The God of Conducting Starting from Absolute Pitch

Chapter 329 Perfection and Imperfection
Chen Qiu was extremely shocked by the preparations made by the opera house.

To be honest, he never thought that the opera house would be so strong.

Especially the singing part by the band before.

At that time, Chen Qiu even felt that this opera house was basically the same as the Haicheng Radio Symphony Orchestra, which was specifically for the elderly.

After all, my singing ability is indeed a bit behind others.

Therefore, Chen Qiu was actually well prepared at that time, and it didn't matter even if the scenery of the opera house was particularly simple.

At worst, I can just play with some impressionistic content.

No physical performance.

A lot of things are left to the audience's imagination.

Although the effect may be a little worse, with his control over the orchestra and the details, the audience should be able to focus all their attention on the musicians' singing rather than the simple background.

of course!

These are Chen Qiu’s imaginations about the opera house’s lack of strength.

But now...

Look at the opera house's exquisite scenery.

Chen Qiu did have a lot of expectations for their future cooperation.

Qin Xian is the same as Chen Qiu.

As the concertmaster of the orchestra, he actually didn't like the Haicheng Opera House very much before.

After all, this group of people didn't even understand Chen Qiu's strength, and they were just making orders all day long, trying to take control of the orchestra.

If the orchestra didn't really need to develop in many aspects, Qin Xian really didn't want to have any contact with this orchestra.

However, after seeing the preparations at the opera house, Qin Xian couldn't help but nodded and whispered to Li Miaomiao beside him.

"The opera house is much more cooperative than before, and they seem to be much more prepared."

"Were they bad before?"

Li Miaomiao looked at Qin Xian, slightly puzzled.

She asked softly as she scanned her surroundings.

“I feel like they’re not as bad as they say.”

"Before you came, their preparations were actually quite ordinary. They even looked like they wanted to seize control of the orchestra. However, under the command of Conductor Chen Qiu, their resistance was meaningless. Instead, Conductor Chen Qiu pointed out too many problems for them. Unless they want to completely break off relations with us and refuse to cooperate with us, otherwise..."

Qin Xian didn't say the rest, but Li Miaomiao understood what he meant.

She looked at Chen Qiu thoughtfully, nodded, and then she had an idea in her mind and spoke with emotion.

"I can only say that Chen Qiu is worthy of being the commander."

"Yes, indeed, it is worthy of being Commander Chen Qiu."

Qin Xian agreed.

The two of them stood behind Chen Qiu and followed Chen Qiu to check the details of the performance bit by bit.

And as the person in charge of the performance, he watched the entire performance in detail.

When they saw the performance, Qin Xian and Chen Qiu could only say...

It’s one thing to rehearse without a performance before, and it’s another thing to rehearse like this.

Before there were stage sets, many people performed in a relaxed and casual manner, and didn’t pay much attention to the details of their movements.

But with the advent of stage sets, the details of their walk needed to be redesigned.

It often happens that several people bump into each other while walking and then fall to the ground.

There are even situations where you hit a moving background board.

Various problems arose during the rehearsal, which gave Chen Qiu a headache.

Apparently, the singing part earlier was just a minor hiccup that had gone wrong during rehearsal.

The big problem is now.

Chen Qiu frowned and looked at Qi Min beside him and asked him.

"As the stage director here, haven't you rehearsed these things before?"

"How is that possible? Of course we've rehearsed it."

Qi Min smiled helplessly, spread his hands and explained to Chen Qiu.

"But because it's been a while, and our music library is quite large, even though I have a little impression of it, I'm not particularly familiar with it, so..."

Chen Qiu frowned and questioned: "Then why didn't you tell me in advance and find a work that you are more familiar with?"

"Well, yes, but..."

Qi Min sighed slowly and said helplessly to Chen Qiu.

"The works we are best at are not as good as some other troupes, such as Thunderstorm and The Red Detachment of Women. In front of us are the professional people from Haicheng Drama, and behind us are professional dance troupes like Haicheng Ballet. What we are best at is singing."

