The next day, Santa Ramburg, the Hoffman Records Building.
"Mr. Fan Ning, you have finally put your plan to record the First Symphony on the schedule."
"To tell you the truth, Prince Louis, who just welcomed you to visit the company, has asked me several times recently when Commander Fanning will release his second album after signing the contract."
In the clean and bright reception room, a gentleman with a big nose and a slicked-back hair was stirring the condensed milk in his coffee: "Music fans have high expectations for it. I believe that after it is released, they can quickly catch it with their eyes closed."
Four star rating.”
The market response reference for a four-star record that is one in a thousand is the first batch of 10,000 copies sold or a cumulative total of 30,000 copies or more.
Previously, Fan Ning's Summer Music Festival album was rated as one of the top three-star albums, with 4,450 copies sold in the first batch. As the market demand accumulated from early publicity and performances was digested, additional sales in the following half month were more than 370 copies.
.
After all, records, a non-essential luxury product, do not have as wide a consumer audience as other industrial products.
It should be said that achieving a four-star "Legendary Performance" rating is only "hopeful" and will take several years. If the timeline is extended longer, the cumulative selection reference standard of 30,000 copies will continue to be raised.
The main thing is that after all, no matter how well this record sells, the honor will be in vain, and the Hoffman Records company will not be able to get any money!
If "Symphony No. 1" can sell as well as expected, it will definitely cure the "depression" of investor Prince Louis who lost the dividends from his last record. He will also receive a record-high bonus at the end of this year.
The eyes of the big-nosed gentleman also shone with the aura of money: "Look at when I will bring the artists from the old symphony orchestra here as guests. I have prepared the largest symphony rehearsal hall in advance, and then arranged the most authentic Santa Ramburg
A palace-style dinner.”
"Mr. Chapman, I don't know where my artists are right now." Fan Ning sat on the sofa next to the green plants and laughed. "Today I will record "Aria and Thirty Songs for a Fixed Bass Theme"
"Variations of the Keyboard Etudes", I am considering recording the symphony after the New Year, when the time will be more mature."
"It's also a good plan." Chapman stood up, "I will prepare a solo recording studio for you. If you are in good condition now, you can go pick up the piano with the staff first."
The other party's reception was full of grace and enthusiasm, but Fan Ning's spiritual sense was actually keen to grasp his subtle disappointment.
Although Mark recounted the situation at the performance to his colleagues during his lifetime, the words did not have the inspirational vibration and sound impact of the scene.
Moreover, Fan Ning did not choose their publisher for the music score that had just been compiled, because the one-year contract signed with Pushall Publishing House had not yet expired.
The new executive who was handed over to be responsible for Fanning's affairs is obviously more interested in "Symphony No. 1", which has clearly gained market response.
In the quiet recording room, the light shines softly on the echo-treated wooden walls.
Fan Ning sat in front of the "Boethius" piano surrounded by pick-up electrode microphones. After slightly adjusting his breath, he played the legendary aria again.
I have to say that every time I listen to or perform the "Goldberg Variations", I feel that there are new changes, a new state of mind, and a new divine perspective.
The possibilities for this great work are simply endless.
Bach did not set limits for pilgrims. This work was originally written for a double harpsichord. The original score contained nothing but notes, rhythm, and a few ornamental hints - no intensity, no expression, no
speed.
No one can say for sure what should be done authoritatively on modern pianos.
Fan Ning's first performance was more radical and tough, with a desire for expression and utilitarianism.
Last night's performance had more of a desire to talk and inner expression. The repetitive parts were good for sleeping, but there was a little less variety.
The above are all excellent expressions, but during today's recording process, his speed was somewhere in the middle of the previous two, and he recited Bach's process of building a sound building more calmly.
When each variation was repeated for the second time, some changes were made in the distribution of intensity, timbre and decorative sounds, trying to explore as much as possible the dialectical relationship between "stylization" and "improvisation" of music in that period.
Completed in one breath at a time, it returns to the perfect interpretation of the music itself.
The efficiency is so fast that the staff are stunned.
"Mr. Fan Ning, would like to share with you the follow-up work plan for this second album."
After the recording was completed and before going out, Chapman asked the staff to collect Fan Ning's opinions on the rendering of the cover photography, and he informed the record production and release time points, as well as the arrangement of promotional recommendations.
It should be said that his process is very dedicated, and the arrangement of recommended resources is also based on Fan Ning's "great" signing level.
