Chapter 2.6 - Bit by bit 6 (2/2)

From amongst the teachers that had been digesting Ku Mingi’s words, a teacher quietly opened his mouth.

“But…”

Kwak Jungsoo who had become the centre of the gazes made a bitter expression. Scratching his hair that appeared like a bird’s nest, he opened his mouth.

“Jo Yunjae, he said he wanted me to be his Specialist Prac teacher?”

“…?”

A final announcement was made to the astonished teachers.

“So I agreed to it yesterday.”

“…What?”

*

While everyone was in shock due to the Improvement Concert timetables,

“You guys have time right now right? Let’s gather for a bit.”

Lee Suh-ah who started off like that gathered us and brought us to a practice room. We had no idea and just followed her like toddlers. In front of us, she stood upright with her hands on her waist. It appeared quite brave.

After glancing at us like a general, she opened her mouth.

“We have received the Improvement Concert timetables today and I need to perform immediately after 2 weeks. After that, there’s Korean National Concour and pracs… there won’t be much time for us to gather.”

“Uh… really?”

Glaring at Noh Jusup who made a dumb sound, Lee Suh-ah continued.

“So let’s quickly decide on the song and practise on our own. I go back to my place during the weekends so I have no time to meet you guys. Aren’t you guys going back as well?”

“I’m going too.”

“Me too…”

Noh Jusup and Han Dasom raised their hands.

What, so it’s just me leaving behind at school? I shrugged my shoulders at the three looking at me. We were allowed to sleep outside during the weekends but I had no time to go outside – I had to practise.

Lee Suh-ah gave a nod before quickly throwing her words out.

“In any case, let’s decide on the song first. Do you guys have anything in mind?”

“No?”

“…”

Seeing the two of them who shook their heads at the same time, Lee Suh-ah gave a deep sigh. What were you expecting from Noh Jusup… Stepping on the foot of Noh Jusup who had been grinning, Lee Suh-ah suggested.

“Firstly, I think Haydn’s The Creation no 4 is good. What do you think?”

Haydn, The Creation Part 1, no 4.

Going through the scores in my head, a familiar melody came to mind. The loud, holy and resonating song, fitting its title of ‘The Creation’ as well as Haydn’s best oratorio.

I asked while tilting my head.

“The one beginning with a soprano solo? Was there a chorus after that?”

“There is. Only around 1 minute long though.”

Solo huh… Lee Suh-ah’s intentions were clear.

Not even trying to hide it, she said valiantly.

“I’m the best from here. So I’ll do a solo, and you guys just have to support.”

“Wow look at that boldness.”

“You have any complaints?”

Noh Jusup was amazed at that shameless attitude before crumbling in front of Lee Suh-ah’s gaze.

“No I really like it. Supporting is my forte you know.”

He flattered and Han Dasom slowly nodded her head. Soon, after coming to an agreement, their eyes gathered on me. Haydn huh… it’s indeed not a bad choice but…

But the fact that there’s a soprano solo is a bit bothering. Although there is a chorus at the end, that is still quite vague. What we were learning was concerted music – will the teacher highly evaluate a chorus that had a solo mixed in it?

‘Debatable.’

At least if I was the teacher, I would not say that was the best selection of a song. Especially if it was a group with Lee Suh-ah in, it would be too obvious that they were trying to put up a soprano solo so wouldn’t the teacher instead be angry and deduct marks?

“If we make it too obvious to have a solo, then wouldn’t the teacher dislike it?”

“Is that so?”

After staring at me with transparent eyes, she asked.

“Then how can we beat Kim Wuju… no, how can we receive higher marks in your opinion?”

Marks.

Thinking of that word made me frustrated for no reason. Marks, prac marks.

‘I have to go to the Improvement Concert with this body…’

Although there was still roughly three weeks left, it would barely be enough to prepare the body for it. No matter how I thought about it, I had no confidence to get high marks. And if I didn’t get good marks for the Improvement Concert, it would become a lot harder to get the scholarship.

After a quick calculation, under the premise that I sit all the other subjects well, I also needed to receive full marks for concerted music to even have a slight chance.

Full marks.

“…”

When I glanced at Lee Suh-ah, she had been looking at me with a glum face.

Marks. More importantly than something like that, it was like an instinct of executants to want to play a better song.

What did we need to do in order to perform better?

While staring at Lee Suh-ah who was gazing down at me, I organised my thoughts.

An all-rounder soprano, Lee Suh-ah.

The soft voice of Han Dasom.

An average bass.

And a little screwed up tenor.

The best music with these members.

What could that be

I quickly searched through the scores within my brain. Bringing forth the 20 years of database filled with songs, a melody started to dance from inside.

The four parts adding into one. On top of that, I substituted in all the members’ voices – a little softer on the soprano, smaller tenor, and a rough bass.

‘And Lee Suh-ah.’

I put in the best soprano I could think of.

Then, a rich resonance was etched into my brain. The ringing echoes of songs – I searched through them and quickly analysed each scores.

‘The tenor is too active on this one. This one limits Lee Suh-ah’s advantages. This is not in line with Han Dasom’s voice.’

And after pretty much throwing away all the songs within the textbook,

A song popped up in mind.

Han Dasom’s whispering voice and Lee Suh-ah’s clear high notes intertwining, as well as Noh Jusup and me supporting subtly from behind.

The four melody parts merged together and made a beautiful resonance. After appreciating the continuing song for a while, I slowly opened my mouth.

“Vivaldi. Gloria part 11.”

When I came to things, I found Lee Suh-ah making a frown on her face before me. I was startled into pulling back my head when Lee Suh-ah retorted.

“Part 11? Isn’t that too short?”

Hmm, indeed. No matter how we stretched it, it would probably be less than 1 minute.

I quickly thought of an alternative.

“Let’s sing together with part 12. I’m sure the teacher will agree.”

“Hmm…”

After some thought, Lee Suh-ah rather easily nodded her head.

“Alright. Then let’s sing both of them and decide which is better.”

Oh, she wasn’t really agreeing huh.

When our eyes met, I noticed her confident expression that seemed to say, no matter how you looked, my song is better.

“Let’s sing then.”

“We will know once we sing it.”

I could see her raising her chin up.

“…”

Right. It’s obvious that she would be confident. No matter what, she was the best within this school, or perhaps even the world’s best student soprano. And such a student was singing solo.

‘It’s almost like a cheat.’

To beat someone like this, there was a need for someone with a better solo ability to come forth. For example…

‘Kim Wuju.’

After quietly staring at Lee Suh-ah, I gave a nod.

“… Alright. Let’s see which one’s better.”

I’m quite confident as well, you see. At least, in choosing songs.

Me who had the experience of living as an opera singer, as well as experience as a conductor… wouldn’t I at least be better than Lee Suh-ah?

When I flicked my head, I saw Han Dasom looking at us with a puzzled expression. Her slowly blinking eyes resembled an innocent rabbit.

‘Han Dasom.’

I once again remembered her ambient voice – the warm resonance and soft timbre. If it was together with that voice, then this Vivaldi’s Gloria part 11,

‘I can definitely make it the best song.’