"..."

Chen Qiu probably understood.

The orchestra still has its foundation and strength, but due to some other reasons, it has not performed this type of work for a long time.

In that case, Chen Qiu sighed and asked Qin Xian beside him.

"Can you play solo? As an accompaniment? Or I can call some people from the orchestra over. I think if we wait until the opera house finishes rehearsing, it may be too late for the performance, so let's just start with the band accompaniment."

"Accompanied by a band? I have no problem with that."

Qin Xian took out the violin behind him, indicating that he was ready, and asked Chen Qiu.

"But they're not ready yet, so we just go ahead and get the band to play with us. Isn't that a bit too hasty?"

"What else should I do?"

Chen Qiu helplessly spread his hands.

He explained to Qin Xian.

"If we ask them to walk the stage little by little now, the speed will be too slow. Have you ever heard of Orff?"

"Orff?" Qin Xian understood immediately. "I understand. Let them perform to the rhythm of the music. No problem. Then my suggestion is to call the people in the orchestra and ask them who is free and ask them to come over first."

"I'll handle this matter." Li Miaomiao raised her hand immediately.

She took out her cell phone from her pocket and said to Chen Qiu.

"I'm quite familiar with the orchestra. I'll contact some people in the orchestra. If I remember correctly, they should still be rehearsing with the orchestra now."

"Well, you go first."

Chen Qiu nodded in agreement, and Li Miaomiao quickly ran out of the orchestra, dialing a number on her cell phone as she ran.

At this time, Qin Xian put his violin bag aside, took out his violin, played it with the bow, quickly calibrated the tone, and nodded to Chen Qiu.

"I have no problem."

"Okay, you quickly prepare, and then Director Qi Min." Chen Qiu looked at Qi Min on the side and nodded to him, "Please, please gather the other people in the orchestra."

"Row……"

Qi Min agreed and was about to leave, but turned back and asked Chen Qiu.

"By the way, what is Orff? I have never heard of this word. Is it some special term for performance?"

"Oh, this one?"

Chen Qiu turned to look at Qi Min, couldn't help but grin and shook his head.

"Of course it's not about performance, but about teaching. The full name is Orff teaching method, which means children's music teaching method. It is a music teaching method designed for children by Carl Orff, a famous composer in the 20th century. This teaching method is listed as one of the four major music teaching mainstreams in the 20th century, along with Dalcroze, Kodály and Suzuki teaching methods."

Qi Min's mouth was stiff: "Uh...children's teaching method?"

Chen Qiu nodded: "Yes, the children's teaching method. In 1924, Orff and the dancer Ms. Goeth co-founded the Goeth School, which combines music, rhythm and dance education. From observing children learning music, he realized that children should start learning music by cultivating a sense of rhythm, first experiencing the fun of music from rhythm instruments, and then gradually adding elements such as melody and harmony. Later, it gradually developed into the Orff music teaching method. Although it is called children's teaching, it is actually also useful for adults. After all..."

"It is the human body's instinct to move to the rhythm of music!"

Chen Qiu raised a finger and grinned at Qi Min.

Although he wanted to complain, Qi Min had no way to refute.

When I think about a group of men in their forties and fifties, working in this place all day long on this music teaching method, I feel really bad.

He really felt that his life was no different from living in vain. However, after hearing Chen Qiu's last words, he roughly understood what Chen Qiu meant.

The main reason for the various problems actors are facing nowadays is that their brains do not have a suitable memory point.

Although the music may undergo some subtle changes due to what the conductor wants to express, it is generally relatively stable.

Let the emotion of the music lead the orchestra to move and give everyone a memorable moment.

This is what Chen Qiu wants to do.

And this so-called Orff teaching method.

Maybe Chen Qiu deliberately used it to irritate those musicians.

Thinking of this, Qi Min sighed slowly, pinched his eyebrows and smiled bitterly.

