Whoosh————————"

All the children were on high alert this time because they knew the competition was about to officially begin.

As the applause subsided, Jiang Zhigang took his seat, and the host took over the stage to announce: "The competition is officially starting. The first team to perform is the choir from Rongcheng No. 7 Middle School. Their piece is 'Shining Days,' conducted by Yang Li, with piano accompaniment by Cui Yijia."

"Wow————"

As applause erupted again from the audience, a series of footsteps echoed backstage as members of the No. 7 Middle School Choir walked onto the stage from both sides of the stage.

The No. 7 Middle School Choir is a long-established student choir in Yudong District, and has won awards in city-level competitions many times.

Although they have never won first place, their strength should not be underestimated. The song selection in this round also shows that the goal of the No. 7 Middle School Choir is to break their historical record.

Adapting Luo Dayou's work into a chorus is not a good idea. The song is already slow and the melody has uneven pitches, which makes it even more challenging for multiple singers to sing it together. Another challenge is whether they can bring out the mood of the lyrics and music.

Li An is not yet clear on what piece No. 7 Middle School selected for the second round, but the fact that this piece was included in the first round is enough to show that No. 7 Middle School must have made careful preparations for this choral competition.

Judging from the overall demeanor on stage, the students from No. 7 Middle School looked serious and full of energy, so they should be able to get off to a good start.

As the applause subsided, the conductor on stage glanced at the piano for a moment before gesturing, and then a melodious piano prelude began.

The team from No. 7 Middle School, apart from Shi Po Shu Ren, was the only one that did not choose to use a microphone to amplify the piano accompaniment.

As Ang Lee heard at that moment, the male teacher playing the piano accompaniment was so skilled that he didn't need any amplification. In just two bars, he brought the audience into a mood of reminiscence.

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, No. 7 Middle School should have already secured a ticket to the finals.

As Ang Lee thought to himself, the children in the choir began to sing along with the piano music.

"I'll sing an old song—"

"I sing softly, and you harmonize slowly—"

Do you still remember your past dreams?

"Those hopeful and radiant years—"

The light singing voice slowly spread from the stage to every corner of the audience, and for a moment the entire concert hall became even quieter.

Wang Xiaohu knew that the choir of No. 7 Middle School was quite good, but he was still slightly shocked at this moment.

You sang so well.

The Shipo Wangzha duo silently gave a thumbs up to the singing on stage.

You sang so well.

However, while listening, the car also enjoyed the sound effects of the live performance.

After the No. 7 Middle School choir finished singing the chorus again, she had a general idea of ​​what was going on.

If the volume of the chorus part were slightly louder, the overall effect might be even better.

"Whoosh————————"

As the No. 7 Middle School Choir finished their performance, the conductor turned around, bowed, and took his leave, eliciting applause from the audience.

After listening to the entire recording, Li An maintained his original judgment, believing that No. 7 Middle School would definitely secure a ticket to the finals.

However, the overall experience did not meet his original expectations.

The children's singing was beautiful, but they did not capture the essence of the song.

It's too straightforward and lacks subtlety.

It was precisely this lack of subtlety that kept the entire song lingering outside his heart, unable to penetrate even an inch further.

But it's already great, definitely a good start.

For an amateur high school choir, a score of 95 out of 100 would be a good score.

If the volume were a bit louder, the score could be 96.

"Wow—"

Just after the No. 7 Middle School Choir finished their performance, the fourth group to take the stage, Johor Bahru Secondary School, quietly left the audience to prepare backstage.

"The second group to perform is the Meizhuang No. 3 Middle School Choir. Their competition piece is 'On the Wings of Song,' conducted by Wang Guanyu, with piano accompaniment by Ma Zhiyuan."

"Wow——————"

Taking advantage of the commotion, Xiao Che took a pen from Ah Qian and quietly wrote a line of crooked words on a piece of toilet paper—

[Another one added!!! Everyone, think about it in your minds first.]

"small star."

After writing it, she unfolded the note and passed it to Tang Xiaoxing. Tang Xiaoxing took it, glanced at it, and then passed it to Zhang Jiaze, who then passed it to Qin Yuwei.

Qin Yuwei nodded after reading it, then passed it to Zhang Wenting beside her.
Suddenly, the soft sound of a piano began on the stage, and the music traveled through the microphone to the audience.

Next came the choir's unison singing, which was noticeably softer than the No. 7 Middle School choir's, but that didn't prevent the audience from hearing it clearly.

"On the wings of this song—"

"My dear, come with me—"

"."

"."

And so, during the performance by the Meizhuang No. 3 Middle School Choir, the wads of toilet paper in the cart seemed to sprout wings of song, passing through the hands of each member of the Shipo Choir.
"The moon is radiating light—"

"The jade lotus flower awaits there—"

"Waiting for her little sister—"

"The jade lotus flower awaits there—"

"Waiting for her little sister—"

"On the Wings of Song" is a poem written by the German poet Heinrich Heine in 1822, which was later set to music by Mendelssohn and became widely known.

