//------------------------------// // Chapter 54: The Crystal Concert in D Major (Part 2). // Story: Beethoven's Tenth // by CrackedInkWell //------------------------------// During intermission, the Opera House became noisy with conversations from the audience. The choir had already left and the piano was pushed off stage. The stage itself was open but bare except for the chairs and music stands. Svengallop glanced down at the giant in his sized-up chair, who had his headphones around his neck and writing something down. With his forelegs resting on the railing of the box, he sat there thinking. “Something on your mind?” “Hm?” he looked over to the Countess. “You looked like you were thinking about something,” she clarified. “Oh, I am. I was just planning ahead somewhat.” “And that being… what?” He sighed, “Countess, I’ve been thinking. Suppose Mr. Beethoven did let you sing in his next concert, what is it precisely are you trying to accomplish here? His music is still in the top ten and your songs are just barely underneath, he upstaged you back in November, so why exactly do you want to audition for him?” “Because it’s rather a smart choice,” she told him. “I mean, think about it – if Beethoven let me in, even just to be part of the choir, I would get to sing his awesome music and you could spread the publicity that I’m in it. You’ll get ponies to coming in not just to hear me, but also to listen to some great stuff from the guy. So it’s really a win-win situation for everypony.” Her manager hummed, “I suppose so… However, since I’m gonna take this chance to get your music back on top, it has to be big. Something that will get your audience back for sure…” He thought for a moment, looking down at the chatting audience until his eyes rested on the electrical equipment by a familiar looking white unicorn. It was then, that he got an idea, “I got it!” he said. “I think I just thought up the perfect way to do it.” “You do?” Svengallop smirked, “I think, that if Mr. Beethoven lets you join, perhaps I could persuade him into making you a lead singer if possible, and have his concert be broadcast live to all of Equestria and beyond. Perhaps I could even pull a few strings to have not only his music but your voice be heard around the world. After all, that new radio thing is becoming increasingly popular in its’ use, so why not have your gorgeous voice be heard in every living room on the planet?” “Sven,” his client grinned, “That’s a great idea! If the audition goes well, you should really put that together.” “Yes Countess,” he said as he noticed that the Philharmonic was starting to return to their seats. As soon as the orchestra sat down, they started to tune their instruments and even played random passages of what was to come. For a few minutes, the chaotic sounds of each section were nearly drowned out by the chatting audience until the lights dimmed. The conductor reappeared on stage once more and the crystal onlookers kindly applauded as she went up to the stand. For a moment, the Opera House became still in its silence. Waiting to see what this Overture had in store for them. What came out from them was surprising, it wasn’t a grand opening nor was it quiet. [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3qbOTgEJOkInstead, the first two chords could only be described as monstrous. If anypony were asleep, those enormous, loud clashes would certainly wake them up. This repeated three times before the violas and cellos shanghaied the audience down to something darker compared with the opening music. The strings were filled with shadows, and the winds bare as dim lanterns. As to the melody itself, it was like following a stranger down a twisted, narrow street. Unlike the opening music, there was something rather unfriendly about the Overture, yet intriguing. Even at the climax, with its entire dark atmosphere, the violins quickly followed it with some relieving light. However, the mood shifted again as it went to a minor key, still keeping tension among the musicians. Nopony in the entire audience could make up their minds that if the music was presuming a monster, or it was presuming after them. The cellos were chasing them while the oboes and violins still kept up the tension, even at its quieter moments, the persistent heartbeat of a tempo refused to let up. But when those screaming chords from the beginning reappeared, the Opera House knew, it was the very music that was running away from a bloodthirsty monster. Something huge that was crashing its way down the narrow melody like a dark dragon. The violins hid underneath the shadowy sound until the monster past and sighed with relief. Then, they and the clarinets tried to make their way through the rubble of the lower strings. The two sections searched for an exit the winds