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Play Me Our Song; Reserved
Topic Started: Sep 27 2009, 10:17 PM (15,009 Views)
lucier
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si vis pacem, para bellum
[ *  *  *  *  * ]
[Don't mind the youtube links, they're just there because I'm a helpless music nerd. XD]


"And there you go again, no wonder you got that baton up your ass." Isaac threw a mild smirk over his shoulder, "Good-bye, Zubin Meta. I'll look forward to that drink." Zubin Meta was the genius that had stood atop the Israeli Phil for about thirty years, he was a fearsome man, even without an icy demeanor. Pearce would do good to learn a few things from him. "Have a good night."

Isaac found Matthias in the car, marking the parts again. "What're we playing?"

Matthias looked up, "Dvorak's Carnival Overture, Sleeping Beauty Suite, and for the concerto, it's the Bruch, with Hilary Hahn. Did he totally chew you out?"

"...Um, yes and no." And suddenly, he didn't feel like talking about that to Matthias, it seemed a little too intimate because whether he knew it or not, Pearce had betrayed an important part of himself to Isaac." Reaching for a lighter topic, he buckled in his seatbelt in the driver's seat.

"I get to unseat you in three days, and I get to go with Pearce to have a drink."

"You work fast."

"A month isn't that long to get into someone's pants, and I have a crutch, so that just makes it harder for me. So I'm unseating you for this season, okay?"

Matthias glanced at him, "Are you so confident that you'll win? You're three grand in the hole if you lose."

"Then, I won't lose. You know that." Since when did Isaac Langley ever lose a bet, anyway?
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(I’m loving the youtube links. I’m adding the songs to my playlist as we speak XD)

Kei waited till the door left and he heard the footsteps echo through the hall to signal Isaac’s exit. Only then did he smile, glad to know that the mistakes severity was fully understood and that the player hadn’t left an emotional mess. Guilty enough to not repeat the same mistake again, yes, but depressed, crushed and ready to give up his seat as second?

Thankfully no. He had been right after all. He was one of their best violinists, if not the best. Perhaps holding auditions to see ranking wasn’t such a smart idea after all. Especially with those strange suggestion to go out and have a drink. Not that it helped when he gave the same offer but it was definitely a warning for the future.

Yes. Keeping a distance from that player would be wise. Now he could only hope that he wouldn’t be pulling a miracle from his ass.



Three days later, just like he promised, auditions for the concertmaster began. Those who had gone were all good but they had to be. There were in his orchestra after all. To even be here meant that they had talent...now he just had to figure out who was better than good and much better than great. He needed to find the best, closing his eyes and focusing purely on the sound of each performance.

Some sounded flawless but when the beauty of playing the violin was taken away, the sat was just a smidgen sharp. Other played perfectly but seemed to lack that hidden element he looked for.

Perhaps Derringer would get to keep his seat yet again.

So he sat there, silent as he watched one leave and waited for the door open and reveal who was next.
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lucier
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si vis pacem, para bellum
[ *  *  *  *  * ]
[ Yay! Glad to hear, I'm just using this thread as an excuse to dump all my classical music muses ^__^ ]


And when Isaac put his mind to it, he was actually quite scary. Even that, Matthias had to admit. THree days passed, and when Isaac wasn't practicing his piece, he was seen wolfing down a cup of coffee and a bagel. One thing was that when Isaac was binging, at least he remembered to eat, Matthias couldn't remember the last time he'd went on a binge, but he sure as hell probably hadn't ate. So Isaac really had a mind to unseat him all for the sake of a bet then?

"You're serious about this?" He asked, as Isaac came into the kitchen with his violin in hand to toast a bagel.

"What? Unseating you? Yeah, of course I am. Three grand in the hole if I'm not, and I like to stand by the fact that I've never lost a bet." Isaac sat down in the chair opposite of him and put his instrument down on the table. "And you...you're not defending your seat?"

"he's not going to give it to you after the stupid stunt you pulled," Matthias pointed out. "Your bagel is about to burn."


That exchange stuck in Matthias' mind as Gabrielle came out, looking mostly pleased, as if she really thought she had a chance. No one really did, except Isaac and himself, he already knew that.

Besides, if Isaac really ran the orchestra, Matthias was afraid what was going to happen. And Pearce probably knew it too. He wouldn't do anything so stupid. He went in, and stood poised to play. One odd thing was that Pearce never held auditions behind a screen, but if he accidentally picked Isaac out as Concertmaster, he'd probably never stop kicking himself.

So Matthias just nodded, "I'll be playing Rondo Capriccioso by Saint-Saens."