The entire piece, with its clear melody and gentle accompaniment composed of arpeggios, paints a warm and romantic picture.

Fang Zheng still remembers the first time he heard this piece, he was deeply moved at the time, and now when he listens to it again, the past comes flooding back to him.

Unfortunately, Meizhuang No. 3 Middle School seemed to have prepared hastily, and most members had not yet solved the technical difficulties in the song, such as the fifth leap at the beginning and the descending second sequence at the end, which are sections in the song that are prone to pitch problems.

Not to mention the issue of volume; the competition venue is only one aspect of the problem.

Overall, the song selection was good, but the choir still needs further refinement.

If we give the choir performance by No. 7 Middle School a score of 97, then Fang Zheng can only give the children from Meizhuang No. 3 Middle School a score of 90.

Keep up the good work, kids.

"Wow——————"

As the performance by Meizhuang No. 3 Middle School came to an end, the children from Shipo in the audience quietly stood up.

Next up is the third team; they need to go backstage to prepare.

"Next up is the Johor Bahru Secondary School Choir. Their competition piece is 'Starting the Journey,' conducted by Ma Mingyang, with piano accompaniment by Jiao Yu."

"Wow————"
-
Arrive at the backstage waiting area.

The car gathered everyone in a shady spot.

"So, guys, are you getting into the swing of things?"

Everyone was laughing, clearly having seen the handwritten note by Xiao Che.

At this moment, Fang Zheng came to the side of the small car with the handwritten note. "The sound in this concert hall is a bit dry. Everyone, please pay attention. You will definitely not be able to hear your own voices clearly. It doesn't matter. Just sing however you can get on stage. Just focus on being in the right state of mind."

Fang Zheng laughed as he spoke. The concept of "more volume" was something he proposed when he first had everyone speak together. It was basically asking everyone to make their voices out a little more.

"Understand?"

Choir: "Understood!"

Fang Zheng raised his hand and beckoned, "Get into a better state."

Choir: "Understood!!"

Fang Zheng: "Okay, believe in yourself and sing boldly."

After giving instructions to the choir, Fang Zheng looked at the car and said, "The final touches are up to you."

The car nodded: "Yes!"

"Okay, I'll be waiting for you backstage."

After saying this, Fang Zheng turned and left. He had said everything he needed to say, and the rest was up to everyone to improvise.
-
Fifteen minutes passed in the blink of an eye.

Following Xinshan Middle School, Gaoxin No. 2 Experimental School also completed their competition piece.

"Wow————"

As soon as the applause began in the front of the stage, the Shipo Choir gathered backstage.

Next, it will be their turn to appear.

After the High-tech No. 2 Experimental School left the stage, the host came to ask Zhang Miao if he was ready. Then Zhang Miao signaled everyone to get ready to go on stage.

Seeing this, the host nodded and returned to the stage to announce the program:
"The next group to perform is the choir from Shipo Middle School. Their competition piece is 'Encounter,' conducted by Tang Caiyun, with piano accompaniment by Che Lin."

"Wow—" As the host finished speaking, applause erupted from the audience.

Because of the need to make room for Gaoxin No. 2, the Shuren Choir, which was the seventh to perform, had to stand in the last row of the audience if they wanted to listen to the Shipo stage in the inner hall.

Fortunately, the competition rules did not explicitly prohibit people from standing in the back rows of the audience, so with Ang Lee's tacit approval, the children of the Shuren Choir were given the opportunity to watch the Shipo Stage live.

"Listen quietly."

Wang Xiaohu addressed the crowd in a commanding tone, and at the same moment, the Shipo Choir took to the stage amidst applause.

Perhaps it was because Xiao Che was the only student pianist to step out of the line during the draw, leaving a unique impression on everyone about the Shipo Choir; or perhaps the Shipo Choir itself possessed a distinctive quality, giving the audience an unusual feeling the moment they stepped on stage.

Well, under the bright stage lights, they appeared somewhat unassuming.

The main reason is that they are the only team so far to perform in school uniforms, while the previous four teams all wore various neat formal attire.

The choir took their positions on stage, and then Xiao Che and Tang Xiaoxing came out from backstage.

The appearance of these two children truly brought a strong visual impact to the audience.

Because the commanders and accompanists of the first four teams were all adults.

In this situation, the judges couldn't help but offer a few more rounds of applause.

From the perspective of the scoring criteria, having a student conductor and a student pianist is indeed a plus, especially since they are all aware of the origins of the two-child policy.

Therefore, everyone present, both inside and outside the judging panel, was filled with anticipation for Shipo's stage performance.

Moreover, "Encounter" is the first popular song to appear today.

The choral adaptations of popular songs are a major highlight of the stage performances.

