Devil’s Music

Chapter 146: The Stalker, the Orchestra, and the Zoo

With his eyes closed, resting his hands upon the grand piano, Sean turned his entire body to look at Geon.

As Geon was making eye contact with the other musicians, conducting them, he pointed his baton at Sean, signaling him to join. At that moment, Sean's piano began to sound, joining the performance so softly and gently that the audience, some with their eyes closed, listening to the music, couldn't even tell the piano had joined. Those watching the musicians felt their hearts ease at the sight of the piano's seamless, flowing performance. The percussion by Damian and the session musicians rhythmically flowed, but it was the beautiful piano play that took the center stage, turning the overall performance into a beautiful, sorrowful melody. Geon led the music tirelessly with his hands, and soon Sean's voice lifted, starting the song.

"Love is like an airplane"

"You jump and then you pray"

"The lucky ones remain"

"In the clouds for days"

"If life is just a stage"

"Let's put on the best show"

"And let everyone know"

Sean's voice was soft and small, like a man whispering in the ear of his lover who had fallen asleep on a Sunday afternoon, her head resting on his thigh. This drew an even more focused atmosphere among the women in the audience, who unknowingly clasped their hands and turned their eyes into hearts. As the song reached its interlude, Geon fixed his gaze on the musicians and placed his hand on the guitar strings.

The signal for the musicians, who had been taking a brief rest, to swiftly bring their keys upon their instruments and start playing together. The sounds merged harmoniously without clashing, with Geon's guitar bringing a slightly different tone over the ensemble, like a breeze over the sound of nature, as Sean's song reached its climax.

"'Cause if I have to die tonight"

"I'd rather be with you"

"Cut the parachute before the dive"

"Baby don't you cry"

"You have to bring me down"

"We had some fun before we hit the ground"

Geon's guitar ended leaving an echo like a brief wind passing through the beautiful evening scenery and the sound of wild animals. Raising both hands again, Geon began to conduct, and regardless of whether Geon was playing the guitar or conducting, the musicians focused on him, nodding together and following his lead.

Captivated by the beautiful sound, Norman murmured, seemingly unable to stand up from his seat.

"The sound of nature... That's what he was trying to express."

Norman watched Geon, who was leading the performance from among the musicians, with trembling eyes.

"Perhaps, he is a genius beyond what I had imagined, Kay."

The sound director, squatting next to the camera and adjusting the broadcasting sound equipment with headphones on, seemed displeased with the recording situation. The PD sat next to him, whispering worriedly.

"Director, is there a problem?"

The sound director gestured for silence and, after a long moment of frowning at the sound coming from the headphones, took them off and said,

"Phew, this is not working. I can't allow this to be broadcasted as it is, PD."

The PD, surprised, asked,

"What? We came here to broadcast. What do we do if we don't air it?"

The sound director shook his head and put down the headphones.

"The greatness of this music you hear with your ears cannot be captured by this equipment. You'll see, but it's capturing less than a third of its essence. Broadcasting this with my name in the credits would be a stain on my 20-year career as a sound director."

The PD was dumbfounded. The director was a veteran who had spent 20 years capturing the sound of classical music performances and documentaries. It was unthinkable for the PD that there was music the director couldn't capture. They had not brought the high-end equipment since it was an outdoor performance and not a large one, but the PD had trusted the sound director completely.

The PD turned and muttered as he saw Dr. Dre, sweating and concentrating with headphones on beside the stage.

"Well, there's nothing we can do but to ask Dr. Dre for help."

The sound director stood up and said looking at Dr. Dre,

"That guy must be having a tough time right now. Managing such control in real-time is incredible. That's so Dr. Dre. But he must feel like he's walking across a cliff without a stick, so precarious that a slight mistake could ruin the entire music. I'm envious. Even for a great producer, producing such a piece will be a tremendous experience for him."

Following the sound director's words, the PD instructed the camera director to focus on Dr. Dre. As the camera zoomed in on Dr. Dre, the beads of sweat on his forehead became visible. Seeing Dr. Dre's intense concentration, the PD nodded,

"The sound director is right. It's an incredibly demanding task."

The camera director, capturing Dr. Dre's focused expression, brightened up and shifted the camera's position. In the middle of the stage, conducting, Geon was suddenly joined by Snoop, who, in a departure from his usual appearance, was clad in a black suit and sunglasses. The audience, perhaps too immersed in the beautiful melody to cheer, remained quiet even as the superstar Snoop Dogg made his entrance.

Snoop, microphone in hand, reached over to Geon's shoulder and brought the mic to his mouth.

"Let the motion of your body be the key"

"Now you can look to the Sun, and spot the moon"

Snoop's signature smooth, rhythmic rapping seamlessly landed on top of the orchestra's melody. Even though he layered his preferred G Funk style over the orchestra, the integration was so flawless that many experts nodded in approval. Snoop then slightly lowered his sunglasses to glare at Geon, continuing his rap with intensity.

"I come down with the wickedness"

"One rude bwoy coming with the darkness"

Geon couldn't help but let out a chuckle at Snoop's lyrics as he continued to conduct. Snoop then stepped forward from Geon's shoulder to the front of the stage, pointing at the audience.

"I got somethin for them niggaz in the front and the rear"

"So shut the fuck up, and listen while I'm kickin this"

As Snoop turned back after delivering his last line and exited behind Geon, Geon raised his left hand and swung it towards Sean, signaling him to join. Simultaneously, Sean's piano re-entered the mix, this time taking the lead in the performance. Sean began singing as he joined in on the piano.

"Love is like a hurricane"

"You know it's on the way"

"You think you can be brave Underneath the waves"

"If life is just a dream"

"Which of us is dreaming"

"And who will wake up screaming"

As Geon placed his hand back on the guitar strings, the violinists and cellists prepared to play. The guitar's sound was completely different from the first performance; instead of a clear and beautiful tone, it was now gritty with heavy gain. While the audience tilted their heads, intrigued by Geon's distinct playing, Norman Lebrecht, who had been sitting with a drained expression, suddenly stood up with force.

Several camera directors noticed Norman's reaction and quickly turned their cameras to capture him. The camera showed his shocked face, beads of cold sweat forming on his forehead as he stared wide-eyed, his mouth twitching as if murmuring.

"The emotions are changing. The song is evolving!"

The PD, watching through the monitor, also closed his eyes to concentrate on the music. If Verse 1 sang of beautiful love, Verse 2 played the fear. As the murky fear of love leaving filled the performance hall, Pai, sitting in front of Geon, began to howl with a sad look. While the audience focused on the singing tiger cub, the sound director frowned.

"Wait, this isn't just one animal howling?"

The sound director adjusted the amplifier and increased the volume in his headphones. From afar, the howling of dozens of wolves could be heard from their enclosure. The sound director, alarmed, signaled the PD, who hurried over.

"What's the matter, director? What's happening?"

The sound director, baffled, handed over the headphones.

"Listen to this."

The PD, with a puzzled look, donned the headphones. After a moment of concentration, he removed them, equally bewildered.

"What's this? Sounds like wolves. Don't tell me the animals from the distant wolf enclosure are howling?"

The sound director nodded and explained.

"Wolves tend to howl along with what they recognize as part of their pack. Kay must have sung to the animals regularly. That's why the wolves recognize Kay as part of their pack. Otherwise, they wouldn't be howling in unison like this."

The incredulous expressions of the PD and sound director were captured on camera, along with their conversation.

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