"Although I know you may not be happy, it's better to at least give them some respect. After all, they are so old. If you keep humiliating them here, they might want to go on strike or something."

"This isn't really a humiliation, is it? It's just a rehearsed technique..."

Chen Qiu looked at Qi Min with a look of disbelief and could only spread his hands.

"Okay, I won't mention this when I rehearse with the orchestra. I'm just telling you this. But Conductor Qi Min, you should pay more attention to the stage part. After all, I'm not one of you. I have a lot of rehearsal work to do and don't have time to watch you all the time. I can do well in the music and singing, but as for the stage movements..."

"I understand this. After all, I haven't done it for a long time. I need to recall it. I'll put some tape on the ground for positioning, so that they can move better when they move."

Qi Min nodded to show that he understood, then stood up and walked to the stage, started shouting for everyone in the orchestra to gather, and began to discuss the details of the performance.

Chen Qiu and Qin Xian were sitting in the audience, watching Qi Min directing the performance, but they did not intervene.

Qin Xian held the violin in his hand, plucking the strings casually, and whispered to Chen Qiu.

"Conductor Chen Qiu, do you think our performance this time can really be successful?"

"of course."

Chen Qiu grinned, patted Qin Xian on the shoulder, looked at the group of people on the stage who were listening to Qi Min's speech, and said with a smile.

"After all, we are the Harmony Symphony Orchestra. As long as we do it, we will definitely succeed. No matter what, we must not break this belief! What? Are you starting to lose confidence? No way? You are the concertmaster of our orchestra! If you have no confidence, then aren't we doomed?"

"How can you not have confidence? After all, Chen Qiu is commanding you here."

Qin Xian immediately retorted.

He glanced at the people who were moving, slowly exhaled a breath of foul air, and whispered to Chen Qiu.

“It just feels like there isn’t enough time. We may not be able to respond to the audience in the best possible way.”

"So, Qin Xian, what do you think is perfect?"

Chen Qiu did not answer, but asked Qin Xian back.

Qin Xian thought for a long time and asked tentatively.

"There are no wrong notes, the rhythm is perfect, the emotional expression is smooth, and every detail is handled beautifully. Even if someone wants to find fault, they can only find some faults in the emotional expression, and not many people can find faults in the technical aspects."

"So, how long do you think it will take to achieve this goal?" Chen Qiu continued to ask.

Qin Xian immediately said: "If it's our band, one week!"

Chen Qiu: "Are you sure our band has really reached this standard?"

Qin Xian: "I..."

Qin Xian was stunned.

He didn't expect that the problem suddenly returned to his own band.

There was a hint of hesitation in his eyes as he spoke slowly.

"I... am sure? After all, Chen Qiu instructed you to pass it."

"Then unfortunately, our orchestra has not reached that point yet."

Chen Qiu shook his head slightly, smiled and spread his hands.

"To be precise, the effect of each of our performances is basically 70% to 80% of what I had imagined."

Qin Xian was stunned, then asked anxiously: "Then why not..."

"Because of time!"

Chen Qiu interrupted Qin Xian's question and smiled at him.

"What do you think? If, as I said, our current completion rate is 70% to 80%, and we reach 100% every time, then how long will it take us to prepare a set of music?"

"About... a month?" Qin Xian hesitated. "After all, there are marginal effects. It may actually be longer?"

Chen Qiu nodded: "About the same. According to my estimation, we can probably finish some simple songs in about a month, and some difficult songs will take one and a half months, two months, or even longer. So do you think we have that much time to rehearse? Rehearse for one and a half months, two months, to prepare a set of songs?"

"..."

Qin Xian thought for a long time and shook his head.

“No, because our theater is relatively small and cannot support such performances.”

