Chapter 99
The year changed while Soo-hyun was attending classes in various departments. He was now fifteen years old, and it was time for his younger classmates to enter. For those who study music, much like many art students, there were no vacations. Although the school was deserted because the university students were on break, the children from the gifted education center still went to school every day.
A lecture that began as a way to learn about joy, and which Soo-hyun thought would stop soon, continued for over a month. Professor Lee Chan-ho was worried at first but was relieved to see that Soo-hyun wasn't neglecting his piano practice.
Today as well, the professor arrived at the practice room at the appointed time and sat next to Soo-hyun on the piano bench, who was preparing early, and asked him.
"Soo-hyun, what kind of person do you think Schubert was?"
As soon as Professor Lee Chan-ho arrived, Soo-hyun, who was opening the score of the piece he was going to play today, stopped moving.
'Huh? It's a trivial question, like: what kind of person do you think Mr. Schubert is? Why can't I think of anything?'
Professor Lee Chan-ho waited for Soo-hyun even if he didn't answer and gave him time to organize his thoughts. He remembered the image of Schubert reflected in Soo-hyun's eyes over the past month.
'He was a very charming person who always had a mischievous smile, especially his eye smile. He was fat, short, ugly, wore glasses, and had very curly hair, but Soo-hyun could tell from his smiling eyes that he was a good person. Could it be that the reason Soo-hyun wasn't particularly curious about Schubert's life was because he thought he was someone he "didn't have to worry about"? Was it because he wasn't a person with hearing loss and chronic diarrhea like Mr. Beethoven, but rather a person with a kind smile and a face that always looked happy?'
Professor Lee Chan-ho, who was waiting for Soo-hyun to reflect on himself while lost in thought, said.
"Have you ever thought about it?"
Soo-hyun, who woke up from his reverie, said.
"I think he was a good person. He always had a bright, smiling face. Schubert's music is so soft and beautiful that it's often used as prenatal music."
Professor Lee Chan-ho smiled.
"Listen carefully, Soo-hyun."
Professor Lee Chan-ho spoke while gently rubbing Soo-hyun's back.
"Schubert wrote countless songs during his short life of 31 years. He left 650 songs and is considered the king of songs. He left numerous masterpieces in all genres, including opera, religious music, symphonies, chamber music, and sonatas. In the history of music, it's hard to find someone who composed so many songs in such a short time, except for Mozart. Schubert's heart was always full of melody. However, we should not overlook that he worked day and night to be recognized as a musician."
'I know that. How could someone who left so many songs in such a short time not have made an effort? Schubert must have grown up in a good environment with good people. Otherwise, his personality, which was always bright and flawless, would not have been born.'
But Professor Lee Chan-ho's next words were different from Soo-hyun's expectations.
"Schubert lived in a precarious financial situation his entire life. The Industrial Revolution and the Civil Revolution brought about an era in which composers were freed from the constraints of the church and the court and became free musicians, but it became more difficult than before to make a stable living. The era of unlimited competition and winner-take-all had begun, and musicians were no exception. Publishing houses always prioritized commercialism over artistic quality. Paying royalties to Schubert, an unknown to the public, was an adventure for the publishers."
'Financially disadvantaged? He didn't seem like it at all.'
At that moment, the images of the old men from Baeksa Village and Schubert in Soo-hyun's memories overlapped. Professor Lee Chan-ho said, holding up a finger.
"On July 17, 1816, the day he turned 18, he wrote in his diary: 'Today I earned my first money by composing. I received 100 florins for a cantata'."
'100 florins? I think I've heard that it was a Dutch currency. Is that a lot of money?'
"How much is 100 florins?"
"Of course, the value at that time would have been different, but in today's value, it's equivalent to about 692 won."
Soo-hyun's face was surprised. Not 6.92 million won, but 692 won. Professor Lee Chan-ho continued to speak, his expression seeming to understand Soo-hyun's surprised face.
"It is said that Schubert composed his works very quickly, perhaps because he foresaw that he would only have a few years left to live. He sometimes finished a piece in half a day. He showed a high level of concentration and produced a series of high-quality pieces."
The image of Schubert that came to Soo-hyun's mind and the explanation given by Professor Lee Chan-ho were contradictory.
"When did Soo-hyun first get his hands on a piano?"
"The piano that Professor Lech gave me when I returned to Korea was the first one I played and I still use it today."
"Well, it's a very nice piano. I heard that Professor Lech gave Soo-hyun a high-end piano because he's so fond of him."
"Yes, thank you."
"But Soo-hyun, do you know when Schubert had his first piano?"
'I heard he was poor. But a composer of that caliber would have had a piano since he was young, no matter how he got it.'
"I don't know, twelve? Thirteen?"
Professor Lee Chan-ho said with a smile.
"He gave his first public performance in 1828 and earned money that allowed him to buy his first piano."
'How old was Schubert at that time?'
Professor Lee Chan-ho looked into Soo-hyun's eyes and said.
"31 years old."
"…"
Schubert died at the age of 31. He had barely acquired his own piano in the year of his death.
'But how can Professor Schubert smile like that?'
"I like it like this. I was born into this world only to compose music."
Professor Lee Chan-ho's sudden comment. He spoke to Soo-hyun, who had a questioning look on his face.
"This is what Schubert wrote in his diary when he was poor. And the dreamy wanderer left behind an empty piano and went in search of spring."
