noveldepot Chapter 4: Heart-stirring Ethnic Music
Chapter 4: Heart-stirring Ethnic Music
The lights suddenly focused.
Lin Hanjiang stood in the center of the stage, with smooth wooden floor beneath his feet.
Before me stood a sea of black audience members and judges on the judging panel.
Further away are camera lenses, which will transmit this moment to every household.
Of course, this is a recording.
It will then be edited and broadcast on CCTV-1 at 8 PM on weekends.
The blinding light made him momentarily disoriented.
It seemed as if I saw countless stages from my past life—commercial performances, celebratory occasions, moments of solitude—all culminating in this one before me.
It's been a long time since I've been on this stage.
After becoming the CEO of an entertainment company, drinking and cultivating relationships became his daily routine.
He appears noble in public, but is subservient in private.
No one understands the importance of personal connections better than him.
Of course, the industry is still not big enough.
In this life, I wish the company were bigger, even bigger.
Does he not need to put on so many smiles, or bow and toast so many times?
Can we sit down and drink the wine?
Lin Hanjiang closed his eyes briefly, and when he opened them again, his eyes were filled with an unwavering determination to succeed and not allow any failure.
He turned to the side and bowed deeply to the band conductor beside the curtain, as well as all the musicians in the orchestra pit who were rehearsing overtime for this impromptu piece.
This action calmed the slight murmurs from the audience.
At least, this young man is polite and not as unruly as I had imagined.
That's why the music should start after this action.
The conductor's baton rose gently.
The prelude begins.
Contrary to everyone's expectations, it was neither a rousing march nor a melodious Jiangnan folk song.
As the piano keys fell, several clear and expansive notes flowed out, carrying a grand narrative feel.
Then, the strings come in, with the flute playing melodiously, creating a scene reminiscent of a spring breeze sweeping across the earth.
The instrumentation is novel, grand, and carries a distinct ethnic flavor.
The judges exchanged glances.
This can be considered a form of affirmation of this original ethnic song.
At least the melody of the prelude is commendable.
The audience members were also completely absorbed in the listening.
Lin Hanjiang calmed down, remembering how his senior sister had sparred with him for so long that afternoon.
Some minor flaws in the singing have been corrected.
I can't help but sigh that this song could easily win first place in the finals.
This semi-final is child's play.
Lin Hanjiang listened as the intro beat ended.
He also held the microphone to his lips.
It was springtime in 1979.
An old man drew a circle on the South China Sea coast.
The moment the sound came out, many people instinctively straightened their backs.
This is not the traditional, high-pitched, bright folk song style. His vocal placement is more forward, his timbre is rich and magnetic, and his enunciation is extremely clear, carrying a deep and sincere sense of storytelling.
Each word is like a warm, smooth piece of jade, gently striking the listener's heart.
What's even more remarkable is the emotion contained in that voice.
It is reverence, it is remembrance, it is the boundless emotion of looking back at the pioneers from the perspective of the new era.
Cities rise like myths
[Miraculously, mountains of gold have sprung up]
Lin Hanjiang's singing gradually improved, with a long and steady breath, and he maintained a mellow and clear tone even in the high register.
That was the solid foundation laid by four years of hard work in folk singing.
However, the way he sings tends to let his emotions guide his voice, using the natural flow of emotions to drive his voice, rather than simply showcasing his skills.
On the judges' panel, Li Guyi leaned slightly forward, her fingers tapping silently on her knees.
The corners of her mouth curved upwards in a barely perceptible, tiny arc.
This kid... he's bold, but he's got some skills.
This song, this singing style... it's interesting.
He sighed inwardly, "Old Jin, you're probably going to lose control of this student."
Spring thunder awakens the land both inside and outside the Great Wall.
Spring sunshine warms both banks of the great river.
In the chorus, Lin Hanjiang's voice suddenly rose to a higher level, and his emotions surged like a spring tide.
The lights seemed to become brighter as a result.
Ah, China, China!
You have taken a magnificent new step.
Embracing the Renewal of Spring
Many elderly audience members in the audience had tears welling up in their eyes.
When the word "China" came out, I got goosebumps.
My eyes stung slightly, and tears welled up uncontrollably.
They personally witnessed China's rise from nothing to something.
How can one not be moved when hearing a song like this?
Younger viewers may not have a deep understanding of China's early history.
But I was deeply moved by the magnificent hope and sincere emotions contained in the melody.
Backstage, the waiting area for popular singing.
Sun Hao stopped strumming his guitar, Han Hong opened her eyes, and Chen Hong and Jiang Tao also looked at the monitor screen on the side.
Initially, their faces showed curiosity.
Why sing an original song in the semi-finals?
Isn't this just asking for trouble?
Then came surprise, which eventually turned into attentive listening.
They are all excellent singers, and you can hear the academic background incorporated into their performances.
This word, in particular, is well-written.
That's incredibly bold!
The lyrics praising great figures are more like a short modern prose poem.
It doesn't rely on fancy words or grand packaging, but is full of life and the metaphors are fresh and apt.
It vividly portrays the beautiful picture of the country's prosperity and also reflects the people's support for reform and opening up.
Zhang Ye was sitting in the audience, clenching his fists tightly and raising them to his chest, waving them at Lin Hanjiang to cheer him on.
Hearing this, she smiled.
Become!
It really did!
This kid isn't messing around, he really... succeeded!
I wonder what kind of surprise the teacher will have when they hear this song?
In the final verse, Lin Hanjiang's voice returned to its deep and restrained tone, yet it contained an even more profound emotion.
The accompaniment music gradually faded away, leaving only the distant notes of the flute and piano, lingering endlessly.
The song falls.
On stage, Lin Hanjiang remained in his final pose.
A brief silence fell over the audience.
Everyone was still immersed in the story of that spring, and hadn't come back to their senses.
then.
clap, clap, clap...
The applause, like a belated clap of thunder in spring, suddenly erupted.
At first they were scattered, but they quickly connected into a large area.
Ultimately, it transformed into thunder that swept through the entire studio.
The applause was enthusiastic and sustained, far exceeding that received by any of the previous contestants.
On the judging panel, several veteran artists couldn't help but applaud.
Li Guyi drummed with particular force, her eyes filled with admiration.
The song "The Story of Spring" is impeccable, both in terms of the work itself and Lin Hanjiang's performance.
Lin Hanjiang also bowed to the audience and judges at this moment.
Then, finally, he expressed his gratitude towards the band.
The host, Liu Lu, walked quickly onto the stage, maintaining the appropriate smile on her face.
She was indeed somewhat moved when Lin Hanjiang sang.
"Thank you to Lin Hanjiang for this incredibly moving rendition of 'The Story of Spring,' it was absolutely wonderful!"
She turned to the judges' panel, "Now, please, judges, score Lin Hanjiang's performance."