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| Tweet Topic Started: Sep 27 2009, 10:17 PM (15,008 Views) | |
| Cup of Coffee | Sep 30 2009, 10:50 PM Post #31 |
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Rei rarely called anyone by their first names. It only happened when his respect had finally grown for someone, which was especially hard to occur in musicians. In fact, Leroy and his wife had been the first, winning him over with a duet that to this day touched him deeply. The verbal change had gone unnoticed by Rei, an unconscious slip of appreciation for not only the talent but also the effort put into it. “Just be careful. Last thing we need is our concertmaster unable to play,” he spoke pointedly, giving a quick glance to the fingers. He didn’t even mention the crack Matthias made, though internally he knew that he had made the right choice in placing an assistant concertmaster. Isaac needed a leash sometimes and it better be someone who at least knew how to get the job done. Just as he had planned to turn away, his head tilted up slightly. He couldn’t help but grumble inside that one of the tallest members of the orchestra just happened to be the concertmaster. Just his bloody luck. “Yes, we are,” he calmly spoke, realizing that without some previous group work, a rehearsal on any of the new pieces would simply be a disaster. Now he just had to figure out how to speak to Isaac without constantly having to look up. |
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| lucier | Sep 30 2009, 11:03 PM Post #32 |
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si vis pacem, para bellum
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More people were tittering now. Rei Pearce was paying him a compliment, which Isaac took with another dip of the head, he was only six feet even, but he could see how Rei at five-nine would feel a bit threatened. He would have to give everyone a good lecture about not smirking. Or snorting. Or giggling. They were hurting his case, here. But obviously, it was more devastating for Isaac if he lost the bet altogether. So they'd better not jeopardize his chances. "My fingers are fine." He knew Pearce had started out with violin for himself, and then wowed the conducting world, and never went back to the instrument again. A shame, since Isaac knew he had been talented in his day. "I soaked them earlier." Once the orchestra had tuned, he settled back into his seat. They were still bugging him a little, and his pointer finger was peeling, but it only took him back to his conservatory days, where he had practiced twenty hours nonstop for a string jury. But at the confirmation that they were indeed having sectionals, Isaac looked up from his strings to Pearce at attention next to his stand. "Ah, then I guess the violins call this hall, there's thirty of us, after all." And at Isaac's claim, the other instrumentalists began to file out of the hall. Although Isaac couldn't help but wonder if Pearce was going to stand there watch him conduct his sectional. He stood up, and gave the few tittering faces a look. They faded into solemn facades again. "We'll be starting one two three four before A...at that run. I want everyone but the first stands. Watch the bowing, and keep in mind that it is g-sharp in the third beat of the fifth measure." Matthias, on the other hand was fairly amused as he crossed his legs. A responsible Isaac Langley was a scary thing, it was a good thing he wasn't responsible often. But Pearce would surely get suspicious... |
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| Cup of Coffee | Sep 30 2009, 11:18 PM Post #33 |
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Now, as he turned to leave and be get some work done, a rather loud snicker made him freeze, his eyes tuning in on the sound. The few traces of humanity he had shown seconds earlier had vanished, the cold mechanical look on his face as his mind forgot all about the wonderful audition piece that was still stuck in his head. It was one of the reasons he accepted sectionals. It was hard to conduct one piece while thinking of another. “Second row, third seat,” he spoke icily before turning his head and eyeing the red headed youth that stopped his laughter immediately. “May I remind you of how you managed to not only start your piece flat, but end it an entire note lower? Perhaps if you spent more time practicing and less time laughing like a hyena, you would be front.” The feeling in the room chilled, as a rather scared nod was seen. “That applies to all of you. This is rehearsal, not a public park. Focus or leave,” he finalized, waiting to see if a few brave souls were willing to stand up and actually walk out. No one moved other than himself, as he grabbed his music and moved to sit in the very far back of the hall, pencil in hand as he began to mark his music and let his ears listen in on Isaac’s work. Isaac was taking this rather seriously. It made him wonder if it was a change of heart or a hidden motif. Hopefully the regearsal could reveal something to him. |