I just felt that this year’s bonus should have been higher. After sending Fan Ning to the arranged car and waving goodbye, the big-nosed gentleman shrugged with a sense of disparity.
He took two middle-level department managers back to the main office floor.
Production and marketing plans still need to be arranged. For an artist of this caliber, no matter how bad it is, he can still make more money by releasing a record than that damn "buyout system".
"Sir, I'm sorry, I don't know the situation."
".It seems that there is no news about cooperation with us for the time being."
"Mr. Lord Raymond, I'm very sorry, but its publisher is not us."
"Sorry, can you record your personal information? I will contact you as soon as there is any progress."
As soon as Chapman entered the large office floor, he heard one after another professional apologies from the staff who answered the phone in the cubicle.
"What's going on? Why do so many customers seem to be asking about something?"
"Mr. Chapman, in recent days, many customers have been asking whether we have for sale the sheet music of a large keyboard variation by Carolyn Van Ning." the clerk replied.
"Is this a coincidence?" The big-nosed gentleman and the other two managers looked at each other and smiled.
"Mr. Fanning just said that the contract with Pushall Publishing House has not expired yet. Just tell the customers truthfully and suggest them to buy it there. By the way, give us a preview of this record." Chapman responded casually and copied.
Referring to the workbook of a staff member who is responsible for statistics of answering records, he said, "It seems that Mr. Fan Ning's piano work has a bigger response than expected, which is a good thing. Well, but how can there be any records to make money these days when publishing music scores?"
——”
He suddenly lost his voice as he spoke, and quickly flipped seven or eight pages back and forth.
The above is a dense collection of answering records for the past week, and part of it contains the name of the regular customer behind the caller:
Minister Noel of the Ministry of Culture, Director Humphrey, Chief Conductor Adonis of the Royal Conservatory of Music, virtuoso piano master Uchilo, talented pianist Dutoit from the Western Continent, and editor-in-chief of Theoline Cultural Weekly Yetus.
In addition to boss-level figures, there are also various old customers from noble families.
"Are these people here to ask about the music score of this piece?" Chapman stared blankly at the answer sheet in his hand.
…
Fan Ning asked the farewell car to drive directly to Santa Clara City College.
"10 concerts? That's enough to support the opening season. Let me perform in one of them, right?" a careless voice sounded.
"If possible, I hope to perform three shows." Fan Ning said.
"Can't the three movements be performed separately?"
"It's three pieces of music."
"It's just three independent movements."
"No, it's three works."
"Single movement works, three pieces in total?"
"Three works, nine movements!" Fan Ning finally dug out the desired score from the layers of documents in his briefcase.
This is a top-floor place with parquet floors, an area of more than 60 square meters, and floor-to-ceiling windows from the north to the south. Perhaps it should not be called an office, but an entire "office floor."
Its decoration and display are simple, low-key and full of cultural atmosphere. Apart from the necessary office furniture, there are a large number of bookcases, portraits of musicians and plaster sculptures, with two Boethius nine-foot pianos juxtaposed in the middle.
Viadrin was sitting in front of one of them, holding three scores in his hands. His eyes, usually as sharp as knives, now looked like he had seen a ghost.
"No. 1 in B flat minor, No. 2 in C minor, No. 3 in C major."
He turned the cover over and over again, then turned around and said, "Are you treating the Steel Association as cabbage?"
That's why the unclear conversation happened before.
"President," Fan Ning still habitually called, "I am planning to put your three performances at the beginning, the middle and the end. Your brilliant skills and returning fame will surely maximize your influence. Then there were other concertos for violin, cello and flute interspersed in the middle field.”
"Other people's concertos? You..." Viadlin finally understood what he wanted to do after hearing this.
This guy didn't write a piano concerto as a major premiere in the opening season at all. He wrote ten concertos and prepared to premiere them ten times in a row!
"Caron, I have to say." Viadlin opened the score with his big knuckled hands, "Although many great musicians are known for their high productivity, the works they decided to retain are all A less-than-satisfactory first performance, perfect and sophisticated, risks damaging the reputation of both composer and performer."
Of course, based on past experience, he has full confidence in Fan Ning's work.
Even if Fan Ning chooses to "take volume" this time due to market pressure, there should still be some highlight moments. He is going to choose a work of the highest level to help Fan Ning's opening performance "stand out".
Viadlin began to look at the "Piano Concerto No. 1 in B flat minor" composed by Tchaikovsky with a critical eye.