held a sense of uncertainty and doubt. Then to their horror, with a crescendo of strings, the beast had spotted them! Now it was a life or death run through the slim bars. Trying to get out of the roaring creature’s sight, to hide away to throw it off its tracks. For a brief moment, it would seem that they have done it. But before the clarinets could get their breath back, they were on the run again. The horns were blowing fire as the midnight monster was on their tails. The creature let out a few terrible roars, and then it slowed down. What was this? Had the thing caught up with its prey? The violas and the tense cellos became sluggish, almost as if the moment itself had become frozen. The monstrous melody was no longer scary but confused, had it lost them at last? Pizzicato strings dew a rather large question mark as the orchestra finished the Overture. It took a moment before the Equine audience applauded, if not uneasily. “Well,” the Countess commented, “That was rather… dark.” “What is he up to?” her manager murmured. “Gone from cherry music to that? Why would he do that?” On stage, the Philharmonic was switching music sheets to the last piece of that night, seemingly unaffected by the change of mood in the Opera House. Even Beethoven was rather unmoved in his chair. Arms folded, he could barely make out the whispering that was being picked up from his headphones. Yet, even at that moment, he still felt confident like a chess master. After all, it was his idea to bring his audience into the darkness, and when the unicorn conductor lifted her baton, it was said that night that those who were near the composer had heard him say, “Es werde Licht.” From the grim atmosphere, the orchestra’s opening to the Eighth Symphony burst open with the sounds of dawn. The opening chords illuminated the theater in strings, horns, and percussion followed closely by Moztrotian winds. It was bright, youthful, if not a touch mischievous, bursting with energy like a foal upon golden sands. Clarinets playfully skipped whilst violins trembled in a breeze. Even with those thumping horns, it was almost like exploring the idyllic paradise of an island with all of nature on full display. There was so much wind in the piece, the bassoons, and oboes swaying like palm trees while the energy of the strings, percussion, and the horns trotted at different speeds to explore different parts of this paradise of a movement. From the sunlit fields of flowery violins and violas to the shadowy groves of the cellos and oboes, the rush of the rhythm shifts spontaneously changed color, but never relieved it’s mood. The music was chock full of childhood hopes and dreams with a touch of adventure. From the younger audience, dreams of pirates and the search of treasure were evoked by the music. They could almost hear the booming cannons from the compressed beats of the strings and horns. It was easy for them to daydream with the correct balance of wonderment and a swashbuckling melody. For the parents in the audience, they thought about their children. All those little moments of playtime, of pretending with their toys, drawings, and games with their foals blended together with the music. With the sudden changes and crescendos, the robust theme had its own sense of fun while never once insulting its own audience. In the royal box, Princess Cadance leaned against her husband. To their minds, it was a wish of what they could have once everything was settled within the Empire. A foal of their own that would be as happy, curious, and bouncy as the strings. Even the Countess was caught up in this youthful spell; her mind went back to those days at summer camp when she was just a filly. Back to those days when she would play tag, splash around in the cool lake, and scaring the wits out of other campers by the campfire. This opening movement reminded her of the one pony that she had shared so much time with from so many summers ago, and how fun she was. Near the end of the movement, Beethoven had one hand on his headphones and the other moving around with the music. His fingers twiddled about like he was trying to play the violins, clarinets, drums and the bright horns all at once. He almost had the urge to spring up from the seat as the orchestra went to one last crescendo, only for the winds to bring it to a close. As soon as it did, the audience was applauding. Their spirits successfully lifted after the gloomy music from before. Of course, Ludwig picked up the rumbling from the vibrations of his headphones, so glancing over his shoulder; he smirked at the nodding approval of his shiny audience. Once it all died down, the Philharmonic turned to the next movement, the shortest one they’ve ever done. And it started out as a kind of dance. Sixteenth notes from the winds pulsed out a