"Wow—"

As the applause subsided, Tang Xiaoxing walked onto the conductor's platform, where the cart in front of the piano had already adjusted the height of the piano bench.

A silence fell over the scene, and Wang Xiaohu's hands, hidden under his tuxedo, clenched into fists.

Go, Arlene! Go, Xiaoxing! Go, Aqian! Go, everyone from Shipo!
Time ticked by, but the stage remained motionless, as if frozen into a painting.

Tang Xiaoxing stood firmly on the command platform, showing no sign of making a move.

About seven or eight seconds later, the slender figure in front of the piano moved first.

The little car raised its hands, and before the conductor gave the instructions, her fingers fell and the piano began to play.

"Ding-ding-"

"Ding-ding-"

When a melody drifted in like a gentle breeze, the entire venue was instantly enveloped in a profound world.

The clear musical notes are like twinkling stars in the night sky.

One by one, they carefully outlined a mysterious shape in the stillness.

If you didn't know it was a choral competition, you would easily mistake the piano music for a beautiful solo performance.

Look at the short-haired girl playing the instrument. Her expression is focused with a hint of a smile. The first few notes under her fingers are like a gentle call from afar, with a touch of probing and full of endless tenderness.

Just as everyone was immersed in the music, the figure on the conductor's platform had already quietly raised his hands.

With a flick of the wrist, a group of ethereal female voices slowly rose from the stage.

"hear-"

"winter-"

"The departure—"

I woke up in a certain month of a certain year—

"I think-"

"I'll wait—"

I look forward to it—

"But the future cannot be planned because of this—"

Wang Xiaohu was stunned; he could hardly believe his ears.
Led by the piano prelude, the female vocals seem to have traveled through a time tunnel to a distant and beautiful place.

And then two male voices took over the world of singing.

"cloudy day-"

"evening-"

"Outside the car window—"

"There is someone waiting in the future—"

"."

"."

The texture of the piano accompaniment gradually became richer as the second part intensified. At this moment, Tang Xiaoxing looked at the third harmonies and pushed her right hand forward slightly.

"what--"

"what--"

At this age, young boys' falsetto, after being trained, possesses a harmonious beauty.

The impact of this aesthetic in a full-body chorus is nuclear-level.

Their voices slowly spread through the air, like petals falling on water, creating delicate ripples that gently touched the softest strings in the hearts of everyone in the audience.

With the addition of the four voice parts, all four parts of the mixed voice are now in the spotlight.

"when!"

The piano pushes the first chorus to its climax from the back!
At this moment, not only Wang Xiaohu, but also all the judges were deeply moved by the singing.

This has reached the standard of art.

"left-"

"To the right-"

"Look ahead—"

Love takes a few detours to arrive—

"Who will I meet, and what kind of conversation will we have—"

"How far into the future is the person I'm waiting for—"

As the children of the Shipo Choir sang softly, they recalled every moment they had encountered during the rehearsals.

The song and the memories intertwine, creating a picture scroll.

The painting depicts their past, their memories, their growth, and perhaps their future.

They seem to have so much to say to their past selves, or perhaps they are trying to find their future selves, and all these emotions are contained in their singing at this moment.

Even the audience was completely captivated.

But just as the chorus came on again—"The person I'm waiting for is in the far future"—their voices disappeared from the stage, as if they had evaporated into the vast sea of ​​people.

"when--"

At the same moment, a chord like a sigh resounded from in front of the piano.

All eyes in the room, including the choir members on stage and Tang Xiaoxing, who had already lowered his hands on the conductor's podium, were focused on the piano.

The stage seemed to have returned to the scene of the piano recital at this moment.

The sound of the piano keys remains crisp and melodious, like the purest sound in nature.

Each tap was so beautiful that it made you want to close your eyes.

It's as if the music is a key that can unlock the tightly closed door deep in everyone's heart.

At this point, no one cared about the two missing lyrics anymore—

I hear the wind blowing from the subway and the sea of ​​people; I'm standing in line, holding my number for love.

As the music faded into the stage lights, Xiao Che gently withdrew his hand, and a moment later gently retracted his right foot that had been pressing the pedal.

moment.

"Whoosh—"

In the very back corner of the audience, Ang Lee, under the brim of his hat, raised the corners of his mouth in a half-smile.

Sure, two little ones.

It's clear that a lot of thought went into leaving blank spaces.

He's already looking forward to tomorrow's final.

Let's give it a score of 98 for now.

"Wang Xiaohu."

Amid the applause, he turned his head and said with a smile, "Don't feel pressured."

Little Tiger grinned and replied, "Are you kidding me?"

"Let's go, guys, we need to get to the waiting area."

Thirty-four members of the Book People's Choir quietly left the backstage area, with Lao Tang following closely behind.

"Wow————"

At the same moment, another round of applause rang out. On stage, Xiao Che stood up, played the zither, and bowed to the audience following Tang Xiaoxin's gesture.

(End of this chapter)