Saint-Saens? Isaac was intrigued as the next person. Matthias hadn't even practiced the last three days, he was going to pull Saint-Saens out of his ass?
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Rei couldn’t help but tap his fingers in patience, wondering just who and more importantly, what they would be playing and how it would be done. Gabrielle had done well, but Rei simply wasn’t looking for well.

He was looking for the best and well didn’t cut it. He wanted a risk choice of music.

It was why his lips cracked into a smile as he saw Matthias and heard his song selection. Saint-Saens was it?

“Rondo Capriccioso is one of my favorite pieces,” he spoke, the words sounding beautiful and pure as they left his lips, almost like the sound of an instrument itself. “I hope to be impressed.”

The expectation for Matthias was already high, much higher than Rei had for everyone else. For a current concertmaster of quite a few auditions, he expected the flawless sound he demanded in performances. For Saint-Saens to be presented as an audition piece, those expectations had grown higher.

Much higher than anyone in the room could imagine.

So he closed his eyes, committing a rare act of leaning into his seat as he signaled with his hand.

“You may play.”
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lucier
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si vis pacem, para bellum
[ *  *  *  *  * ]
He hoped to be impressed, well...whether or not a miracle was on Matthias' list today, he found himself hoping it was, even though he was almost purposely going to lose the chair to Isaac anyway. When the man wasn't binging, he was eating his bagels and complaining to Matthias how the bet had been unfair to begin with since Rei Pearce officially hated his guts. Although Isaac still refused to discuss exactly what went on in the closet.

Well, Matthias had always had a special affiliation with Saint-Saens, the piece had always treated him well, and the Boston Conservatory had accepted him with the very same piece, so falling back to that...it was almost like a good luck charm.

And besides, even if he did...he doubted Isaac would get the chair anyway. So Matthias smiled and tucked the violin carefully under his chin, plucked his A and E a few times out of habit, and began.

Several people had their ears pressed to the door outside, but it wasn't until Patricia meandered over that all of the second violin men started gathering. Isaac though, was actually listening. Matthias adored Saint-Saens, and you could definitely hear it in his music, a scale here and there were just a bit tripped up, and Isaac was of the opinion that it wasn't bad, but he had a feeling that Rei Pearce would say differently.

But that was what Matthias got for lounging around while Isaac binged.

Or was he really doing it on purpose...?

As if reading his mind, Patricia poked him, "...Are you really going to get into Pearce's pants by the end of the month?"

Isaac shrugged noncommittally, his mind mostly elsewhere, "I hope so." Although he wondered more than once whether or not he was on a fool's errand. Pearce treated him like everyone else, and that...that had to be changed. He had to out perform himself today.
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Rei was quiet and his face was completely blank to not give away a single emotion over the piece. It was good. It certainly was a marvelous performance for a song of this level. The quick accelerations and the quick movement of the fingers hitting all the notes.

Off course some weren’t hit, there were a few mistakes and not quite to the level of perfection he would have liked, but it was the best performance so far.

That and Rei had a distinct feeling that the man hadn’t even practices the piece. The fingers he had eyed at the start didn’t have the distinct bend of bruise over hours of playing like all before had today. They looked fresh, as if a string hadn’t been touched since rehearsal. Which wasn’t like Derringer at all.

Which reminded him of Langley. What in the world was that male planning?

He couldn’t focus on it. The piece came to an end and he had to quickly jot down his notes before raising his head and nodding.

“It was...enjoyable,” he spoke quietly, just loud enough for the words to echo across the room. Although their volume was soft, their weight as heavy. It was the first time had had spoken after a performance. It was definitely a good sign.

He said nothing else, knowing Matthias would excuse himself and let the next one in. Hopefully they’d do just as well, though he doubted it.
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lucier
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There. He blew it. Elegantly, but he blew it nonetheless. Matthias knew that Isaac would have his ear pressed to the door. But Matthias Derringer was to the point where he could blow anything with a hint of elegance that could still awe everyone...correction, everyone who wasn't Rei Pearce. So the seat was practically Isaac's, but by the way he had been binging, probably had a few aces up his sleeve anyway.

Isaac better shut up about the damn crutch. He merely nodded expressionlessly, professionally, "Thank you." And let himself out, making a crowd of people jump away just in time.

"You blew that on purpose." Isaac said suddenly, searching his friend's face for a moment.

"I did." Matthias shrugged, "We can argue about it later, you don't want to keep our resident grouch waiting."

"That hurts my feelings, you didn't think I was able to do it on my own?" Isaac half glared at him. "I feel like I binged for nothing."

"You'll binge for his pants." Matthias said dryly. "Insurance, so you don't whine when you...lose."

"I'm not going to lose." Isaac said huffily and went in. Pearce seemed perplexed, deep in thought, probably still puzzled over why Matthias had thrown the audition. Even if...Matthias couldn't be shoved all the way back.