metronome-like beat as the violins began their graceful scherzando. The cellos entered a kind of duet with the higher notes, waltzing together in the air of the opera house. In their box, the Countess’s hoof tapped to the beat in time to the music. “It’s like something you dance to at the Grand Galloping Gala, doesn’t it?” she whispered. ‘More like clichéd ballet music,’ Svengallop thought, he could easily see it as something as those mares in bright pink tutus would dance to. The melody and the shockingly steady rhythm were bouncy and agile as it leaped, bent, and twirled around. In a way, it was something that he might use to start falling asleep, the bassoons, oboes, and horns making it sound serene while the strings, it sounds like the violins and cellos were dancing on water. The one thing he could be grateful about was that that movement was short, much to the surprise of the audience. Yet, they did clap their hooves nonetheless. On stage, the Philharmonic moved on with the next part of the symphony. _*_ The final movement of the symphony began with a murmur. It started softly with the violins and flutes, jittery and excited. And suddenly, the orchestra exploded, rushing into the audience with horns and thundering drums. A minute ricochet off the walls of the oval theater, where violas and piccolos, humming cellos and triumphant bassoons bounced around like a room full of rubber balls. The sheer energy and momentum were great and unstoppable as one instrument danced with each other blindly, not taking note of what was going on. Even at its serene parts when the music tried to give the audience a break, it was cut short as the orchestra thundered on its way like an avalanche. What maddening music that was both bewildering and a joy to listen to! Ponies were listening to it intently as the dizzying melody swept them up in this roller-coaster ride of a piece. This was what they’ve come to hear! This was it! This was the Beethoven that they were looking for! The Countess glanced over to see that even her manager was caught up in the wild spell; she smirked as he his forehoof tapped to the beat. “You like this?” she whispered.” Svengallop froze before he set his hoof down firmly. “It’s… decent, I’ll give you that.” She giggled at that, “C’mon, you’re enjoying this.” Her manager rolled his eyes, “So what? This isn’t that bad.” He folded his forelegs before adding, “Could use some lasers to make it interesting.” The chaotic ballet continued on within the orchestra. Who, along with their audience, were enjoying themselves immensely. It was almost as if they were playing a game of skill with their instruments. Letting the music sing to form a balancing act that would put any circus to shame, all the while their notes doing flips, back turns, and even somersaults – yet, there was still perfect harmony in the loud, almost borderline discorded song. Several minutes later, this cosmic piece came to an end at a tremendous crescendo, the dance of the instruments performed their great firework-like display of grandeur before the final chords took a bow. The equine audience stood up and applauded, shouting Beethoven’s name above the “Bravo’s!” and “Awesome!” To this, it didn’t take long for Ludwig to notice as he heard it through his headphones. He got out from his chair, turned around, and bowed. The orchestra did the same as the tsunami of cheers flooded the opera house, even the Countess did the same as she cheered with everypony else (much to the discomfort of her manager). Then finally, when it all died down, a spotlight was trained upon the Royal box to which the couple stood up. “Mr. Beethoven?” Cadance raised her voice, “Can you hear me?” “Wait! Wait!” Ludwig waved his arm as he searched his coat pockets for the magic scroll. It took a minute or two for him to find and unroll it, “Did you say something?” “I did,” the pink alicorn nodded. “I must say, firstly, what we’ve heard tonight has exceeded ours and everypony’s expectations. We’re very happy to have you come to the Empire with your poetic and colorful music, thank you.” The audience agreed with her as they cheered and clapped their hooves. “Secondly,” Prince Shining Armor took over, “I speak on behalf of my wife that we are deeply impressed at what we’ve heard. So much so, we’ve decided to go ahead and let you borrow the Crystal Clear Choir to rehearse for your next symphony. After what we’ve heard, we’ll be looking forward to you blowing us all away at the amazing music that you have no doubt in store for us.” “Thank you, Your Highnesses,” Ludwig said, “and I promise that when I reveal my Ninth to this world, it shall be the greatest moment of my life.” “Long live Beethoven!” somepony in the audience shouted, and the ponies took up the call, already excited for the next symphony to come.