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| lucier | Sep 30 2009, 11:30 PM Post #34 |
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Okay, so Isaac couldn't tell exactly who was flat, but the fact that Rei Pearce did...without even sitting in the section. He paused to give the man a glance, mostly of appreciation, but if Rei Pearce knew how to read looks...well. He'd leave that up to his wondrous interpretations. "...What he said. Anyway...as I was saying..." As it were, the rest of the rehearsal went rather smoothly, probably because the conductor was sitting there in the back row, though. "And as a final note, I want everyone to practice II to the end with the metronome, the mark's 152 but apparently we're going to go up to 156." It wasn't that big of a jump, but when you were in cut time, playing sixteenth notes, they needed some work. "With that, everyone is dismissed for break." It was promptly eight-thirty. On the dot. And yet, he still wasn't able to tell everyone not to give him funny looks. And Isaac, Isaac was suddenly tired. He slumped down in his seat, forgetting Pearce for the moment. Matthias peered over at him, "You all right?" Fingers were a bit numb, but yes, mostly all right. Isaac looked up at him, "Makes me wonder how I handled Boston." "You handled them just fine, Isaac, I meant your hands." "Hands are fine, " Isaac assured him, "Worst comes to worst, you'll solo, it's ten measures." "Whatever you say, I'm going to get you some water," Matthias got up, depositing his violin carefully on the chair. "Yeah, thanks." BSing was obviously hard work. |
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| Cup of Coffee | Sep 30 2009, 11:54 PM Post #35 |
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The rehearsal had gone over rather well though that may have been the built in fear of being the receiver of his infamous glare and scolding. It let him do his work effectively and most likely gain at least an extra two hours of sleep tonight, making the grand total come up to around five. It was an appreciated increase. The section spread apart for their break, desperate to leave the hall and stretch without being bothered and knowing they wouldn’t be scolded for anything. Rei silently listened to the conversation between Isaac and Matthias, raising a delicate brow as he heard their conversation. STanding up when no one remained but them, he made his way to the front as his eyes once again glanced at the fingers. “Considering your solo, I prefer to have you do those ten measures,” he spoke slowly, his eyes swirling as emotion slowly returned to them. “Then again, considering the solos in general, Derringer was strangely disappointing. It isn’t like him to not practice...and it isn’t like you to practice all of a sudden until your fingers bleed,” he pondered, his words not meaning to be insulting and just revealing his thought process. “You never play Saint-Saens. You tend to fool around most of the time during rehearsal but manage to never forget your cues.” Rei was verbally trying to figure out, wanting to see if he could find any sort of reaction. “Is there anything going on or am I really just that much of an inspiration speaker?” |
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| lucier | Oct 1 2009, 12:13 AM Post #36 |
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Isaac looked up from burying his face in his hands when he heard Pearce speaking to him. So he had noticed, after all? Perhaps it really was a bit of a stretch to play so well on Saint-Saens while his specialty lay with the Eastern European composers, Matthias was as westernized as could be. His affinity was with the old masters, Bruch, Brahms, Saint-Saens, and apparently, the both of them had done enough auditions for Pearce for him to notice their quirks. He just looked at the man and didn't say anything. After all, Isaac Langley had exactly one month to become the type of man that Rei Pearce would admire enough to want to sleep with. Pearce probably wouldn't appreciate a guy that mouthed off all the time. And he'd gotten Pearce to call him Isaac once. That was good headway. "I've...I've known Matthias a long time, he's probably just having an off day. I got lucky. Wieniawski gets boring." Isaac shrugged. "He was busy making notes this weekend. I'm sure he didn't mean to throw it..." And besides...it was Pearce's decision, he could have denied Isaac the seat the same. But at the mention of his fingers, he looked down, "This is no big deal, my fingers used to bleed everyday during my conservatory days, believe it or not, there are worse professors out there than you, there was a reason I didn't play you the Neilsen concerto..." That piece had been murder, even when he had been having a good day. For a long moment, he looked perplexed again. "If it means that much to you, I'm sure I can squeeze out ten measures." Isaac glanced at him. |