"Well, you're right. That's true. If we really prepare for so long, let's not talk about whether we can have such a big status and have so many people come to listen to us. It's always full. Even if it's full and all the tickets are sold out, then we can get 10 per performance, and divide 5 equally among the musicians in the orchestra. There are 30 people, plus 1.5 times the principal's salary, so each person may actually get just over . Obviously, if it were you, would you be willing to pay so much for this ?"

Qin Xian shook his head: "It's difficult. I might look for other jobs. This can only be a part-time job at best."

"Yes! That's the problem!"

Chen Qiu nodded with satisfaction and continued to speak to Qin Xian.

"We must ensure that the musicians have enough food to eat and can enjoy music at the same time. Only in this way can we make them willing to continue working for us, rather than just becoming irrelevant after a few times. When reality collides with ideals, they will have no choice but to give up their dreams."

Qin Xian was silent, then asked: "So, Chen Qiu is directing you to increase the performance volume so that everyone can eat first?"

Chen Qiu shook his head: "No, this is not the point, the point is..."

Chen Qiu raised a finger mysteriously and spoke to Qin Xian with a smile.

"Don't you find that the band's strength is growing little by little and has reached what we expected?"

Qin Xian was stunned, then his eyes lit up.

"Because of high pressure?"

"Right! High voltage!"

Chen Qiu nodded, continued to look at the group of actors, and spoke casually to Qin Xian.

“My repertoire selections are not very difficult. I add a lot of content step by step. The same goes for the pressure on the musicians in the orchestra. The higher the pressure on the orchestra, the stronger their desire to play the music they want, and the higher their level will be.

Over time, the band has been able to achieve 50% of my requirements from the beginning, but now it has gradually improved to 60% to 70%. And this is not the end, they will get higher and higher, and sooner or later, they will perfectly interpret my ideas!"

Chen Qiu's eyes were full of light. He stood up, walked in front of Qin Xian, supported his knees with his hands, bent down, and asked Qin Xian with a smile condescendingly.

"Do you think that an orchestra that can only play about 70% of what I expected is bad? Chief Qin Xian?"

"No, not bad, very good!" Qin Xian shook his head and looked at Chen Qiu in front of him with a smile on his face, "In other words, very strong!"

"That's right! Qin Xian, let me tell you, no orchestra's performance is 20% complete. Not only us, but even the Berlin Philharmonic, London Symphony, Vienna Philharmonic, and Amsterdam Royal Orchestra, their performances are not % prepared! But so what? Aren't they still among the top in the world?"

Chen Qiu turned around, walked to the command platform inside the Moon Pool with his hands behind his back, looked at the people on the stage, smiled, and spoke slowly.

"So Qin Xian, I can say responsibly that the completion of our performance this time will not be very high, maybe only about 60% or 70%, but... we can still create a performance that will shock everyone."

As Chen Qiu's voice fell, the door at the stage entrance opened.

Qin Xian looked towards the entrance.

The sunlight outside the door is dazzling, and it's not hot but clear.

But against the light, Qin Xian saw the muscular man standing in the front, like a double bass with legs, the elegant man with square-framed glasses who exuded a scholarly air, the girl carrying a cello, and the others.

Under Qin Xian's gaze, everyone rushed in, holding their instruments and entering the orchestra pit.

Ai Gu walked up to Chen Qiu and Qin Xian, raised his eyebrows, and said to them with a playful smile.

"Hey, I asked you two to perform without us, and you called us afterward! Tsk tsk, let's see if you two dare to sneak out without calling me next time!"

After saying that, Ai Gu didn't wait for Chen Qiu and Qin Xian to reply. He walked to the timpani at the back of the orchestra and spoke loudly to Chen Qiu.

"Conductor Chen Qiu, all members of the Harmony Symphony Orchestra are in place! Please give your instructions!"

"Don't talk about these useless things. It's so immature."

Chen Qiu waved his hand and spoke loudly to the orchestra and the group of performers standing on the stage.

"Everyone, restore everything to its original state and prepare to start the first collaborative rehearsal!"

"Yes, Chen Qiu is in command!"

(End of this chapter)