Chapter 57

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Translator: 8uhl

Chapter: 57

Chapter Title: Ten Pieces I Already Know (1)

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A hipster is someone who resists the mainstream or deliberately sets themselves apart from it—a rebel at heart.

In an era dominated by easy-listening tunes, someone like me, sitting there smugly jamming to an 80-minute Mahler symphony, could probably qualify as a hipster...

But the real problem is the malicious hipster who refuses to admit it.

"I just have unique tastes; I don't particularly think of myself as 'one of the enlightened.'"

Take Park Gyu-ri, for example.

"Everyone copies motifs to write their main themes, so I don't wanna do that."

"Music evolves because people like me exist, right? Blindly imitating others is just childish."

The senior shrugged from her piano bench, firing back as if she couldn't comprehend.

"That's true enough, but your motives are impure. It's just contrarianism for the sake of it, isn't it?"

"Don't talk back."

I averted my gaze from the senior, who grumbled like she hadn't done anything wrong. In truth, she went on to make waves in indie film scoring in the future, so I had nothing to say.

"Whatever. Give me your thoughts."

"I can't play this. At least unify the flow or something. It's all over the place, and I can't connect with it at all. Even if it's for someone else's exam, I wanna score well."

I had serious doubts about whether high school teachers would even appreciate something this obtuse.

"Hey, I'm fifth in the composition major. What's wrong with it?"

"For real? How many second-years are in composition?"

"Twenty."

...What an ambiguously middling rank. Percentile-wise, that's top 25%, right?

It's impressive enough to brag about, but maintaining fifth place while composing like this? Maybe it's surprisingly well-crafted from a theoretical standpoint.

"Anyway, let's go with something else. No matter how brilliant the techniques, it's wasted if the performer doesn't get it."

"...You're sneakily mainstream. I thought you'd understand since you know your stuff."

"You know using 'mainstream' as a negative is where you went wrong, right?"

"Ugh, shut up, shut up."

The senior waved me off with an "I get it" and tapped idly on the piano.

"It was just one sketch anyway. We'll listen to others later and decide."

"Sure, sounds good."

She'd refused pretty firmly, but thankfully didn't take offense.

Now, what to do going forward?

If her other pieces are like this, accompanying might be tough...

I'm worried.

I'd vowed to bring out the best in any piece with decent melodies and clear intent from the composer.

'But what do I do when my knowledge thins out the closer it gets to modern music?'

I've listened to recent-era stuff, but compared to earlier periods, the experience gap is embarrassing. I'd skipped anything hard to appreciate that focused too much on scores or theory.

'Gotta have a serious talk next time we meet.'

I let out a quiet sigh as I entered the major classroom. Kim Ju-hee was the only one at our usual spot.

"Ju-hee, why're you here alone? Where's Ha-yeon?"

"You're early? Ha-yeon's in the bathroom."

I plopped down next to her and noticed a rhythmic crunching sound brushing my ears.

Kim Ju-hee was pulling out walnuts one by one and munching.

"Walnuts?"

"Gotta give some to the class rep."

"Thanks."

I tossed a piece into my mouth. Ju-hee, chewing like a squirrel, turned to me.

"You've been eating walnuts every day lately?"

"Why?"

"Midsems are coming up soon."

Watching her chew happily made my head tilt. I snagged another from her palm.

"So?"

"They say walnuts make you smarter. Good for the brain."

"Doesn't seem to be working much from where I'm looking."

"You don't get smart right away. It's like a supplement."

No point continuing the convo. Our Ju-hee is so innocently pure.

Munching alongside her, I scanned the room and spotted Ha-yeon entering through the back door.

I rushed over, grabbed her wrist, and pulled her to the back corner. She followed with short, startled steps, eyes wide.

"That felt like a ride."

"A ride? You've been to an amusement park?"

Even for Ha-yeon, surely she'd been to one. What a pointless question.

"No, just imagining. Like a roller coaster."

"...Next time, we all go together. Summer break or something."