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| Cup of Coffee | Oct 1 2009, 12:32 AM Post #37 |
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“I never mentioned anything about throwing it,” Rei pointed out immediately. So there was a connection between a surprising disappointing performance and one that made him tempted to sit Isaac as permanent concertmaster. He smiled lightly, leaning down as he eyes the bruised pad on the long, delicate fingers. “I had a professor once,” he began to confess, bringing out his own hand that still showed his years of practice, even if he so rarely touched the instrument,” who would demand I stay behind every day and play. He never let me leave until either a blister popped, I was bleeding or my hands had lost the strength to hold the violin.” The memory wasn’t a pleasant one but it made him worry about the injury a bit more. “Then he would lecture me for an hour on how I had dirtied and therefore disrespected the instrument and should give up music in general. Told me I didn’t have the talent and shouldn’t even bother looking at classical music.” He reached forward and let his thumb lightly graze over a particularly wounded pad, frowning at the sight. “You’re playing the solo for the performance. As of now, rehearsal is debatable.” He never quite finished off his story because he didn’t see a point to it. |
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| lucier | Oct 1 2009, 12:44 AM Post #38 |
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"Ah...?" Isaac pursed his lips and looked at him, genuinely confused now, what possessed the fiercely private Pearce to...well, this was what Isaac set out to do, right? So why was he...well, there wasn't a rule that said he couldn't enjoy this, right? After all, nice, human attention from his conductor, of course, Isaac would be extra careful, and it was just his luck that Rei Pearce wasn't his type. The man was altogether too laconic, and didn't know fun if it hit him in the head. Being with someone like that...it'd be like pulling teeth. But still... "Which conservatory did you go to again? You didn't slip into Julliard without slipping by me and Matthias, did you? Only hearsay, but professors there are so anal it isn't funny..." But then, if Pearce did end up a Julliard grad, that explained a lot, people there were just totally insane. But if Pearce had made the Julliard cut, he was pretty sure that he and Matthias would be hearing about it, Pearce was only a couple of years ahead, after all. Though Isaac fell silent again as Pearce reached out to touch him. The man's fingers were calloused. And Isaac was just slightly awed, even as the thumb grazed against tender skin. "Of course I'm playing the performance, you put me here. Thank you, by the way. It's just..." He couldn't help but notice that there really wasn't an end. There had to be a point, but it was just like Pearce to keep the point from him. "He shouldn't have said that. You've got to play for me once, with hands like that...I'm sure you could school even me." Isaac stood up, "I've got two minutes left, so I'm going to run to the restroom to soak my hands. Excuse me." In Isaac's memory, he'd never said 'excuse me' to anyone but this man was practically his boss, and he had to seduce him by the end of the month so...what the hell. First time for everything. Besides, seduction was tricky business. He had to play this out just perfectly. |
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| Cup of Coffee | Oct 1 2009, 07:12 PM Post #39 |
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Rei almost grinned like the cheshire cat he felt like at the moment. Perhaps not finishing the story had indeed confused the man but he wouldn’t give away all the details too quickly. It was after all a story he shared with all concertmasters but he had never told the story so soon. Then again, he had never seen such an audition in years and the sight of near bloody fingers brought back the memory. “I did. I was in the Pre-College Division, graduated early from high school and was accepted into the conservatory. My professor hated me because I had pointed out that he had played a piece flat on the first day. Perfect pitch and all,” he mumbled the last part, remembering how the skill had caused him plenty of problems rather than solve him. He had been ridiculed that he never had to practice and just had to play once. He got back at them though. He didn’t only perform the sound perfectly but every other aspect also. It took hours of practice, earning him the nickname ‘bloody fingers’ during his early years. Now that was something he wouldn’t be admitting anytime soon. Light hazel eyed the man who seemed to admire his skin, hard even though he so rarely touched his instrument. So Isaac had noticed that he had left the ending of his story missing. Hopefully that would keep the good behavior going. He nodded lightly as the male stood up and left, the strange mannerisms unfamiliar to him as he watched the door closing. “Off course I could school you, you brat,” he mumbled to himself, smiling as he went back to his place at the back of the room. “Even a former prodigy can beat some sense into a head like yours.” ((Muahahaha. *has this giant note of the end of Rei's story*)) |
