Chapter 135
Chapter 135
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 136
Chapter Title: The Elders Perfect the Sun
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Park Jeonghun, greatly stimulated by Himari's performance, returned to Korea and threw himself into perfectly conducting Yeonwoo's "Sun."
His old colleagues, who had watched Yeonwoo's performance alongside him, felt the same way.
They had brushed off his words that Korean classical music could only survive and thrive if he guided Yeonwoo into the classical world. But after hearing Yeonwoo's composition "Sun," they realized his words weren't empty. And witnessing the "Mama" ensemble and the "Forsythia" jazz orchestra that Yeonwoo had showcased at Himari's concert, they felt his overflowing talent down to their bones.
"No mistakes, even if it's just a recording. That kid will catch even the tiniest slip-ups we miss."
"Even if the footage looks good, we all need to listen through it multiple times and check for any errors."
"This piece gets stricter the more you listen. It doesn't tolerate any mistakes."
"Heh heh, to that kid, this is just par for the course."
"Who are we, mere mortals, to try reading a true genius's mind? We shouldn't try to understand the kid—we need to focus on the music."
"Honestly, even understanding this piece is overwhelming."
"Enough chatter, everyone. Let's start again."
The members, worthy of being called the history of Korean classical music, dove back into a trance-like practice at the command of their conductor, Park Jeonghun—the man who had led them and steered Korean classical music forward.
Sure, they were old now: their hearing had dulled, their fingers had grown stiff from years away from their instruments, and their stamina was so poor that a single performance left them gasping for breath.
But their eyes sparkled as brightly as they had in their youth, unlike the faded light of their retirement.
They were heavenly musicians.
People who only felt truly alive when standing on stage with the instruments they had loved their entire lives.
"Argh, if we keep going, I'm off to the afterlife!"
"You still here? I saw those black-robed officials beckoning over there."
"Whoa,前辈. You nearly met King Yama yourself."
They cracked jokes about death without batting an eye, and in the end, they mastered "Sun" to their own perfect standards.
Now all that was left was to record it on video.
So where should they upload it?
"Why not have our conductor前辈 start a channel while we're at it?"
"I'm too old for that young folks' stuff."
"Even people older than you are doing that YouTuber thing these days."
"No, we should go with somewhere well-known. That way, it'll do right by our Yeonwoo."
After much deliberation, they decided to upload the video to the Korean Classical Channel run independently by KBC Broadcasting.
"What about the filming?"
"The channel folks can handle that, obviously."
"The venue?"
"Tell the Korean Symphony Orchestra kids to clear out for a day. We'll do it there. Or at KBC Hall, whatever."
They secured venues and channels that would be tough for others to book, preparing everything to perfection.
The channel would be Korean Classical Channel, and they opted for KBC Hall over the symphony practice room since it looked better on camera.
And most of them showed up dressed in tuxedos they'd carefully stored away in their closets.
As they gathered one by one on the stage under the bright white lights, emotions ran high.
"To think I'd stand on stage again before I die."
"Well... no audience at all. But this feels familiar in its own way."
"Aw, I wish we had even one spectator."
"Quit the nonsense and take your positions."
Chatting among themselves, they snapped to attention at the sight of Park Jeonghun appearing with a solemn expression, each moving to their spot.
Some groaned and clutched their knees or backs as they sat, but not one let go of their instrument.
And the moment everyone was in place, they exuded the aura they had commanded back in their heyday.
"Alright, let's begin."
The KBC Korean Classical Channel staff held their breath at the sight.
Running the channel, they knew better than anyone just how lofty a position these people held in the classical world.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call them the old guard Avengers of Korean classical music.
They had gathered not for Mozart or Beethoven, but for a song by a child young enough to be their grandchild or great-grandchild.
And for that one child—for the sun of Korean classical music, no, the entire music world—they began to play.
* * *
[Sun – Composed by Yuin / Performed by Park Jeonghun Orchestra]
Yeonwoo sat in the living room with Heo Ok, Jihoon, and Jiyeong, staring quietly at the thumbnail of the new upload on the Korean Classical Channel through their massive smart TV.
"Grandma, I'm playing it!"
"Oh, hold on! Speakers on?"
"It connects automatically when the TV's on."
"Oh, right! Then hit play quick, Yeonwoo!"
"Yeah!"
Yeonwoo pressed play on the remote.
"Grandpa, Grandma..."
Yeonwoo could see grandpas and grandmas who looked even older than his own grandma settling into their seats.
Heo Ok was just as stunned, covering her mouth.
"Oh my, all those people are..."
They were all her teacher's generation— not all of them familiar, but some had been her professors back in college.
They turned to Park Jeonghun as he gathered them once more.
His baton danced in his hand, and the veterans followed his lead, playing their instruments.
"Sun" filled the living room.
Yeonwoo closed his eyes and focused on the music, while Heo Ok carefully noted each performer's face.