"Yeah, sounds good."

My heart sank a bit.

It sounded like she'd been holed up in practice rooms banging piano instead of ever visiting an amusement park.

But I hadn't dragged her here to pry into that.

"Hey, Ha-yeon."

"Yeah?"

"Heard walnuts make you smarter?"

Just curiosity from my chat with Ju-hee. I hoped she'd debunk it outright as nonsense.

"Hmm."

Ha-yeon crossed her arms, pondering seriously.

Don't do this to me. She wouldn't shatter her own image...

"Maybe? I think I've heard they look like brains, so they make you smarter."

I met her eyes and nodded slowly.

"Yeah, guess so. Go ask Ju-hee for some. Eat together."

"She brought them up? Got it."

High school me didn't buy into this stuff... Heading back, Lee Seong-hyuk approached with a grin.

"Everyone's here? Had to see the prof."

"Hey, Seong-hyuk."

"What's up? Feels like third eval announcement today..."

He plopped down humming. I asked,

"Walnuts don't make you smarter, right? Something about brains."

"...Do-hyun."

His grin vanished as he sighed deeply.

"Even if I'm bad at studying, that's too harsh."

"..."

The girls nearby crunching walnuts froze.

"If walnuts boosted scores during exams, schools would've shoveled them out. Bring someone who eats them to study better. All that 'brain food' is BS..."

"Hey, hey, my bad. Stop."

"Just don't underestimate me."

"Never again."

Ju-hee and Ha-yeon slyly hid their walnut hands under desks.

As I pondered how to defuse this, the front door creaked open. Teacher Choi Je-hun entered, beard bushier than usual.

Perfect timing.

"Can't you greet me quietly for once? I'll need hearing aids at this rate."

Digging his ear, he scanned the room from the podium.

"Exams next week. You prepping?"

"Yeeesss..."

"We're dying, teach."

Students mumbled faintly, wilting.

Early semester, they'd feared him; now they seemed to enjoy the banter.

He just eyed them exasperatedly, no real scolding.

'What was Teacher Choi up to before this?'

No pianist info online. I'd lost interest post-semester start.

"Sorry to drop this pre-weekend cram sesh, but third eval schedule's out. Two weeks after midsems—three weeks total."

"Nooo..."

"Totally screwed."

"Why now?!"

He smirked unapologetically, wheeling in the whiteboard. Students groaned wildly.

"Focus. Starting explanation."

He drew two vertical lines, splitting into three sections.

Then listed pieces from the left.

First: Liszt's Transcendental Étude No.4, Mazeppa.

I recalled Seol Yu-jin practicing it alone—insanely tough, even without explanations.

"Mazeppa?"

"No way."

"Liszt in first year?!"

Complaints erupted immediately. My brows furrowed too. Techniques still shaky.

Second: Beethoven Piano Sonata No.29, Hammerklavier, 4th movement...

Arguably the toughest among his sonatas.

"Played 29?"

"Nah, looks brutal—didn't even download."

Third eval focuses on technique?

I humbly awaited the rest. Holding first place felt off anyway.

Third: Schumann's Toccata.

Ha-yeon mentioned it casually during first eval. Looks playable from the score, but sitting at keys reveals Schumann's madness.

"Toccata...?"

"I only know Bach's toccatas."

I eavesdropped on murmurs.

Not super famous for kids, fair.

Fourth: Schubert's Wanderer Fantasy, 4th movement.

Tough. Even Schubert said post-composition, "I can't play this."

"...How do you even translate that? You know it?"

"First time seeing it."

Out-of-left-field reaction.

Seong-hyuk leaned in, unfamiliar too.

"What's Wanderer Fantasy? Hard?"

"Whole movement's brutal. 4th ties to 1st motif—study both."

My voice echoed slowly in the quiet room. Teacher smirked amid stares.

"Turn off that local broadcast."

"Ah, yes. Sorry."

I shot Seong-hyuk a "don't ask dumb stuff" glare.