"I'll be playing the Saint-Saens, 3rd movement." No, of course it wasn't a coincidence that he had picked Saint-Saens too, Isaac's specialty was more Weniawski, but with this, the difference between their performances would be phenomenal. After all, he'd binged.
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Rei kept his eyes closed. He was now frowning. His ears didn’t mind the performance and it was surely the best so far...but he wasn’t happy. This was the best? What happened to hours of practicing, where exhaustion would take over and nothing but sheer need to improve energized the body to keep playing? Had they all lost that feeling already?

It left him in a dreadful mood as the door opened and the next person came in. Cracking open an eye let him know that it wasn’t going to get any better.

Isaac that smirking male...was he responsible for Matthias’s lack of practice and grasp upon luck and memory?

He stopped his thoughts as Isaac spoke. He rose an eyebrow and felt a coincidence. Was this some sort of a joke or plan? He couldn’t argue on choice of music nor change it.

“Interesting choice,” he mumbled, eyes staring at the hands holding the stringed instrument. He had practiced. Not once, or twice, or even a few times. He had dedicated himself to this piece. Rei couldn’t help but faintly remember that Isaac had always done Weniawski. It was either a fight of talent or the want to prove something…

Or perhaps something much more worrisome.

Rei pushed that plaguing thought back, knowing that he had a job to do. “You may play,” he spoke, closing his eyes as he waited for the sound to flood the room.
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lucier
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Isaac's calluses had popped, and then they'd grown over again. And Matthias had asked him if he was absolutely insane when he had emerged once with the fingers of his left hand bloody. There wasn't much that Isaac wouldn't do for three grand though, and Matthias had rolled his eyes and told him that he was insufferable. What the fucking ever.

He wasn't even aware that Matthias was going to pull Saint-Saens out of his ass at the very last moment. After all, Matthias hadn't even touched his violin once in three days, and Isaac had no idea what his friend had been planning to play. He'd only picked Saint-Saens for himself because he wanted a challenge, and besides, it was totally different from Wieniawski.

So...it would seem that Matthias Derringer really had planned this whole removal of his crutch. Heh, Isaac owed him a drink. Don't mind if I do then, buddy. Guess he wasn't the only one that wanted Pearce laid.

When Pearce gave the okay, Isaac lifted his bow to fit on his string, and drew from his instrument, chords that were reminiscent why Saint-Saens had really wrote this piece. He played, like he'd never played before and--

It was almost like Paganini, being possessed by the talented devil hands himself. And when the final notes echoed from the tip of his bow, Isaac looked over, careful to keep his face blank, although he knew he'd outdone himself.
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Dear god the sound was beautiful, almost to the point where he felt his eyes crack open just a tad to make sure that someone was playing in front of him and that it wasn’t a recording. It couldn’t be though. There was a certain sense of passion and precision that came with the live piece that sent his blood on fire, pulsing through his veins even faster.

Beneath his long sleeved shirt, his skin had prickled. His skin hadn’t prickled for years.

Isaac was doing much better than he had hoped. In fact, much better than he had hoped anyone would do.

Rei was almost thankful the music was still being played as he closed his eyes and controlled the smile that tempted to leave his features.

He didn’t want it to end but like all music pieces, it came to its close. It was then that he opened his eyes, the light hazel locking with the gaze of the violinist as he searched for the right words.

He said nothing. He merely stood up, his face blank as he raised his hands and brought them together. He clapped, applauding for a solid fifteen seconds before sitting down and letting the trace of a smile go over his features.

“Even I know when a standing ovation is necessary.”
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lucier
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For a long moment, Isaac was still, and then he blinked, because he realized that Pearce the Grouch had actually applauded him for fifteen seconds. It seemed unbelievable. If anything. But he kept up his stoic demeanor, because even Isaac Langley knew when a stone face was necessary. After a moment, he bowed his head. Not something anyone ever did during auditions, but if his eyes and ears hadn't deceived him...he'd transcended.

And to his credit, a smart aleck remark hadn't left his lips. Isaac merely tucked his violin under his arm again.

"Thank you, Pearce. And it looks like I'm the last one, so...I'll leave you to it then." After a moment of lingering longer, Isaac let himself out, upsetting the pile that had gathered near the door. Some wore expressions of awe, others, expressions of extreme displeasure.

"I thought I heard Shaham in there." Matthias said, by the way of congratulations.

"Oh?" Isaac smirked over at him, "I was aiming for Mintz."

Matthias merely rolled his eyes again, "...Did he say anything?"

