Chapter 59
—
As expected, it’s Franz Liszt’s Transcendental Étude No. 4.
Mazeppa.
I believe there aren’t many piano solo pieces in history that demand a higher level of technique than this one.
Of course, there’s a perspective that Étude No. 5, Feux Follets, from the same collection is more difficult, and I agree with that viewpoint.
But that one is so challenging that I can’t even hold it in my memory.
Recreating it from a blank slate is impossible.
Even reproducing Mazeppa was a miracle.
Fortunately, I remembered it.
Not only was it one of my favourite pieces in my past life, but I also rewound the Mazeppa section of the Van Cliburn Competition video, where Yunchan Lim performed all of the Transcendental Études, hundreds of times.
It begins with a lively diminished seventh chord introduction.
Soon follows the cadenza, a dazzling and technical passage showcasing the performer’s prowess.
The melody starts to escalate, as though something is boiling up from within the chest.
Then comes the theme of Mazeppa, the part where you immediately understand why it’s called “transcendental.”
The whirlwind octaves and the ruthless arpeggios in thirds and fourths.
Speed, precision, and even dramatic expressiveness are required.
It’s truly the pinnacle of piano études.
But merely playing it isn’t enough.
Naturally.
It might sound like a strange way to put it, but when handling a piece like Mazeppa, the performer must imagine themselves as a knight galloping across a vast wilderness.
To stay on the horse, you must relax and surrender your body to it.
The piano is the horse.
In short, to perfectly reproduce this piece, you must immerse yourself entirely into the piano.
As you charge forward, fearlessly cutting through the storm.
The thunderous music gradually calms, giving way to a gentle and warm single melody.
Just as every story has a beginning, development, climax, and resolution.
Just as even the most majestic battles have fleeting moments of peace.
And finally.
The music, which began in a minor key, slowly transitions into a major key, culminating in a dramatic conclusion at the end of the sheet music.
Picardy.
Liszt dedicated this piece to the French writer Victor Hugo.
After all, when composing Mazeppa, he drew inspiration from Hugo’s poem of the same name.
Thus, at the end of the sheet music appears a short verse written by Hugo.
“He has finally died!… and risen as a king!”
It couldn’t be a more fitting ending for a grand epic.
***
The audience, who had been quietly listening to Anton’s performance, widened their eyes.
They didn’t want to miss a single moment of the scene before them.
“That… that’s not human…”
Each note resounded with such intensity that it seemed to pierce their very souls, and soon sighs escaped from all corners of the audience.
Something beyond human.
A Divine Song.
Though their individual impressions varied, one thing was clear.
Just as Anton had become one with the piano, they too, without realizing it, were being drawn into the music.
“Ah…”
One young cadet, unable to suppress their hot tears, slumped into their seat with their head tilted back.
“I was born for this moment…”
The criticism from their family elders, who berated their decision to apply to the Capital Arts Academy instead of the northern academy, no longer mattered.
Hearing this performance, it was impossible to deny Anton.
If they did, they’d lose the right to call themselves human.
It was that profound.
The moment he lightly struck the final key.
The searing heat of the music swept through the theatre as though a wildfire had erupted.
“Wooaaaahhh!”
“Damn it! Anton!”
“Hey! Watch your mouth! Don’t speak his name so recklessly!”
“Wooaaaahhh! Have we finally found a human who dares to challenge the realm of the gods?”
It was utter pandemonium.
That day, thirty seats in the theatre were destroyed.
The stained glass on the ceiling cracked as if struck by lightning.
It’s said that twenty gold coins were spent on repair costs.
***
The entrance ceremony held at the theatre concluded successfully.
Though a few problems arose, let’s leave it at that for now.
“How did the ceiling break…?”
Edward responded to my question with a smile.
“It seems we’ll need to ask Hugo to redesign it properly.”
“Please do.”
Since it was the first performance, let’s consider it a rite of passage.
Anyway.
Lectures will begin tomorrow.
For now, it was necessary to guide the new students to the dormitory buildings.
