Stephen's Secure Blog #285
These stories about Stephen began was when he was 10 years old, and
moving to a new part of the country to attend a special school for
gifted students, in the 1950's. This was from a time before computers
would fit on a desk, and when people communicated with friends in other
countries by actual letters sent through the postal service. He wrote
225 of them to a friend. He stopped writing to his penpal, but found he
still wanted to record his life, in case he lost his memory again, and
wrote 30 entries in his first logbook. Then he wrote to an artificial
intelligence called Geenee, in the master computer in his school for
gifted students, which he started attending in 2016. Now it's after
2018, and he's continuing to save his memories in a secure blog.
All characters are fictitious, even if some of them might have names
that belong to some actual people, or act like people we know.
The stories may not be posted in chronological order.
Stephen is 17 in this story, in spring of year 7 of his special school.
Stephen's Secure Blog #285 "Russian Chicken"
START Page
Chad said "I've been sending your music recordings, and other things,
to a friend in Russia. She's been showing them around. She and a group
would like to meet with you." I said "Fine. Let's go." He said "It
hasn't been set yet." I said "Oh, so I actually get some notice!" He
poked me, while Hawk laughed. I said "It needs to be in a day or two,
or I might be really occupied in Tibet. There is the CNN tour, and the
possible Chinese announcement." He called her, right then, speaking
Russian, and apologized for the hour, and explained why. She said that
CNN would be welcome to accompany me. I said "No, they have to stay in
Tibet after they arrive, until they finish, to avoid sickness due to
altitude changes." He repeated that to her, and she accepted that. She
gave us a time and place, which we agreed to. A few hours later Chad
and I ported there. We did the introductions, and one said, "So it's
true." I just stared at him. Chad tried not to laugh. The others caught
on, and we all laughed. Chad said "I don't know how he does it, but he
can make people laugh by doing absolutely nothing." I said "I think I
was breathing." He said "With that." I said "And blinking?" He said
"Did you?" I said "Actually, no." Chad said, "So, we are here. What's
next?" One said to me, "You have expressed a desire to conduct."
I said "I have conducted, but with a less than great orchestra. For
the music of the great Russian composers, I would want the best for the
best, in the best setting. That can only be had in Russia." They REALLY
liked that. I said to Chad, "How much should I reveal?" He said "That
you can play any instrument as a virtuoso, and all of them at once,
remotely?" I said "Something like that. And more. I can sit at the
piano in a concerto, and use a projection of me to conduct the
orchestra. Like this." I created a projection myself behind me, who
said, "I agree with er, me." They almost laughed. I stopped the
projection, and said, "You saw the ballet?" They nodded. I said "I was
actually playing that music in my head from memory, and creating the
sound with invisible forcefield speakers I created with my mind. Here
is a sample." I played some. They said "Wow!" I said "I hear that a
lot." They laughed. One said "You can make the sound of cannons for the
1812 overture, indoors?" I said "Yes, but I don't think it would be
good to demonstrate that at this time, making people afraid of an
head.
I said "So, what can I do for you?" One said, "If you are good, we
would invite you to conduct." I said "But you need to see if I am good
enough, first. That can only come from conducting. So, which comes
"By the way, I made one of my own, a little." One said "Oh, may we see
it?" I said "It's in the Smithsonian in Washington, but I can show you
images." I did, and they really appreciated it. He said "It is known
that you do not lie. Do you like Russia?" I said "I do like Russia very
much, for the people, who have suffered so much in history, and for
their art, which is some of the best ever made. I include music in
that. And not just because I have lived in this country in a past
life." He said "Would you tell us about that life?" I said "I'm sorry,
no. Doing that usually causes problems. But I will tell you it did not
involve music. Or precious eggs. Did involve chickens, though." They
laughed. I said "If you have an orchestra available, I could do
something with it." Our host said, "It just happens that we do, and in
this building." We went there.