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| lucier | Oct 1 2009, 07:55 PM Post #40 |
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"You got into Julliard Prep?" Isaac's eyes widened as he paused near the door, "I hate you, I got waitlisted. Whatever. Sounds like something you do." Well, wasn't that something. But Isaac knew he had to revert to being himself sometimes so that Pearce wouldn't get too suspicious. But wow, to think that their concertmaster had slaved through Julliard Prep. Which made Isaac even more curious as to why he gave up the violin for something as lame as conducting. (Not that conducting was really lame...but it seemed like a job for control freaks, so maybe Pearce and conducting did deserve each other.) While Isaac didn't have perfect pitch, he was right ninety-five percent of the time. Good enough. But maybe someone like Pearce, he didn't settle for good enough. "Do be so sure, I can sound like Mintz in my prime, or so I've been told..." He left the rehearsal hall in good spirits, Matthias met him halfway with a cup of water. "You're...smiling. Should I be worried?" "...Maybe. Jesus, I can't believe Pearce got into Julliard Prep." "Of course he did, Where do you think he gets the mightier than thou attitude from? Honestly." Matthias rolled his eyes, evidently, this was a story that Pearce shared with all of his concertmasters, so Matthias too, had heard the story, but he hadn't heard until three-quarters of the way through the season, it was a sign that Pearce respected you enough to give you a piece of himself. So what did that mean for Isaac? Matthias was just a bit worried as he made his way back into the rehearsal hall. He hadn't sat second chair for the longest time. Odd. Other instrumentalists were filtering in too, there was only a couple of minutes left. Isaac might just have a chance, after all. |
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| Cup of Coffee | Oct 3 2009, 10:16 PM Post #41 |
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It was a strange concept for Rei to understand. The whole...bonding aspect. Sharing in general was rather awkward for him. He was a private person by nature. This sudden realization that he was opening himself not so often but so quickly? It made him happy to know that the various talents in the group were always changing and growing, the told story almost like a ‘right of passage’...but it was still uncomfortable. It was why he had never quite finished his story or reveal why he so rarely picked up the violin, still in its perfect condition at home. Today as he tried to figure out what drew him to Isaac’s performance was the first time in at least a year. Rei frowned, his lips pursing as he realized playing was probably the reason he had shared. The sensation of playing and seeing near bloody finger tips made the story all too fresh. He’d have to fix that. He couldn’t afford to go soft. So he got his papers, the majority of the players already in their seat as the clicking of his shoes against the wooden floor echoed through the room, alerting all of his presence as he made a sudden turn, his face flawlessly detached. “You’ve been introduced to the piece and have practiced. Review in your mind, as soon as everyone’s here we’ll begin immediately.” |
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| lucier | Oct 3 2009, 10:25 PM Post #42 |
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Or maybe Isaac wasn't getting ahead after all. Matthias picked up his violin and plucked a few passages idly as his attention focused mainly on Pearce and his ever unchanging demeanor. Maybe it was too soon for him to worry, after all, Pearce wasn't crown an ice prince for nothing, and Isaac was tenacious when he set his mind to it...and yet--what would really end up impressive was if Isaac got to the end of the story, Matthias himself hadn't. And as far as he could tell, no one knew why the conductor of the New York Phil didn't pick up his instrument when he was so obviously talented with a violin and bow. When Isaac got to the end of the story, Pearce was pretty much his. he didn't need to worry though, because Isaac wasn't going to get there and he wasn't going to get shortchanged a hundred bucks. Because Isaac wasn't going to, he couldn't switch around his personality completely, he was bound to slip up sometime. Meanwhile, Issac had washed his hands, the tips were numb, but the solo was ten measures, it wasn't particularly difficult. And it meant something to Pearce. It actually...meant something. Or maybe he was just reading too much into it. He returned to the rehearsal hall, he was last one there, but at least he had given notice this time and not just waltz in late like he always did. Pearce would probably still yell at him though. Isaac unpacked his violin and waited for the inevitable. He was concertmaster after all, how dare he slack off...but of course Pearce would probably put everything in more or less an significantly more elegant language... |
