King of Classical Music 72

Of all the music institutes in Europe, the world even, the Paris’ National Conservatory of Music was one of the best. Their terms usually lasted for 4 to 5 years. Each semester, two in-house assessments were conducted to inspect both the syllabus implemented by the teachers and the progress of the students. Students who failed multiple times would face the difficult choice of either repeating the semester or dropping out.

Qi Mu mentioned this assessment when taking his new assignment from Akkad.

Naturally, he knew that the Conservatory held these assessments four times a year. Most orchestras believed it was also a good opportunity to recruit talent. Qi Mu had also accompanied Jacques to Paris in his previous life.

“Little Seven, you enrolled during the middle of the semester. Now, you have to participate in the assessment after only two weeks.” Akkad gave him the score and added, “I don’t want to keep you here in Paris with me for too long. The right way to do this is for you to graduate early.”

Akkad knew that Qi Mu had worked with several orchestras before, including the New York Philharmonic Orchestra. Cooperation, however, did not imply being a full member.

The classical music industry in Huaxia was still peaceful and flourishing, while Europe’s had long been complex.

Qi Mu gazed at the score in his hand then looked up and smiled, “I know. I will work hard.” After a pause, he inquired, “Right, teacher, I don’t know. . . if you want me to choose the performance track for the assessment myself.”

“Paganini’s 《La Campanella》.”

This answer left Qi Mu in a daze. He asked, “Professor Akkad, I thought. . . You would let me choose 《No. 24》 or 《Carmen Fantasia》.”

Akkad gave Qi Mu the score of Sarasate’s 《Carmen Fantasia》.

《Carmen》 was an opera piece written by the French composer Georges Bizet for the novel 《Carmen》. The subsequent composers, German-American Franz Waxman and Spain’s Sarasate, used the opera as the inspiration to write their own piece.

Bizet’s 《Carmen》 paid more attention to singing, making it the most widely spread version, and it was very popular with the audiences. Waxman and Sarasate’s 《Carmen》 was focused on violin skills. Although it had a smaller audience, it was regarded as a classic in fantasy violin.

Akkad raised his thick eyebrow. “Do you think. . . your 《La Campanella》 will be worse than these two?”

Qi Mu smiled and shook his head. He confidently replied, “No, I believe my 《La Campanella》 will definitely not be worse.”

《La Campanella》 was one of Qi Mu’s specialties. During last year’s Christmas Eve, he played this song in front of Min Chen. Though he hadn’t practiced it recently, Qi Mu believed he would never grow rusty.

Akkad nodded and said, “Not bad, then we will practice Sarasate’s 《Carmen》 this week and another song next week.”

Qi Mu was stunned. He asked, “. . .Professor, don’t you want to set aside some time before the assessment to let me practice 《La Campanella》?”

Akkad frowned. He feigned anger and said, “Little Seven, do you still need to be like that silly Dylan next door? He made his mentor leave a week to practice for his assessment!” His righteous gesture and matter-of-fact-tone made it seem like a perfectly reasonable thing to say.

Qi Mu nodded helplessly. “Yes, Professor. Let’s continue with our own syllabus, don’t let the assessment disrupt our progress.” In the whole school. . . only he would still teach as usual.

Akkad smiled. “Okay, familiarize yourself with the song.” Satisfied with Qi Mu’s hard-working attitude, Akkad finally relaxed. He added, ” Sarasate’s 《Carmen》 is a bit difficult. Little Seven, practice well.”

Qi Mu smiled and replied, “Okay, Professor.”

A bit difficult. . .

More like, very difficult.

Maybe Dylan was prepared to practice《Carmen》, but to get Akkad’s recognition in a week? It would be more realistic for Dylan to transfer back to the piano department.

Of course, difficult didn’t mean impossible. After a week of uninterrupted practice, Qi Mu got Akkad’s approval on the afternoon of the seventh day. He hadn’t yet breathed a sigh of relief when a new score appeared before his eyes.

He looked up and saw Akkad looking back at him with a smile, revealing his white teeth, “Little Seven, next week we have to practice Tartini’s 《G minor》. I heard when you were 14, you worked with the Vienna Symphony Orchestra on this song. It should be easy. So. . . let’s shorten the time a bit, how about five days?”

Qi Mu: “. . .”

He was far from proficient!

Professor!!!

. . .

Qi Mu’s life was hard, and the man on a leisurely trip had nothing to do.

In the beginning, Min Chen came to the music room to see Qi Mu. But, Qi Mu was so intently focused on the music, Min Chen wasn’t even noticed. Min Chin waited a long time, but when Qi Mu still didn’t look up, he went to the professor’s lounge. Gloomily, he sat face-to-face with Akkad. Neither of them said a word.

Akkad: “. . .”

Min Chen: “. . . . . .”

Akkad: “. . . . . . . . .”

Min Chen: “. . . . . . . . . . . .”