I said to the orchestra, "First, I will show you something of me. You
who play the instruments to my direction, should know that I can play
them as well. Who will be the first to lend me their instrument?" A
flute player stood up fast. I motioned, and he brought it to me. I
stung them, after playing a fast Irish tune. I handed it back to him,
and said, "Next?" The concert master, who is the first violinist, came
to me. I played some Carmen, and my encore from Scheherazade. Next, was
the French horn. I played that well, too. Then one said "I can't carry
the piano over to you." I said "Have you tried?" He looked confused,
and I grinned, and he felt better. I went over to it, and played an
assortment of difficult pieces. I went back to the podium, and said, "I
think that is enough. Well, for now. Have I proved myself?" Some said I
had. I cupped my ear and leaned forward, and they all said, "Da,
Maestro!" I rubbed my ear, and said, "That I did hear. Thank you." I
said to my host, "What shall we play?" She said, "It is already on the
podium, and with the musicians." I nodded. I said "Wow! Shostakovich!
And the second movement from the Tenth Symphony!" I said to my host,
"Were you intending to motivate a murder?" She grinned, and said to her
guests, "I told you he really knows music!" They nodded to her. I said
"Second full performance only, is to be judged." They all nodded.
I said to the orchestra, "Please tune your instruments." When they
were done, I said "When I call your name, we will tune your instrument
together." I did that, and all in the room but Chad were surprised.
More so by the improved results. The regular conductor was very
impressed. Then I said, "Let's try the first page, with just the string
section." We did that. I said "Again." They were better. I said so.
Then we added the rest of the instruments. Then we did more of the
movement, and I adjusted some timing and relative loudness. Then I
said, "Good work. Now we will see how the first complete movement goes.
Do well, and with care, but don't extend yourselves too much. Leave
that for the second time. Ready?" They, and we, played it. I conducted
it energetically. When we finished, I said "That was VERY good! I loved
it. Do you think we can do it better?" I cupped my ear, and one lone
voice said, "I don't know, but I am going to try!" They laughed. I said
"Let's show our guests what we REALLY can do. Do the rest of you
agree?" They did, and loudly. I grinned and said, "I expected that!"
They grinned back. I asked for some small adjustments. Then I said,
"Now, let's take some calming breaths, and get in the proper mood. We
attack when you are ready. Now?" They were, and we began. I conducted
with passion, with sharp movements. They responded well. When we
stopped, I said, "You were magnificent! Thank you VERY much!" I turned
to the guests, and said, "Don't you agree?" The regular conductor was
nodding his head.
One said, "I want you." Chad said "Everybody says that." I said
"Chad, I don't think he meant it sexually." They laughed. One said "How
often have you conducted that piece?" I said "Just here with you." He
said "But how did you know how it should be played?" I said "It's there
in the music. He hated Stalin with a passion, and wanted to rip his
head off and stomp it flat. That was how he did it, in his own mind."
One said "Yes, it does sound a little like that, in part." The man who
wanted me, gathered his friends, and the conductor, and moved to a
corner and talked privately. Or so they thought. Chad signaled
question, and I signaled yes. He said to our host, "Stephen can hear
them." I said "Wow! The regular conductor said I'm better than he is.
It is very unusual for one to say that." She said "I have to agree with
the both of you." I bowed to her. I said "If I can conduct here, I hope
I can do Capriccio Espagnol, and other Rimsky-Korsakov pieces. And the
other romantics. I can play and conduct the Tchaikovsky Piano and
Violin Concertos, too. And I love 1812, and Marche Slave. And the
ballets, I just can't say enough." She said "Please excuse me." She
went over and told them. I didn't need to tell Chad that.
While they were discussing, I wandered over to the piano. The pianist
made room for me. I started playing some of the works of Mussorgsky,
starting with Gopak, then some of the Pictures at an Exhibition, then
Boris Godunov. Nobody stopped me, so I played Night On Bald Mountain,
my own arrangement. Then I changed to Borodin, doing parts of Prince
Igor. I had fun with the Polovtsian Dances, with my own arrangements
for the piano. Then I tried to do his first symphony. It turned out
well. Then the second. Then I noticed that people were staring at me. I
said "Oh Chad, why didn't you stop me?" He said "NEVER!" I said "Oh.
