Chapter 364: The Anxious and Torturous Dragon Zither Cup Judging Panel
—— Real classical music isn’t an emotional massage chair; it’s a cipher that needs to be actively decoded.
This was the message Debussy tried to convey to his contemporaries.
This statement, placed in hundreds of years ago in Europe, might not have been fully grasped by the people of that time.
But as time traveled forward, and when Lin Tian brought it up in this pop-music-dominated world—
Lin Tian believed, surely, someone would be able to understand.
He wasn’t great enough to change the world, but standing on the stage of the Dragon Zither Cup, changing the experience for those who were listening to music—that was enough!
“Moonlight Brother, why do you create music like this?”
Zhang Dong looked at the scene in front of him, almost pained as he lamented, “Isn’t ‘The Dragon Comes Out’ appealing enough? Everyone could just sit here, enjoy the beautiful music you brought, and you’d get recognized by the judges—everyone would be happy. That’s all that matters.”
“But you, why must you create a piece like ‘Moonlight’?”
“Why force everyone to decode it, like cracking a code to guess the meaning and expression behind the music? You could easily create something that excites everyone, like ‘One Step Away’ or ‘Canon’—aren’t those pieces nice?”
“Why must you insist on making everyone struggle to appreciate it? Why can’t we just enjoy it without needing to think along with you?”
Zhang Dong mumbled, his expression growing increasingly complex.
In this piece “Moonlight,” Moonlight Brother showcased his top-tier musical talent.
With unresolved harmonies, he crafted a sense of anxiety;
Using the uncertainty of sound to counteract the excessive sentimentality typical of classical music.
He delivered an abstract feast to all the audience members present.
And countless people were left wracking their brains, painfully trying to figure out the meaning of the piece.
But even so—
“Awesome!!”
Zhang Dong shouted in front of the live stream.
At the moment the riddle was solved!
When the whole picture of the music unfolded before him!
When he finally understood Lin Tian’s groundbreaking “anti-classical” abstract style!
“Freaking awesome!!!”
Zhang Dong slammed the table, roaring.
Music like “The Dragon Comes Out,” simple and breezy, can bring instant joy without needing to think too much, is certainly good.
But the cipher presented by Lin Tian? It made everyone feel a fulfillment in solving the riddle that far surpassed any pleasant melody by hundreds of times!!
Although—
His target of attack was everyone who had fallen into his trap.
This kind of happiness had already made all the attacked people willingly accept everything, then bow down before him!
【Feeling ashamed. As a longtime fan of Moonlight and Cat, I admit, before Dong Ge interpreted it, I really didn’t have the patience for ‘Moonlight.’】
【Turns out I’m the type of bro that Moonlight Brother criticizes for pursuing formalism, sob sob.】
【I was wrong! I promise to listen to Moonlight Brother’s music carefully from now on, no more skimming!】
【So amazing! Even though I got scolded by Moonlight Brother, after hearing Dong Ge’s interpretation, it still felt so good!】
【Right? It’s not the first time I’ve been blown away by the hidden goods from Moonlight Brother, but each time I just feel utterly speechless by his talent!】
On the commentary stage,
As the music continued to reach its peak, the two commentators finally confirmed their guesses.
Unknowingly, Feng Ye swiped at her slightly damp eyes.
Emotionally, she exclaimed, “I never thought I could understand Teacher Lin Tian’s piece.”
This honor of being face to face with an idol, coupled with the excitement of decoding successfully, moved Feng Ye deeply.
“Teacher Lin Tian really has brought classical music to a new level,” she added.
Zhu Ye sighed, “After all, Teacher Lin Tian’s contributions to classical music have become hard to surpass. To carve out a new path to this extent is no ordinary feat.”
“Gan Yan Yu’s performance is indispensable too!” Feng Ye said.
If it weren’t for Gan Yan Yu’s extreme performance that brought everyone into that stunning scene of a moonlit night, they would never have understood the illusionary false grandeur Lin Tian was conveying through the music.
With such a top-tier composer and an exceptional cellist who could perfectly communicate his musical intentions,
How could the two of them not represent Tianchao music?
“.”
Feng Ye did not voice this thought.
Instead, she shifted her gaze back to the stage.
Returning to the original question.
