A Musical Genius Who Plays Memories - Chapter 25

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 25. Signpost (4)

As soon as I saw Aunt’s studio, my breath caught in my throat.

But that was only for a moment.

My eyes widened instantly, and I cheered with a powerful voice from my belly.

“Wowwww!!”

I couldn’t help but exclaim loudly in admiration.

Three electronic pianos were lined up side by side.

There was also an electronic drum set in the corner.

Several guitars hung on the wall, and they looked quite expensive at first glance.

At first I was excited, but seeing so many instruments somehow made me scared.

‘I can only play piano… I do know how to play violin somewhat… Do I need to handle all these things nowadays?’

When I was young, I already knew these things, so I didn’t think much about it.

Sheet music, music too.

It was the old days when you could make a living with just one piano.

But looking at Aunt and Father, it seemed that wasn’t the case.

The number of instruments to handle had increased, and there seemed to be much more to learn accordingly.

‘Still, it’s fun!’

So what if it’s difficult?

The joy of learning was originally what sustained life.

And learning new music that I love.

Nothing was more fun than that.

While I was looking around at this and that, Aunt called me.

“Hee-seong, come sit here.”

At Aunt’s call, I scurried over and sat in the chair.

On the desk was a mixing table with considerably more stuff than Father’s.

And there were several speakers too.

“Now, shall we listen to the song you heard yesterday one more time?”

“Oh, yes! I wanted to hear it again!”

“Just a moment. Ah, there we go.”

Aunt played the song once more.

As the song started, I was in the forest.

Leaving the forest to see the ocean and the huge sun.

It was the same feeling as yesterday.

However, if there was a difference.

‘It seems clearer.’

It felt like seeing a photograph rather than a painting.

I told Aunt about this fact.

“The song seems to sound better!”

“Really? How so?”

“Yesterday it was blurry like a painting, but today it’s like a photograph! Super clear!”

“Hahaha. Hee-seong, you felt it too.”

“Huh? Felt what?”

“That composition is all about the equipment.”

“Uh… composition?”

Aunt began playing the songs she had worked on.

Opera-like songs, classical-like songs, traditional Korean music-like songs, hip-hop, idol music, heavy metal, rock.

There were so many songs, and such diverse ones.

There were songs that made people happy, and there were also songs that made people sad.

Making people cry and laugh.

Making music move people’s emotions.

“Hee-seong, do you want to make songs like these too?”

Aunt Sujin’s question was so gentle that it sounded even clearer.

That question could be answered so simply.

“Yes! I want to make them!”

I spoke louder than ever before.

Aunt looked at me and smiled warmly.

“Hee-seong really loves music, doesn’t he?”

“Hehe, that’s right! I love it so much!”

“Then, shall we try making a simple song together with Aunt? How about it?”

“I want to do it!”

“Good, good. Now, just play whatever you want on this piano here.”

“Okay!”

I brought my hands to the piano as Aunt said.

It was an electronic piano, not a grand piano, but it was still good.

‘She said to just play randomly… but I can’t do that!’

My pride as a composer wouldn’t allow it.

So I should play around with a very simple song.

When working on a song, the first thing I create is the melody.

I thought melody was what people listen to most when hearing a song.

As a result, creating melody first naturally became a habit.

‘Should I go with C major simply?’

C major means the major scale based on C.

Why is ‘C’ the standard?

It was a very simple matter.

‘Because I don’t have to play the black keys.’

Of course, I could play them.

But it was bothersome to think about, and it felt a bit burdensome like I was doing something serious.

I had my own standards when composing.

Light when it should be light, heavy when it should be heavy.

Well, it wasn’t a standard I followed very often.

“Oh, you’re going to try?”

“Yes, hehe.”

I moved my fingers lightly.

C-

Since the index finger pressing C couldn’t move, my pinky pressed E instead.

E-

I hadn’t decided yet whether to do a serious song or an upbeat one.

So once more.

C- E-

‘Huh? This sounds pretty good?’

The notes C and E were nice.

C for one beat.

E for three beats.

So I tried playing them alternately.

I pressed C and E during one breath.

When I slightly increased the speed, it became quite a nice sound.

But it was still lacking.

G- A- D-

I played C, E, and G for one beat each.

Finally, I played A and D for half a beat each, then played C and E once more.

A pretty decent 4 measures had been created.

‘Hmm… Should I try starting this 4 measures with sol?’

Since 4 measures were made, I should try making the next 4 measures too.

I wanted to play based on a different note than do.

However, it should harmonize with the song I was playing before.

I moved my fingers and played.

My thumb that had been pressing do was now pressing sol.

Sol-

I started differently from the previous progression.

Since the measure based on do was a bit bland, I thought I’d try walking a little this time.

After pressing sol for three beats, I wondered what note I should play next.

Then I saw the high do.

Do-

One measure ended.

And then I played the high re.

Re-

It continued for another while.

I wondered what note I should press next.

Meanwhile, re was filling one measure.

‘Haha, this reminds me of the old days.’

