### Chapter 331: The Truth from 20 Years Ago – Tuoba Jianhui’s Orchestra
Lin Tian had no idea Yao Han would get straight to the point like this. Looks like this was what Yao Han had in mind when he asked him over today.
Was he worried about Lin Tian’s selection of songs at the competition? Fearing he wouldn’t pick the right tunes and flop?
But at least Yao Han’s heart was in the right place.
“…”
Actually, Lin Tian hadn’t completely ignored the topic. He’d discussed it with Gan Yan Yu before coming here.
Only he didn’t give it too much thought.
Neither did Gan Yan Yu.
For a simple reason.
Both of them were determined to bring classical music to the world through competitions. They wouldn’t change their plan due to temporary trends. And Lin Tian already knew how brutal it could be.
Back in the day on the Starmaker Cup, Gan Yan Yu’s piece, the Cello Concerto in E minor, was unfairly judged against Bai Xi. It was her only big defeat.
Even after that, Lin Tian prepared mentally. But Yao Han’s reminder made him feel the pressure again. Maybe the Dragon Zither Cup was worse than expected.
“Teacher Lin Tian, do you know when the new scoring standard by the International Music Association began?”
Lin Tian hesitated for a moment.
Yao Han chuckled, “When?”
Gan Yan Yu mentioned this once. Around the start of the 21st century, they aimed to promote more young people into music competitions. Classical works turned to modern and pop ones.
It worked. Music competitions became huge worldwide, with young fans obsessively following musicians and competitions.
However, Lin Tian didn’t know specifics of when it all started.
“.”
“Well, you got most of it right. It seems Gan Lao had a thorough understanding of that history,” Yao Han nodded.
“Actually, they came up with the plan around 30 years ago, but it didn’t fully take off until 20 years back.”
“To lure in younger audiences and sponsors, the association decided to shift from classical to modern music. They believed classical music was too complex for the market.”
“With advancements, newer generations preferred internet videos and fast-consumption culture. Classical compositions were too intricate for the fast-paced audience.”
“They introduced a new scoring system, focusing on ‘innovativeness’, ‘entertainment’, and ‘audience interaction’. Classical music suffered because it lacked novelty and direct appeal.”
Now, Lin Tian understood a bit. No wonder domestic rules didn’t sync quickly with international ones.
Purely because China’s internet developed slower compared to the rest of the world. Slowly, but surely, the fast food culture arrived.
Truthfully, the current system reflected many present-day issues in music:
Now, barely anyone listened to classical music—this era of short clips, memes, and trendy content had taken over.
On platforms like Bilibili, detailed videos were declining, while short, catchy ones by influencers thrived. Long-form novels’ popularity waned in favor of quick thrillers. Even established sites lost traffic to sensational content.
Despite crackdowns on piracy, websites battled to retain viewers by adapting to the fast-food trend.
“But this doesn’t mean that classic stuff is useless?” No, Lin Tian realized.
Many high-quality long videos, cut into snippets and shared on TikTok with catchy music, often went viral. People appreciated good content. It’s just harder to engage in slow, deep experiences like classical music.
Take Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony. It takes time to appreciate its emotional depth, something modern pop can’t replicate.
“Such a tidal wave of change, huh,” Yao Han sighed.
Years ago, the music scene changed rapidly. Then, a teenager like Yao Han was already a skilled pianist deeply interested in industry changes.
He witnessed how countless veteran musicians struggled with the new trends.
Many faded away and never returned.
In his daze, Yao Han saw figures emerging.
“Some musicians surely resisted such changes?”
He glanced at Lin Tian.
After a pause, “Twenty years ago, Tianchao had some classical musicians who tried to reverse the trend. But eventually, they were drowned out by popular culture.”
“.”
Lin Tian looked surprised.
“Their failure was not just judge bias but an unstoppable shift towards contemporary tastes. It’s ridiculous to fight the entire era.”
“Teacher Lin Tian…”
Yao Han focused keenly.
His gaze held an undefined sharpness, a determination or warning.
“Tackling the entire age is foolish. Isn’t that what happened twenty years ago?”
It was both a warning for Lin Tian and those past musicians who fought the trend.
“Change your tunes, Teacher Lin Tian. Twenty years have passed, and the global musical landscape has stabilized.”
“You can’t achieve what those crazy people couldn’t.”
“I really admire you, hoping you’ll reach Ke’er Cup.” Yao Han said sincerely.
“Your compositional skills are top-notch, not much difference to composing modern music. ‘One Step Away’ is a great example!”
“If pursuing classical is because of that granddaughter of Lao Gan… it’s unnecessary.”
“.”
“Gan Lao… was one of those people, wasn’t he?”
From Yao Han’s words, Lin Tian raised a hesitant question.
Yao Han nodded, confirming.
Lao Gan was indeed part of that rebellious pack. If Lin Tian’s guess was correct, their stronghold was likely Tuoba Jianhui’s orchestra.
Under Tuoba Jianhui and Gan Hua’s influence, that legendary orchestra resisted mainstream changes even as other orchestras embraced new rules.
They performed worldwide and nurtured young talents. Their star player Yao Xing might have been one they raised.
Old timers fade away, but young players still upheld traditions, until Yao Xing’s infamous performance ruined it all.
With each step forward, the dream of reviving classical music was shattered. In time, the band members disbanded. Only Gan Hua remained.
At Ke’er Cup, he faced a betrayal and lost everything, throwing down his cello.
That was the end of their journey.
Lin Tian sat in silence, reflecting on interactions with Gan Yan Yu and her grandfather’s legacy.
Gan Yan Yu, with unprecedented talent, reignited Gan Hua’s hopes—despite his absence for years.
But it was Tuoba Jianhui, now accepting things, who couldn’t comprehend why this had restarted.
In his heart, Tuoba Jianhui saw two performers perfectly harmonizing: Gan Yan Yu and a pianist. They gave birth to the soul of classical music.
This performance shocked him and rekindled an old flame.
He gave a perfect score.
Despite this, Tuoba Jianhui still grumbled and was mocked by Lin Tian before leaving.
Later, anonymously, he helped Lin Tian and Gan Yan Yu.
Such connections made the situation confusing for Lin Tian.
Was pursuing classical music worth it? Would it destroy Gan Yan Yu?
“I hope she’s not just a pawn,” Lin Tian thought.
He needed a talk with Gan Yan Yu.
“Thank you, Teacher Yao Han.”
Standing up, Lin Tian added, “Great meal! I’ll return the favor.”
“Wait!”
Yao Han stopped him.
“Surely, there’s info you don’t know?”
Curiously, Lin Tian sat back down.
There was always something beyond his data master He Zhichen.
“There’s a competitor who needs to be taken seriously,” Yao Han said.
“He’ll shake the circles soon by joining Dragon Zither Cup.”
“An iconic composer who shaped pop music, despite not performing, countless stars sang his songs.”
“But surprisingly, this legend is also a cellist. Who’d think he’d become a professional cello expert this year!”
“He might be your next challenge, facing the entire pop music realm!”
(End of Chapter 331)