This part would be handled by the staff hired in advance.
With so many buildings, we needed personnel to manage things in our absence.
“Will you be returning directly to the manor, sir?”
Edward asked.
“That would be best. If I wandered around the academy now, it would definitely cause a commotion.”
“I’ll take care of the cleanup.”
I immediately went outside and returned to the manor.
And.
Although it wasn’t intentional, I ended up with two companions.
Erdi and Victor.
Thinking of it as a kind of staff dinner before the academy officially opened didn’t seem like a bad idea.
It was also a good opportunity to review how we would proceed with the classes.
I headed to the dining hall with them.
For a long time, dinners at my household had been modest affairs.
But!
Thanks to the funds accumulated through recent ventures, I was able to procure excellent ingredients from all over.
First, roast boar.
It’s one of my favourite dishes in this other world.
Wild boar hunted by noble children is occasionally sold on the market, and its texture is far chewier and firmer than regular pork, which I find particularly appealing.
Additionally, its rich, Savory flavour and slightly oily taste make it utterly irresistible.
Next came stew with vegetables and spices.
Simmered for a very long time, it boasts an incredibly rich and tender flavour.
Finally, the dessert was a tart.
This was Diana’s specialty.
She had learned the recipe in her previous village.
Its distinctive feature was its use of wild fruits that could easily be found in the area.
As I sat at the dining table waiting, the servants, led by Aria, began serving the food.
…Why are you here?
Anyway.
“You’ve worked hard, so please eat to your heart’s content today.”
I began eating with the two of them.
“By the way, Professor Erdi.”
“Yes?”
Victor called out to Erdi.
“You have remarkable skills. Could you assist me with my research someday?”
“Of course. I’d be happy to.”
“I’m currently studying the relationship between physical traits and playing styles by comparing the techniques of various performers for the same piece… I’ll explain more in detail later. I believe you could provide valuable insights, Professor Erdi.”
“Haha.”
At that moment.
Hearing a noise near the dining room door, I turned my head and saw Diana peeking at us from behind the wall.
…And what are you doing there?
It seemed she had plenty of questions to ask.
Eventually, the meal came to an end.
Victor was the first to leave, saying he would return to the manor.
“See you at the academy.”
Erdi and I went back to the dining room to finish our dessert.
“Diana, Aria.”
“Yes!”
As soon as I called their names, they leaped out as if they’d been waiting for it.
“How have you been?”
“Very well, sir! By the way, young master, how was the entrance ceremony?”
As expected, that was what she was curious about.
“It was utter chaos. That chair… How many of them did you say were broken?”
“Thirty.”
“How did it end up like that? What in the world happened?”
“Indeed, I wonder.”
Listening to our conversation, Diana leaned forward eagerly, her curiosity plain to see.
And then, suddenly.
“U-um, do you think I could attend the academy someday?”
I had been waiting for her to ask that question.
For someone like her, who had more interest in piano than anyone, an academy dedicated to teaching the arts must have been very appealing.
But given her status, attending the academy was a mere pipe dream.
However.
“Do you really need to enroll?”
“…What?”
I’ve been thinking lately.
Diana already receives one-on-one lessons from me, Anton Tilburg, the academy’s founder and professor.
At the manor.
On my piano.
This is an unparalleled privilege that no student could ever experience.
“Now that you mention it, I guess that’s true.”
So Diana doesn’t need to enroll in the academy.
Unless she wants to throw away this exceptional opportunity, which I highly doubt.
“The only reason I created the academy was that I couldn’t teach so many people individually.”
“Then I…”
“You’re already receiving private lessons from me.”
“Oh! That’s true!”
I didn’t need to explain that one-on-one private lessons are far superior and more expensive than group classes.
“Once again, thank you so much, young master!”
“Go on, now.”
“Yes, sir!”
Afterward, I talked with Erdi about various topics before sending him off.
Then I went up to the records room and gathered a few sheet music scores.
“Tomorrow, the real professor life begins.”
—
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