Fifth: Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition, Great Gate of Kiev.

Obscure composer, obscure piece—but technically demanding.

"Mu... Mussor... what?"

"Mussorgsky?"

"Teach, can't we just do Chopin études?"

I'd resolved to stay quiet, but Seong-hyuk poked relentlessly.

"...It's a 10-movement suite. Clear motifs, Ravel's orchestral version for reference. Bright, powerful vibe—better pick than..."

I thought I whispered.

Really did.

This cursed mouth runs wild on music.

"Hey, Kwon Do-hyun. Come explain."

"...No, sorry."

Teacher's voice cut through ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠murmurs.

"These five are one group. More coming."

Everyone blanked.

Five per group? All monstrously hard. Pure sadism.

'Not playing all, right? No way.'

Curses filled the air.

Ignoring them, teacher listed on middle section.

First: Schumann's Kinderszenen, most famous Träumerei.

Watercolor-like melodies evoking childhood.

"Nice, I like that one."

"Kinda tricky?"

"Pretty easy."

Second: Debussy's Suite bergamasque, Clair de lune.

Lyric masterpiece, famous from media.

"Practiced that tons thanks to Cho Seong-jin."

"Ugh, jealous..."

Teacher glanced at papers, listing briskly. Pattern emerging.

Third: Brahms's Intermezzo Op.118 No.2, A major.

Lesser than prior two but popularly cited.

"Played Intermezzo?"

"Know of it, haven't."

Not ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠huge among preppers.

Fourth: Chopin's Nocturne No.20.

Posthumous, oddly famous.

"Nocturne 20? Was there a 20?"

"Op. number...? Heard it's unique."

Kids puzzled; familiar with Chopin's but not this far.

"..."

Why's everyone staring at me?

Front-row gazes burdensome; I ducked.

Seong-hyuk whispered pleas; I clamped shut.

Fifth, likely last: Sibelius's Valse triste.

Pretty obscure for preppers.

"Hey, last one—spill. What's that?"

"Ugh, seriously."

Seems final... maybe okay to share.

"...From a play, popular standalone. Death scene, so memorable. Sibelius is Finnish—gloomy country, 'Sad Waltz' title. Waltz base, yet paradoxically melancholic..."

Dialect slipped; I covered mouth. Seong-hyuk stifled laughs.

"Kwon Do-hyun."

"...Yes."

Teacher tapped podium, chuckled helplessly, scratched head.

"Remember what he said. Wasn't gonna give hints, but he did—not me. Play motif, contradiction."

...Whew, let off. Might've wrecked Seong-hyuk otherwise. Shoved giggling pest aside, refocused.

"Another five-group. Draw randomly on exam day."

Staring at board, it clicked.

Left: technical beasts. Middle: emotional lyrics.

Themes set.

Random means no need perfect all ten.

Focus: high technique, emotion expression.

'But if just these, why two lines?'

Right blank.

"Third eval: All A, B, C piano together. Chairman, principal attending."

...What?

Joint classes, bigwigs, extended meetings—surprise intent? Queried Seong-hyuk; clueless.

"Ah, third column revealed exam day. Secret till then."

Class panicked.

"Whaa?"

"More?!"

"Annoying..."

"Who said annoying?"

Me too, stunned.

Reveal on day? Exams anxious enough prepped.

'Why's our ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠school love surprises?'

Second eval too; pros at startling kids.

"Hope none, but questions?"

Chaos; gripes, sighs. Ju-hee chimed,

"Whoa, aside from famous ones, all new. How's class rep know everything? Amazing!"

"I listen to a lot of music."

Indeed...

Like with Gyu-ri yesterday, arts high kids don't dive deep/wide. She's outlier. My regression aside.

'They blank on Valse triste, Gate of Kiev. Half never heard?'

Mussorgsky name stumped them.

Some familiars sprinkled—considerate for random draw.

'Hmm...'

Arms crossed, a thought flashed.

'Am I the only one who knows all ten?'