Well, I'm sorry I held things up." Our host said, "You did NOT. Do you
remember what you did?" I said "Yes. I have a complete memory. I don't
forget anything I experience, and that includes body movement. Hmm, I
apologize for leaving out Glinka." Chad said "I think he won't mind." I
said, after an absentminded look, "Well, I checked. He's not available
at the moment. Oh! Please disregard that. I'm still in the music. Er,
did you have a nice discussion, while I was filling the time?"
She said in awe, "That's all your playing was, filling time?" I said
"Sure. I don't like being idle." She just stared at me. One said "Will
you do some of that again, in concert?" I said "Why? There is no need.
I'm sure Chad recorded it." He said "I did not see any devices for
that." I said "We have a way that isn't er, noticeable. Anyway, I
thought I was here for orchestral pieces. I can play the piano, or
other instruments, anywhere. I like to do things I haven't done
before." One said "I think we need to confer some more. Please excuse
us." I went back to the piano, and then stood up and faced them with my
arms crossed. I said "You aren't talking. You did that just to make me
play some more." One laughed, and said, "He's caught us!"
I walked over to them. I said "I have been honest with you. Is it
unreasonable for me to hope for that in return?" Our host said, "I
apologize. I was wrong." I bowed. I said "When you decide what you want
of me, please let us know." I walked back to Chad. They didn't follow.
I said in low voice to Chad. "Strange. You told her I could hear them."
He said "I don't get it, either. Wait a few minutes for them, and then
goodbye?" I said "Sounds right. I could play with some light while
we're waiting." He tried not to laugh. With my back to the group, I
drew a large square in the air. It stayed. In it I painted with my
finger in different colors, a house on chicken legs. They stopped
talking. I turned, "You stopped talking. Discussion finished?" Chad was
almost choking to death. The group came over to me, and looked at the
picture. I made the house door jump open, and a chicken head pop out
and squawk at them. Some of them jumped in surprise.
Chad almost died laughing. He said "You didn't!" He was laughing some
more, when I said, "Obviously I did. I thought it was interesting. I
didn't know you would rupture a gasket. When was the last time you had
your engine checked?" He laughed some more. I said "Problem with your
clutch, too?" More laughter. I said to the group, "It doesn't take much
to make him laugh." Our host said with a smile, "I see that." I said
"I've had a lot of practice, too." She said "I don't doubt it." I said
"If my art disturbs you, I can stop. If I can think of something else
to do." She said "What else can you do?" I said "Mostly, whatever I
want to, except make people decide faster. Like the Chinese government.
I've had to poke them a lot." She said "We haven't decided yet." I said
"Well, then I should get back to actual work. Please let us know when
your decision function is repaired." I bowed, and so did Chad, and we
ported to my living room.
Rose said "Weird people." Hawk laughed just before I did. Then Chad.
Rose said, "I get it. They were probably thinking the same about you."
Chad said "That chicken is still squawking at them, whenever they
move." That made Hawk relapse into another laughing fit. Rose said "How
long are you going to keep it there?" I said "A while. Weeks, maybe."
Chad laughed. I said to him, "You haven't checked the other side of the
painting, have you." They did, and laughed hysterically. Well, the
bird's behind was a naked human ass. I said "I wonder how long it will
take them to discover that." More laughter.
Chad said, "Do you think they will ask you back to conduct?" I said
"I don't care about that as much as I did before the trip. We can do it
in the States, anyway, now that you have a recording of the tryout." He
said "Is that what you intended all along?" I said "Not primarily, but
as a backup plan, yes. A good situation manager plans for multiple good
outcomes, while going for the best one. In this case, if they want me,
they are going to have to really work at it. I owe it to other artists
to make them treat us with respect." Chad said "I didn't think of it
that way, but I do now. Thanks. I love you." We all hugged with love.
END Page
--
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Grant
|
|