2018-06-09

【Aiden in English】

        I'm not going to lie, but I almost forgot about a charity recital for senior citizens this Sunday. A friend of my piano teacher organized the concert for Brittany Pointe Estates, a luxury retirement home that just happened to own a modest auditorium and a grand piano.

        The weeks leading up to the performance were filled with exciting events. There were Keystones, a Pennsylvania standardized exam, and a series of concerts. Meanwhile, I organized a small jazz band with friends to play for small ensembles, which was a new experience. However, I was fully aware of the concert date at Brittany Pointe Estates. The days just slipped by so fast that the weekend got there before I knew it.

        For once, though, I felt I had a purpose in playing piano for others. Most of the time, I play in front of others, either before a competition or after an award. This time, we participated in a charity event, sharing our time and talent to entertain the retirees. While I may have reluctantly accepted this challenge, it's one of the few times I agree with coming. 

        I was all set to participate in this event until I arrived. Walking into the performance hall, I realized how unprepared I was. I've practiced the Prelude in G Minor Op. 23 No. 5 for three days is insufficient for any rhythmic song by Rachmaninoff. Luckily, it was still fresh in my mind from the mini-ensemble concert late last month. So, I wasn't going to forget the song… right? 

        Arriving in the auditorium, all the players tried out the piano on the stage, which was pretty good. I liked it. While I watched another warm-up, I felt my mind freeze up. As I went through my practice run, I stumbled. Twice. This wasn't good. I've never forgotten any notes to Rachmaninoff, as memorization is straightforward. It's the problematic notes that got me. 

        However, I was blanking on some notes for the first time. So when the performance began, I scrambled and cramped. Whenever I thought I had it down, another memory slip would appear. Eventually, I decided to go with what I got and went on stage like that.

        After a quick bow and chair adjustment, I sat before the piano, contemplating what to do. I took a deep breath and began, only to mess up on the third line. It was a minor blemish, but that mistake saved the entire song. My teacher said I did a good job afterward, and for the most part, I thought I did. That single flaw may have been the reason why. It calmed my mind, allowing me to think clearly. Mistakes like that snap you into the moment, casting away unnecessary thoughts. Whether that is good or bad, I don't know, because sometimes you shouldn't think too hard about notes. However, in this case, I let my fingers do the work, while my mind controls the dynamics and phrasing. It turned out well.

        This performance was a fluke, considering my preparation was essentially nonexistent. This will probably be a lesson for a future concert, but I'm grateful. Later, when some of the audience congratulated me, I winked and smiled as a kind lady told me I looked like a man who "puts a lot of practice into his songs." Oh, I wish I did. 

        This may have been the best time I've ever played in front of others. Here's why. After the performance, some of the audience's reactions were terrific. They thought we were all excellent, but they seemed to enjoy it most. Oftentimes, the audience is there because they have nothing else to do. While this may also be true today, to those retirees, it was one of the best performances since such events had become a rarity. I may look at this recital and call it a drag, but it's the highlight of their day to them. And that made me feel good.

【紅霞譯】

        說句實話，我差點忘了這個星期天要給老人義演，鋼琴老師的朋友為布列塔尼角“不列顛人之地”莊園張羅一場音樂會，這家高級養老院不僅擁有規模可觀的禮堂，而且還具備音質上乘的三角鋼琴。

        演出前幾周各項活動蜂擁而至，正好趕上賓州中學生統考和一系列音樂會，我還挑頭攛掇幾位朋友組成一支微型爵士樂隊排練小合奏，所有這些無一不是全新嘗試，然而我知道義演在即，可是“天波易謝寸暑難留”，哪想到轉眼就到了跟前。

        話說鋼琴表演，其實每次登台都各有名堂。多數情況下，我只在比賽前或是獲獎後與觀眾見面，不過此行純屬慈善公益，與老人消磨時光分享快樂。儘管我可能在這種挑戰面前遲疑不決，但今天卻表現出少有的積極性。

        來之前我沒把彈琴當回事，可一邁入通往表演大廳的過道方才意識到準備不足，即使拿出三天功夫練習拉赫瑪尼諾夫“印度人”《G小調前奏曲》作品23第五首也難以把握這位音樂大師的雄渾力度，幸好上個月底小合奏音樂會的演奏經歷依舊記憶猶新，我豈會忘掉……對嗎？

        抵達禮堂後，所有演員依次登台試琴，他們個個表現出色，值得大加讚賞。眼見同伴進入狀態，我頭腦開始發懵，輪到我熱身的時候，手指僵得早已不聽使喚，結果一連兩次卡殼，情況十分不妙。坦率地說，我從未忘記過拉赫瑪尼諾夫樂譜，畢竟曲子好背，都怪那些刁鑽音符從中作梗。

        不過我偶爾地會出現腦子空白，因此每當演出到來之際，我臨時抱佛腳進行突擊強記，況且即便事先背得滾瓜爛熟，有時也難免在大庭廣眾面前緊張露怯，一旦遇到這種情況，我只能兵來將擋水來土掩，以不變應萬變。

        登台後快速鞠躬並調整琴凳，我坐在鋼琴前靜思片刻，深吸了一口氣，隨即開始表演，開頭第三行出現錯音，很不起眼，但“前車覆後車戒”，我努力從逆境中創造奇蹟，事後連鋼琴老師都甚感驕傲，我自個也認為大體上說得過去。那個失誤教我成長，遇事要冷靜，這樣才能捋清思路；當你陷入困境，必須拋掉私心雜念。我也搞不清楚究竟是好是壞，反正有時別跟音符較勁，以上述情況為例，我索性讓手指自由發揮，把精力集中到強弱變化及演奏技巧上，有如行雲流水。

        本次彈奏能一氣呵成可以說純屬走運，尤其在毫無準備的前提下，將來參與演奏當該引以為鑑，但今天我十分慶幸這種交流平台。音樂會完畢，有些觀眾前來道賀，一位慈祥和藹的老太太甚至說我挺能“吃苦耐勞”，我眨巴眼報以微笑，天曉得，但願如此。

        也許這真是我最出色的一次公演，原因很簡單。演出結束後，不少觀眾難掩激動之情，紛紛誇讚大夥了不起，印象最深的是，人人看上去心花怒放。他們之所以親臨現場往往因為沒有其它事情好做，今天大概也不例外，對於退了休的長者來說，我們的琴技堪稱一流水準，隨着古典音樂越來越稀罕，這種演出在我眼裡或許司空見怪，但卻給上了歲數的人帶來一天生活中最精彩的瞬間，令我無比欣慰。

Courtyard (庭院)

Daquin's Le Coucou Played by Lena

(陳老師 演奏《達坎“劍刃的朋友”·布穀鳥》)

Rachmaninoff's Prelude in G Minor Op. 23 No. 5 

(拉赫瑪尼諾夫·G小調前奏曲作品23第5號)

All Performers (全體演奏員 06-09-2018)

Game Ground (遊戲場地)

Lobby (大堂)

Dining Hall (餐廳)

Guest Hall (會客廳)

Library (圖書館)

Hallway (過道)

Crosslinks(相關博文):

2017: Charity @ Assisted Living Facility(老年護理院義演)

9th Grade(高中一年級)