Pearce had clapped, but there was no way that would have resounded through the walls. But Isaac only shrugged, "Nah, you know him, old grouch. Made me a face." Although it had been a pleasant one. He was making good progress.
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Rei had nodded at the words, writing his comments on a piece of paper. It was pointless really. He knew who was the best even if he really hated to admit it at this point. “The result will be posted this evening right before rehearsal.”

That was two hours of alone time to argue why in the world he should give concertmaster to anyone but Isaac. Now that he thought more on it, he might be needing a few more hours.

“You may go,” he spoke as he saw the lingering male, his eyes once again eyeing the fingers. It made him wonder just how much they hurt and if they had gone numb from the pain. That certainly didn’t stop his performance though.

As the door closed and he waited the few minutes to know everyone had left, he groaned, letting his head slowly drop on the table.

How the hell was he to figure out who played better than Isaac?


It had been a grueling two hours. He had groaned, reread, rewrote, gone out to look at the piece and play it himself. Nothing had worked. Nothing.

So he was left, posting the paper on the door to their rehearsal room minutes before and frowning at the name.

Isaac Langley.

Damn it. It was all Derringer’s fault. He’d get back at the two and figure out just what in the world they were planning. Isaac never practiced like that and Matthias never slacked off.Something was definitely wrong and he’d figure it out if it was the last thing he did.
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lucier
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And just like Pearce, even if he called everyone in for auditions, he'd called everyone in for a rehearsal that evening anyway. Talk about a slave driver. Those two hours, Isaac and Matthias had gone for a drink. "And so? You're concertmaster, what are you going to do? He isn't going to trust you just like that, he's got fifty years worth of ice stuck to him..."

"Oh, just let me worry about that, I've got a month and three grand waiting for me." Isaac sipped idly at his glass, "Let me worry about that, yeah?" His hands were shaking still, just a little.

"...Hey, are your hands okay?"

"They're fine, or, they will be." Isaac smirked, "Cheers?"

Matthias raised his glass, "Cheers."

And that evening, before filing into the concert hall for rehearsal, Isaac stood in front of the list, just grinning at his name.

Isaac Langley. Concertmaster

and then below that--

Matthias Derringer, Assistant Concertmaster

"Will you lookit that...I get to babysit you for the season," Matthias said dryly, "The seconds are so totally going to hell. Let's go."
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As if Rei would leave Isaac in charge. Not until he knew what the male was planning anyway, which might be harder to figure out then he first thought.

But he had still been impressed. Extremely impressed to be more accurate. No one came close to that performance. Not even Matthias. It left him being a bit more sour than usual.

Stood to the side of the hall, organizing his notes as he watched people slowly trickle in, hot whispers going along as many glances kept being shot his way.

It pissed him off just a bit more. Was the entire orchestra in on what was going on? Was he the only one left out? He wouldn’t care normally but their last performance combined with Isaac’s sudden dip in talent followed by suddenly improving...it worried him.

So he walked up to the new concertmaster and assistant concertmaster before the rehearsal, balancing the majority of his weight on one leg as he let a hand numbly rest on his hip.

“Something seems to be distracting the majority, especially the string section. If it hampers their performance, I’m entrusting you two, especially you Isaac, to find out what it is and get rid of the problem."
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lucier
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Well, of course the glances only meant that everyone was in on the bet now, and the pressure was on, Isaac had just taken his seat and shrugged off his jacket when Pearce spoke to him and called him...

Isaac? Even Matthias' usually impassive face twitched. But...yes, what came out of Pearce's mouth was indeed, his given name, Isaac. Pearce hadn't called anyone by their given name, not even Matthias, at least...as far back as he could possibly remember. And if Pearce called you by your name, you remembered it.

Isaac looked floored for a moment, and then dipped his head, sending Patricia, the new second principal, into a fit of giggles. It was a good thing Gabrielle ended up beside her too, or else some lucky guy would totally get an eyeful. He shot her a baleful look and she promptly stopped.

"...Ehh, sure. Whatever you say, Pearce." Isaac gave him a faint smile and stood up as a signal to the orchestra to tune up. A smooth oboe sound pierced through the atmosphere and he saw Matthias making notes in the music...again. He must have made at least three billion pages of notes between three days ago and now.

"What now?" He looked towards the stand.

"Marking up your solo, so, you know, you can't screw up." Matthias smiled sweetly at him.

Isaac opened his mouth and then closed it again. "Oh, that reminds me, Pearce, are we still having sectionals the first half of rehearsal?" Sectionals were where all the sections split off to practice individual parts, run by section principals. Pearce had avoided sectionals last season because Isaac had held a principal seat...else he meshed all thirty violins together. But Isaac Langley was concertmaster now, it'd be kind of difficult to pass that off.


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