Jiyeong just gawked at legendary orchestra members playing Yeonwoo's song, and Jihoon closed his eyes, recalling that sunrise he'd watched with Yeonwoo as he savored the music.
Their ways of appreciating it differed, but they all pictured the sun rising in the sky as they listened to "Sun."
And the emotion conveyed through that image was the same for all.
Of course, the total amount of emotion each felt might vary.
"Wow... I lost track of time listening."
"Wasn't the original 'Sun' pretty short? They arranged it out this far?"
"Yeah."
"Our Yeonwoo could do classical too. Seems like he'd outshine most composers these days."
"Who're you comparing my son to? He's a genius. Compare him to someone like Mozart."
"Ugh, such a proud dad."
"Have a kid of your own, and you'll end up just like me."
As Dad and Aunt bickered and Heo Ok watched with a smile, Yeonwoo quietly gazed at the ended video.
It was moving.
Seeing them all perform his song just for him touched him deeply.
And he could feel how different it was from the computer-generated electronic sounds Park Jeonghun had mentioned.
If computer-made music felt like a soulless object, music played by people felt alive and breathing.
"Ah, I gotta tell Grandpa it was amazing."
With that, Yeonwoo looked at his smartphone.
Before he could even send a KakaoTalk message, one from Park Jeonghun had arrived.
[Yeonwoo,,,,,did you,,,see the video?,,,,how was it?]
[Grandpa it was so good! Definitely different from the computer version! You and all the grandmas and grandpas were the best!! The absolute best!!!]
As he replied, Yeonwoo thought to himself.
From now on, for pieces made with real instrument sounds—not keyboards—he absolutely had to gather actual performers instead of virtual instruments.
Of course, he didn't say it was an orchestra.
[Yeonwoo,,,,from now on,,make,,,lots more,,,pieces like this,,,,classical's,,,grandpas,,,and grandmas,,,love you,,,,]
[Yes!!]
...Still, for Grandpa Park Jeonghun's sake, maybe make one every now and then?
* * *
The performance of "Sun" by the group calling themselves the Park Jeonghun Orchestra created a massive stir.
-Wow...... they did it like this?
-Yeah, it had a classical vibe, but this arrangement makes it pure classical.
-I love this so much I listen every day.
-Working to this makes me feel energized somehow.
-Yuin ㅠ Yeah classical is great too. Will you make more classical pieces?
-Don't tell our Yuin to do this or that.
-Our prince will just do whatever he wants!!
-Let our Yuin do whatever he feels like ㅠ
The public marveled that Yeonwoo could compose classical too.
Those who knew even a bit about classical were shocked by the piece's exceptional quality.
But the biggest reaction came from the classical community itself.
The musicians of the current mid-generation, who practically led the classical scene, had maintained a dismissive stance toward Yeonwoo until now.
When classical's biggest elder, Park Jeonghun, insisted on bringing him in, they hadn't openly rebelled but showed lukewarm attitudes, badmouthing him behind the scenes and firmly opposing his entry.
The younger generation was split half-and-half between "we can't accept an outsider rolling in" and "he could bring fresh winds."
And now, the still-influential elders had returned to the stage and performed Yeonwoo's "Sun."
This was no small matter.
It was tantamount to the elders accepting Yeonwoo without consulting them.
"What are they thinking, telling some kid with no pedigree to do classical?"
"Doing this to a punk who learned without roots... Stick to jazz."
"Have all the elders gotten dementia or what?"
The mid-generation plotted to push Yeonwoo out, even if it meant clashing with the elders.
But the younger generation unified after hearing their performance of "Sun."
"I've never seen a piece like this."
"Honestly, among our country's so-called composers, is there anyone who does it this well?"
"It's just a different approach—it's classical through and through, isn't it? He did this without training; why push him away?"
Having heard "Sun" composed by Yeonwoo and performed by the elders, they were coalescing around support.
Not that their jobs were at risk—it was more like the table itself might vanish.
With people like Yeonwoo expanding the base, wouldn't that create more opportunities?
Sure, some only saw as far as their noses, but the young ones had watched their recent grads lucky to teach at local music academies—and now they were heading the same way.
When survival's on the line, your view broadens and you get more tolerant.
Anyway, with opinions divided by generation, controversy raged within the classical world.
But the public had no interest in such classical drama.
They barely knew classical to begin with, and right now, the music industry—no, the entire Korean entertainment scene—was gripped by a hot potato.
[Olivia Snow, Secretly Returns to Korea.]
[What's the Reason for Olivia Snow's Korea Visit?]
[Did She Love Her Last Trip So Much? Olivia Snow Back in Korea.]
None other than global superstar Olivia Snow, who had visited for a concert not long ago, was back in Korea again.
Someone spotted her despite the secrecy and posted on SNS, blowing her cover.
The press swarmed for contact, and amid endless interview requests, she coolly dropped one line.
["Yuin called me over."]
It was like pouring oil on a fire.