For about ten seconds, his mouth opened wider and wider.
"fa,(b)re,do,(b)xi——fa,(b)re,do,(b)xi——"
Viadlin couldn't help but sing the solemn introduction in B flat minor for the opening four horns, and then continued the theme in D flat major for cello and violin ensemble.
And his hands began to play major chords across the three ranges of low, middle and high on the piano.
Epic and glorious! Brilliant!!
First there are 20 bars of column chords, then there are 4 bars of gorgeous tones, and finally there is a sonorous and firm presentation of the theme with a dotted rhythm.
"There is something interesting in your writing."
All major chords!
It feels so good to smash!!
"Just this one, it suits me very well."
This replica of the "Liszt" from the old industrial world played about 40 bars before making a decisive decision.
"How about we take a look again?" Fan Ning said with a faint smile.
President, your almost invincible and brilliant skills will be upgraded to a "new moon" sooner or later after your comeback. If it is a little slower, it is simply delayed by the work. These people don't write enough and are not exciting enough. Let me help you add it. accelerate.
Lee Viadlin removed this piece and began to open a second album from the score of Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor.
"Or does it start with a two-handed major chord? Are you prepared for my style preferences?" He laid out the first six pages on the piano.
"It's interesting. The last song had the band in front and the piano behind. This one you wrote the other way around. It's interesting." He shook his head and smiled, spread his hands, gently played the first set of F minor chords, and then raised his left hand as a Echo, hitting a dark and solemn F note in the extremely low range.
The legendary pianist's brows immediately tightened, deeply dragged into it by this strange and depressing sense of urgency.
In eight slow measures, the deep major chords go from pianissimo to fortissimo, like a dim bell in the distance gradually approaching, the sound reaches straight to the heart and has the power to shock people.
The internal tension of the chord progression is getting stronger and stronger. After the eighth bar, there are three gradually slower octaves. The gravity of Viadlin's fingertips is completely relieved, making the oppressive and tense atmosphere stretch to the limit.
They sank to the bottom of the keys with the weight of the whole body, were resolved to the main chord of bar 9, and then turned into a torrent of sound that rolled and agitated like a stormy sea.
On this basis, a broad, long, carol-like band theme melody hummed from Viadlin's mouth.
Goosebumps appeared all over his body.
What decisive and abundant emotions, powerful epic temperament and invincible power!
And those tender and graceful passages are so sincere and courageous, and they make people cry!
Do I still need to choose between these two songs?
Come all on!
After playing the first movement of the second movement for more than half the time, Viadlin ended the performance in a more gentle half cadence, and then he looked at Prokofiev's "C Major No.
Concerto for Three Pianos".
Yes, the three steel songs were all written by Russian music masters.
This is Fan Ning's careful consideration. If the Western Continent, the birthplace of serious music, is compared to Europe, then Tioline is equivalent to the vast snow-covered Northland in the previous life.
Music fans will find resonance in these three steel concerts with all the broad and powerful, sincere and passionate musical characteristics of the Northern Continent, or those rich in the national spirit of Hoffmann.
When Viadlin finished his audition of Pu San's bright, joyful and jaw-dropping virtuoso passages, he finally turned his head briefly.
"Any more?"
"No, just three." Fan Ning couldn't help but find it funny. President, didn't you just have too many?
"If possible, have some more next time."
"President, do you think the Steel Association is written as a piece of cake?"
I don’t know when the content of the conversation was exchanged.
Viadlin ignored him, turned to the last two movements of each piano piece, and continued to play with gusto.
However, he is worthy of being a pianist of Liszt's level of skill. As soon as he gets a piece of this level, it's like playing it. The sound is more perfect than others who have practiced hard for several years.
Fan Ning stood and listened for almost half an hour, then coughed lightly.
"Um, President, I'll come over today to return it."
The sound of the piano stopped suddenly, and Viadlin turned his head again.
Fan Ning, dressed in formal attire, stood upright behind him.
"Oh, you're here for class."
"That's right, that's right."
"What do you want to learn?"
He stood up and motioned for Fan Ning to sit in front of Qin.
"Just them."
Fan Ning had already adjusted his posture while speaking, put his hands down on the keys, and directly played the major chord at the beginning of Chai Yi's first movement.
"Boom! Boom! Boom! -" "Boom! Boom! Boom! -"
Viadlin couldn't help but his eyes widened.
"Good guy, you have written the music yourself and want me to teach you how to play it?"