'A dreamy wanderer and an empty piano.' They were two words that seemed to go together but didn't. Professor Lee Chan-ho spoke as he opened the musical score.
"It is said that the Piano Sonata No. 21 in B-flat major, D. 960, which we will be studying today, contains the heart of Schubert, who asked himself this question: 'Can music provide a small comfort in this world full of sadness, in a reality where the cries of life are hard to live, a journey we only take once in our lives?'"
The score of the piano sonata was shown.
'It's the first time I've heard this song. Will I be able to understand the professor through it?'
Professor Lee Chan-ho said, as he spun the sheet music with his fingers.
"Do you want to play?"
Soo-hyun no longer needed a detailed explanation of the musical score. Professor Lee Chan-ho, who adopted a teaching method of observing and only pointing out the parts where the feeling of the song changed due to misinterpretation, had not been making any corrections for some time. Because there was nothing to point out.
'Could it be out of gratitude for the teacher who taught him and self-reflection on not making any effort to learn about him?'
Soo-hyun just stared at the sheet music without reading it. Soo-hyun, who had been looking at the sheet music for a while, slowly turned the page to the next one. He had finally started reading. Professor Lee Chan-ho, who was trying not to disturb Soo-hyun's concentration without saying anything, saw Soo-hyun look at him as he finished reading the sheet music.
"I'll give it a try. But, Professor."
"Hmm?"
"I have a favor to ask of you."
"Yes, what is it?"
"I want to receive the first impression by myself."
"…"
'It means asking me to leave. Even though the student is in a position to receive instruction from the professor, the student is being rude and asking the professor to leave. If it were another student, I would have yelled at him for being rude. But Soo-hyun is always careful and polite. It's impossible that he would do something like this without a reason.'
"May I ask why?"
Soo-hyun bowed his head slightly. Professor Lee Chan-ho, who had been staring at Soo-hyun, who was wringing his hands in silence, stood up from his chair.
"Yes, there must be a reason, whatever it is. Our Soo-hyun is like that. I'll believe him."
The moment Professor Lee Chan-ho opened the door of the practice room and was about to leave, Soo-hyun opened his mouth from behind.
"I am sorry."
Professor Lee Chan-ho, who had decided not to leave, looked back. Soo-hyun was seen with his head bowed like a sinner.
"What are you sorry for?"
Soo-hyun, with sad eyes, spoke with his head down.
"Because I don't want to know anything about Schubert, and I don't even think about trying."
Professor Lee Chan-ho's eyebrows twitched.
'He is a musician who passed away a long time ago. Many people start playing without knowing anything about him. Are there musicians who feel sorry only after finding out what kind of story they had? If you don't know, you can study it. This study helps the musician to understand the piece better. But this child feels sorry for Schubert himself, and his expression looks genuine.'
Professor Lee Chan-ho returned towards Soo-hyun, held the boy's shoulder, and looked into his eyes.
"Spring has arrived. Spring, my joy. Now I will prepare for my journey."
Soo-hyun raised his head at Lee Chan-ho's sudden words. Professor Lee Chan-ho looked at Soo-hyun and spoke.
"This is what Schubert said before he died."
"…"
'How could he do that, sir? How could he say he was going on a journey when he was about to die?'
"Don't be sorry, don't regret it. That's not good manners for a wanderer who has gone on a journey. I don't know for sure. But I think I know that Schubert himself did not regret his own death."
Professor Lee Chan-ho patted Soo-hyun's shoulder as he nodded silently and left the room.
"That's all for today's lesson. The rest of the time, you'll be meeting Schubert. Alone."
Professor Lee Chan-ho quietly closed the door and left.
'I think he is a very good teacher.'
Soo-hyun, who was looking at the closed door, slowly placed his hands on the keyboard, but no sound was heard. The fingers danced on the piano. But the piano made no sound. That was because Soo-hyun's hands did not press the keys. But Soo-hyun had his gaze fixed on the sheet music and turned the page whenever a movement changed. It was as if he were performing a piece for real.
'Silent performance.'
After a silent performance of Schubert's short piece that was never long, Soo-hyun muttered with his eyes closed.
"I can't express my feelings at first sight. I'm still lacking. From now on, I'll do it properly. To understand you. This is the courtesy I can show you."
This time, the real Piano Sonata No. 21 in B-flat major, D. 960, was performed by Soo-hyun, who muttered his apologies towards Schubert. The first melody played by the right hand was extremely sad. Although the piano was played, it seemed as if someone were singing. After eight bars, when the left hand played a low trill, it seemed as if Schubert's words were being heard.
Goodbye everyone, I'm leaving quietly.You came as a stranger and you're leaving as a stranger again.I have to find my way in the dark.Following the tracks of wild animals on the white grass.But that's okay.The shadow of the moon accompanies you on your way.Approach quietly so you don't hear footsteps.After closing the door and writing 'Goodbye'.One step into the cold and violent winter.A soft light dances before me.It is a light that captivates wanderers.I am willing to follow that light.
The second movement, which ended with a bowed head, made us reflect on Schubert's incomplete life. And the last third movement. Ironically, the third movement was a scherzo. A lively and humorous movement. It was different from Chopin's or Beethoven's Scherzo. It was not a humorous satire, but a joke in itself.
'I have a vision of the kind and elegant Professor Schubert smiling and raising his wine glass.'
"The more you understand life, the less sorry you feel when you die, Soo-hyun. After all, we start dying as soon as we are born, haha."
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