Cadence

Sforzando

"Ever mine,

Ever thine,

Ever ours."

Beethoven, a true testament to love, Bin's words resonated with my heart and soul. "Ever Thine, Ever Mine, Ever Ours" is perhaps one of the most iconic love letters written in the English language, and was addressed to Beethoven's Immortal Beloved, a woman who's exact identity still remains unknown, and who presumably, never had the chance to read that letter.

Despite the applause and cheers of the audience and masterclass participants, everything just seemed to go slow. And the way he looked at me and uttered those last 3 lines, time just froze by itself. It was music but played molto, molto largo. Molto being much. Largo considered slower than adagio, a very very slow tempo marking.

Time just stood still.

I made my way out of the recital hall and walk towards the piano studio for the rehearsal. I figured that there would still photo ops and awarding of certificates after the masterclass, so I thought of going to the studio ahead. Maybe do some warm ups and a lot of breathing exercises because from what just happened, I may have had used up all the air I have in my body.

Well to be fair, he did say, Yes to having his own Immortal Beloved. That despite not mentioning who it was, he did say that "She's just playing the Fur Elise somewhere because that's the only piece that she knows how to play". Would that be a coincidence or was it a direct jab at me, who he only referred to as one of his oldest friends during the last rehearsal?

And, yet again, even after years of not seeing each other, he still found me. As if no time had passed, looked at me and uttered Beethoven's most romantic last 3 lines for his Immortal Beloved.

Time seemed to stand still because, scientifically, the same parts of the brain are also involved in timing and time perception. But the more our senses are engaged by the object of our attention, the less we attend to what else surround us, and time (and everything else) ... seems to slow down or stop. In that sense, I've lost rhythm, With one look, I lost count. With one gaze, I forgot which bar I was in.

I sigh. I have to refocus for the rehearsal. I found my way to the piano studio floors when I got a message from Ha Ji Min.

Good Afternoon Miss Son!

Reminder: Piano Rehearsal with Maestro Bin today, 5 PM.

Venue: Dean's Studio 1

Good luck! (Coffee and sandwich already being reheated and will be brought by the orchestra intern later.) Fighting!!

Han Ji Min, Orchestra Coordinator

I hurriedly walk towards the other side of the building towards the other side of the floor. I take a peep but lights were still off. I turn the knob and to my surprise the door was unlocked. I find the studio lights near the door and made my way inside.

A Bosendorfer Imperial Concert Grand Piano. The first prototype having full 8 octaves in tonal range built by Ludwig Bosendorfer. Evoking an extraordinary sound – sonorous and rich in expression and resonance – the timbre of the Imperial Grand seems to be orchestral. The additional deeper bass notes resonate with every key you strike and the massive soundboard supports the projection of any frequency.

On the desk was the food I ordered earlier, already warmed by the orchestra intern I suppose. Some piano and conductor's scores on the right side of another desk near the concert grand. Looks like the Maestro got here before me because those were his scores, with all his tempo and dynamic markings, cue markings and all.