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| Cup of Coffee | Oct 4 2009, 01:19 PM Post #43 |
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The hazel eyes seemed to be glazed with a thin layer of eyes, their already light color shining as the occasional light shined in his direction. It made him look much more intimidating than usual. It tended to happen after he shared the story, not to mention how he usually scolded the concertmaster the same day for something or the other to keep them in place. Rei couldn’t let anyone get cocky or let some strange ideas enter their mind. Like favoritism. Ugh, just the thought that perhaps one of the players was looking for more than job here was a tad sickening. This was a rehearsal room, not a bar. He frowned at the thought. What was going through his head these days? The strangest events had been going on...like forgotten cues and a sudden change in attitude and worth ethic. It always came back to Isaac. It was a pattern that was quickly growing on his nerves. Unfortunately for the poor soul who happened to the owner of the name that seemed to be irritating him, he was late. In fact, he was the last one who came into the hall. His eyebrow twitched and the entire front row shivered as they waited for the inevitable sharp words. “You’re late,” he spoke, not even bothering to look at the male as he flipped through a few sheets. “Derringer can play your solo for today.” It sounded like an insult. Usually it would be and perhaps just between the two of them the hidden meaning wouldn’t be lost. Those fingers would be able to play it but it wouldn’t be what he wanted to hear and it would only further damage them. |
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| lucier | Oct 4 2009, 02:25 PM Post #44 |
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There was no lecture, Matthias was play his solo for the day, Isaac just merely nodded, he would have apologized, but that would have been fishy. And besides, it wasn't as if he'd skipped out for the sake of skipping out, Pearce knew where he had been. And if Pearce had not spent the whole time talking to him during break, Isaac would have made it back on time. But this wasn't Pearce's fault, and he was falling nicely in Isaac's trap, even if no one was helping Isaac's cause because they'd all be a hundred dollars poorer for it. But his fingers were still numb, he could play, but...perhaps Pearce knew that he wouldn't be able to play his best. And Pearce...wanted the best. "Switch with me." Isaac stood up, and Matthias took his seat, and then remembered that he had to retune the whole orchestra and stood up again. Isaac merely hid a small smirk behind his hand, a day not concertmaster, and Matthias was already getting shoddy. When the orchestra was finished tuning, Matthias sat back down and everyone sat at attention. Isaac could feel more than a few pairs of eyes staring at the back of his head, well, at least his section would be more attentive than usual. That was a good thing, right? He waited for Pearce to give the cues. |
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| Cup of Coffee | Oct 4 2009, 02:59 PM Post #45 |
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As the orchestra was tuning, Rei hummed. While it might have been a strange sight for new members, it was a very common thing for him to do. He hummed the melody quietly as his foot tapped against the floor, one hand lightly drumming at the desk a different section as his other hand snapped away the forth. All four rhythms present, combined with the distinct hum of main notes. It was these few moments that no one uttered a single word against the conduction. He let his little habit continue for a few more moments, even as they had all sat down. Soon, his foot stopped, followed by his hands until it was only his hushed voice echoing in the near silent room. Rei stopped finally, lifting up his hand as he snapped the beat, not bothering to say another word. He never did. Ears listening to sound always worked better than words. He then paused, breathing in deeply as he raised his hands, the entire orchestra seeming to take the breath immediately as they sensed the start coming along. It was always a gratifying sensation to hear the sound appear when his hand was brought down. It was what got him into conducting in the first place. The first note. |
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