Why did Lin Tian and Gan Yan Yu choose to perform such a piece at the semifinals of the Dragon Zither Cup?
Was it just to scold the audience and let them experience the fun of solving a puzzle?
Was it worth risking elimination?
That price was too high!
—The answer was already quite obvious.
“.”
“Flip the table.”
Zhang Dong, in the live stream room, uttered what the two commentators didn’t dare to say at the commentary table.
“Flipping is about flipping the entire music table of our time!”
“Moonlight Brother and Cat are on this stage with a heart ready to face it all!”
Zhang Dong said, excitedly.
“To do this, they are willing to offend the judges, the pop music audience, and even critique their own listeners and fans to perform ‘Moonlight’ on stage!”
Zhang Dong, a Bilibili content creator, understood all too well.
In this fast-paced, clickbait-filled era,
Culture and knowledge—many things once considered serious have changed. This includes classical music.
When young people edited Moonlight and Cat’s classical music into 15-second video BGM, it spread far and wide.
When audience members held up their phones to capture “Moonlight and Cat in real life” photos at concerts, they essentially participated in a fake classical extravaganza, consuming not the music itself but the illusion of “participating in classical music.”
It laid bare the tragic nature of the times.
For this, no one would blame Moonlight and Cat.
After all, they rose on the backs of short videos, becoming popular through these formalistic trends.
They compromised with the times, promoting classical music in such a way, and of course, would face the backlash that the flow of traffic brings.
Zhang Dong knew this too.
But what truly surprised him was that,
Having achieved such tremendous success, riding the wave of short video platforms and soaring high,
Moonlight and Cat chose to flip the table.
“This piece aims to bring classical music back to its original place!”
“To let everyone understand that classical music should be like this; its process of understanding is inherently torturous, requiring careful appreciation of its essence. What’s more than just ‘Moonlight’?!”
Zhang Dong said animatedly.
“From the very beginning, Moonlight Brother and Cat might not have been prepared to win; they’re here, deliberately shattering the grandeur they built, simply wanting through this competition to help everyone understand this!”
This approach,
Meant for their competition result, their album sales, and even their future development route,
Brought no benefits whatsoever.
Yet they did it anyway.
“They truly wish to change this world.”
Tears streamed down Zhang Dong’s cheeks as he spoke.
From this moment forth,
Moonlight and Cat became the true “classical musicians.”
As the last ninth chord dissipated, Lin Tian’s fingers remained on the B-flat key, and Gan Yan Yu’s bow hovered a centimeter away from the string.
Lin Tian looked up, gasping for breath, and ahead, Gan Yan Yu turned her head; the two exchanged a glance.
They shared a smile.
Approaching the front stage, they took a deep bow.
A wave of applause erupted from the audience.
In the backstage rest room,
Nanaly, Bai Xi, and the other cellists, mouths agape, were stunned into silence.
In the top-tier office,
Yao Han silently stared, a provocative glint in his eyes fixed on the judging panel.
At that moment,
On the judging panel.
In this place that should be filled with discussion, where silence seemed impossible,
The professors and musicians were inexplicably quiet.
Some exchanged glances filled with bitterness, some gritted their teeth in struggle, while others simply kept their heads down, pretending to be very busy.
However, on stage, Lin Tian and Gan Yan Yu didn’t seem to care at all.
After bowing, they exchanged another glance and hopped off the stage cheerfully.
Leaving the judging panel in a mess.
“.”
Three whole minutes passed.
The venue was caught in a strange scene.
Scores that should have been concluded during or immediately after the performance remained in limbo.
Now, most of the judges still hadn’t submitted their scores.
At this moment, discussions began to trickle through the judging panel.
And as the scoring dragged on, the next contestant was unable to take the stage.
The site fell into silence.
“It seems scoring is really intense,” Zhu Ye said cautiously.
As the commentator, it was imperative to liven up the atmosphere without saying the wrong thing.
“Yes, maybe the judges have their own thoughts,” Feng Ye replied, still immersed in the shock brought by the piece, somewhat dismissively.
The live stream viewers were now fired up by this scene.