In the past too, when composing, I used to press keys randomly like this.

Then when good notes were created, I’d continue like this and get stuck.

I pondered and pondered again about what notes would create a good melody.

Perhaps because I had a similar experience back then, I could decide quickly.

‘La? Si? No, let’s not go down. Right, let’s press this.’

I pressed the high sol as is.

It felt pretty good.

It felt somewhat wistful yet refreshing.

Savoring this feeling, I continued creating the song.

Sol-

The high sol continued for two beats, and after that I played sol again.

It was that note I had pressed when starting the new measure.

Sol continued for 3 beats.

Even though the third measure had ended, sol still played for one more measure.

‘There’s a reason I played it this way.’

The last note was already decided.

Re-

The high re didn’t continue very long.

Just one measure.

However, there were still two more measures left to finish the song.

Do-

The high do continued the melody.

It continued the song that was about to become slightly wistful in the middle.

I was captivated by some indescribable feeling.

How should I put it, it felt like my eyes were closing naturally.

Even though it was only 8 measures.

‘Ah, this is enjoyable.’

It was fun.

Even though I made it impromptu, it was this enjoyable.

I must be an inevitable musician.

Just like in the past, I still loved playing and creating music.

This is exactly the joy of composition.

You can create intentionally, but there are good songs that can come out when playing impromptu.

“Wow…”

Just before I fell into admiration, I heard Aunt’s voice.

When I turned my head to look at her, her mouth was wide open.

‘What?’

I wondered if I had done something wrong.

However, her following reaction corrected my thoughts.

“Hee-seong, what was your intention in creating this song?”

“Intention…? There wasn’t any.”

“Really? From Aunt’s perspective, it doesn’t seem that way?”

I pondered over her words.

It was certain there was no intention.

However, when playing, memories from the past came to mind a little.

The songs I had played impromptu, the pieces that were born from there.

Those wonderful songs that gradually connected and finally became complete movements filled my head.

Even now I was busy filling my head with the 8 measures I had just played.

“It reminded me of the old days.”

“What? Hee-seong, you’re 5 years old? You talk just like an old man who’s lived through everything, keke.”

“Ah.”

“Hahaha! Yes yes, our elder Hee-seong! Would you teach this aunt how you played?”

“Ahaha…”

“I’m joking. I can see the confusion in your eyes. Our nephew is so cute.”

Aunt Sujin pinched my cheeks vigorously.

My cheeks are soft after all.

After touching my cheeks for a while like that, Aunt said.

“Does Hee-seong like music?”

Her eyes contained seriousness.

Aunt Sujin, now in her 40s, was very playful.

She had more passion than any young person.

Perhaps that’s why.

I felt an inevitable sense of kinship from Aunt.

It was the way of speaking of someone who loved music.

So, it meant it was a very easy question.

“Yes!”

“What about creating music? Of course, since you made it for the first time today, you might not know well?”

She wouldn’t know.

No, everyone in this world wouldn’t know.

That I was a composer who had created countless songs.

Appearance, speech, era.

I was a completely different person.

Yet there was one thing in common.

‘I love music tremendously. Composition as well.’

Aunt Sujin would think I composed for the first time today.

But that wasn’t the case.

“I like creating songs too!”

“Really? Well, you did say very loudly that you wanted to create songs. I thought that might be the case.”

“Hehe, I want to make more!”

Aunt Sujin smiled brightly and stroked my hair.

I felt good from that caring and gentle touch.

I placed my hands on the piano once more.

This time I should play with a different feeling.

“Heeseong, would you like other people to listen to your songs?”

“Um… Yes, I think that would be nice.”

“Why?”

“Because listening to songs makes people feel good.”

This was a realization I had gained from the past.

I wanted to make other people smile through music.

Even when they’re hurting, even when it’s difficult, even when they’re sad.

I hoped they would gain strength from listening to music.

That’s why I composed music.

“Do you want to make songs like that?”

“Yes! I hope other people feel good too!”

“Then, how would it be if you made music here?”

“…What?”

I was momentarily flustered by Aunt Sujin’s words.

After hearing what she said, I looked around.

Countless instruments and a spacious area.

Working in this space would definitely be enjoyable.

The songs born here would surely bring joy as well.

No.

“I think it would be happiness.”

This was an undeniable fact.

Even though I played impromptu, it was still enjoyable.

Songs made with this kind of feeling would be even more joyful than in the past.

I thought songs that would make many people smile would be born.

Aunt Sujin looked at me like that and said.

“Then, let’s make songs together with Aunt here. How about it?”

“Great! Let’s make them together!”

“Come on, pinky promise.”

“Promise!”

I hooked pinkies with Aunt.

I didn’t know what meaning this pinky promise held for her.

But for me, it was such an enormous promise.

To live a better life than in the past.

It was a promise to make happy songs.

“Let’s definitely make them together.”

I whispered softly.

These were words no one could hear.

Because this was a promise with myself.

Aunt Sujin’s studio was slightly cool, so it seemed like good songs would be made there.

Now, and in the future too.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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