After three days of confrontation, Akkad’s thick skin finally wore thin. He raised his hands in surrender and spoke, “Okay, Min. What is your problem? Why do you run over to steal my chocolate every day?” Holding the chocolate in his arms, Akkad didn’t give the other man a chance to even glance at them.

Min Chen was too lazy to even say the word “chocolate.” After a while, he quietly asked, “The assessment is the day after tomorrow, could you not give Qi Mu a little time to prepare?”

Akkad suddenly breathed a sigh of relief and muttered, “So that’s what this is about. . .” He put his chocolate jar aside. “I won’t give Little Seven a task tomorrow. A day should be enough for him to practice the song. Besides, didn’t you tell me that Little Seven’s 《Bell》 is good? You also recommended this song for him. Is it. . . Are you worried?”

Min Chen’s eyebrows wrinkled and sighed. Finally, he said, “His 《Bell》 is really good, and a day should be enough for him to prepare.”

“Then what’s wrong?”

Min Chen: “. . .”

Qi Mu was so busy that he didn’t even notice he was there. How could he say it?!

In the adjacent lounge room, an indifferent man wore an expression of dissatisfaction. After playing his 《Devil’s Trill Sonata》 to Akkad, the sun had already set. The moon rose steadily in the sky.

Within five days, Qi Mu had practiced this difficult piece of music to the level Akkad wanted. Even so, Qi Mu felt a layer of his skin had peeled off, and his body had thinned.

Akkad, however, looked him up and down and smiled. “Has Little Seven gained a little weight recently? Gaining weight is good. You used to be too thin, haha.”

Qi Mu: “. . .”

His teacher’s presbyopia had become very serious.

After 11 days of hardship, Qi Mu was finally ushered into his first assessment. Students from every department gathered in the main concert hall of the college, waiting to demonstrate the results of half a semester’s toils.

Although the college had strict admission requirements, it also had a large number of students. However, students who participated in this assessment every year needed to be supervised by a professor-level tutor. Therefore, usually, only four or five people met this quota in each department.

To show the assessment’s fairness, not only could their tutor not being a judge, but at least five of the ten jury members were selected from outside the school. The college would invite professional masters to impartially evaluate the students. Last year, the school invited Farrell Louis, and the students in the violin department were ecstatic.

When Min Chen told Qi Mu Bella Kim would be a judge, Qi Mu’s wide eyes couldn’t be concealed. “Bella Kim? The American Violin Queen? Even she will be there? This is incredible!”

Bella Kim was nearly 40 years old, but her fame extended for over 20 years in the music world. Strauss’s works were her specialty, and she had a unique understanding of music. Her 《Gypsy Song》 was Qi Mu’s favorite version.

At his excitement, Min Chen clenched his teeth and whispered, “I am also one of the judges. . .”

“Bella Kim is second only to Master Farrell. I didn’t expect Bella would come, the college really extended themselves.”

Qi Mu instantly remembered the four or five signed Bella Kim albums he bought in his previous life. He was really looking forward to the assessment. He was always reserved and seldom got excited. Aside from his meeting with Farrell and Akkad, this was the first time he would meet such an outstanding master.

“I don’t know if Bella Kim will be tomorrow’s main judge. At her level, it is possible. . .”

Min Chen: “. . .”

“No, she might not be the main judge. The main judge for last year’s assessment was a violinist, so this time they will choose a different department.”

Min Chen: “. . .”

“Yes, I remember you mentioned something this morning. Are you leaving tomorrow? That’s a pity. I’ve been swamped recently and didn’t have time to take you around Paris.” Qi Mu only now remembered the silent man next to him. He smiled, eyes curling into crescents, and said, “I’m afraid I can’t send you off at the airport tomorrow. I’m sorry. . .”

Min Chen could hardly smile. He gritted his teeth. “It’s. . . no. . . problem.”

He said just this morning that his flight was tomorrow!

“Do you know when Bella Kim will arrive?”

Min Chen: “. . .”

This was the first time Min Chen regretted not learning the violin. If he had and if his skill surpassed Akkad’s, he could directly accept Qi Mu as his student and that. . . that would be great.

But someone forgot that talent was mysterious.

Translator(s): Kuro
Editor(s): AyN, Empress, Bet

The Author:

You don’t even have talent with the violin and you want to surpass Akkad?

Wait another 500 years!

Today’s recommended track is 《Carmen》.

Both versions are good. XD Girls can choose whichever. Of course, Bizet’s opera is also great!

Kuro:

Bella has bad luck, I think, and Min Chen eats a pool full of vinegar.

At first, I wanted to translate Xiao Qi as Young Seven instead of Little Seven because “Young Padawan” and “Midoriya-shounen.” But reason held me back and I left it as Little Seven.

On the other hand, I have been listening to a lot of Paganini and Sarasate (just two of Sarasate’s) and bingeing TwoSetViolin.

Check them out, there have really good violin facts and funny videos.

Happy Eid, guys!

Bet:

I am feeling abused. My new editor is biting my behind because I want to take my time and give you guys the best. TT^TT

I really do need to get better at time-keeping though. . .