【Seriously, what’s so intense about this?】
【Isn’t this piece amazing?? Forget everything else, Gan Yan Yu’s cello is divine, right??】
【d*mn it, if they’re still thinking, they must be figuring out how to rationalize eliminating someone, right?】
【Can’t come down, huh? Afraid of backlash after elimination?】
【Just give the scores! Lin Tian Bro and Gan Yan Yu-sis don’t care!】
【.】
Watching the barrage fly passionately,
Feng Ye could totally understand their feelings.
After all, from everyone’s perspective,
This piece, even if stripped of its groundbreaking concepts, discussing only the auditory experience,
Was undeniably the pinnacle of abstractism in this Dragon Zither Cup.
What’s there to deliberate?!
The only reason for contention would be if some old-timer was up to no good!
And besides,
The concepts are inextricable!
“.”
In fact, only someone like Feng Ye knew,
Having contention was the real hope for Moonlight and Cat.
If the scoring was done in an instant, it would only mean Gan Yan Yu had been eliminated.
What kind of controversy that would be was beyond the comprehension of a small commentator like him.
Now, seeing the judges in agony about the scoring, Feng Ye felt a thrill, but pressed that excitement down and continued the commentary.
The topic of scoring was too sensitive, so Feng Ye switched gears.
Just then, he seized the opportunity to say a few words.
“The ‘Moonlight’ of Lin Tian and Gan Yan Yu—don’t say anything if you don’t like it, but for those who do, I hope you don’t just listen to it, then forget about it.”
Feng Ye revealed sincere feelings again, not caring whether everyone understood, and said, “I suggest everyone replay the B section of ‘Moonlight’ repeatedly—specifically measures 35 to 50.”
“Experience how Gan Yan Yu uses the undercurrents of the bass to subvert the apparent tranquility. Only through such ‘uncomfortable experiences’ can one break the illusion of classical music as a cultural sedative.”
“This is also what Teacher Lin Tian wants to express through this piece.”
“It’s getting intense.”
In the office,
He Shu Mo observed the situation on the judging panel and said indifferently, “Unexpectedly, Teacher Lin Tian and Gan Yan Yu really did it.”
“Of course.”
Yao Han almost mocked, “These old folks thought Lin Tian and Gan Yan Yu would present traditional classical music like before; who knew they would perform such a critically charged abstract piece? The breadth of their critique makes even these judges cautious.”
“I thought someone would really blow their top and give a zero,” He Shu Mo chuckled dryly.
“Not a chance.”
Yao Han replied,
“Right now, what they are considering goes beyond just the influence of internet public opinion; they also need to account for academic perspectives.”
If it was as initially stated, the worst-case scenario would be offending internet users, leading to public outcry.
In this case, the judging panel wouldn’t care; they would unhesitatingly eliminate Gan Yan Yu.
But the trouble is,
Lin Tian’s ‘Moonlight’ is too overpowering!
It isn’t just a piece of ordinary classical music any longer.
With its numerous revolutionary anti-classical techniques: including decentralized music textures, anti-climactic emotional logic, sonic material resistance, and the triple alienation of contemporary pseudo-classical consumer groups.
These will be the hallmarks of an immortal legend in music history, opening up a new chapter in the world of classical music.
Any person with a modicum of musical knowledge can see it.
This piece ‘Moonlight’ is destined to be a historic masterpiece in music!
And, if everything goes awry,
“Lin Tian’s impressionistic style” could very well start from this piece.
Based on past works from “Moonlight and Cat,” the likelihood is quite high.
The implications in various aspects are monumental.
And it’s taking place on the stage of the Dragon Zither Cup, where the target of musical satire encompasses the competition itself.
In the academic world, no one will sit idly by.
“The influence of internet public opinion, they may disregard, but they cannot ignore the voices from the academic world.”
Yao Han remarked.
That’s the true brilliance of Lin Tian’s ‘Moonlight’!
Almost a blade, it stabbed deep into the judges’ main artery.
“And also, the judging panel is not a solid block. The conservatives, who originally intended to remain quiet for the association’s interests, after witnessing this performance, they might reconsider.”
With two pressures combined,
It ultimately created the judges’ current awkward situation.
“However, I still think…”
After listening to this, He Shu Mo turned to the live stage,
“Ultimately, the judges won’t let Gan Yan Yu advance.”
The hatred from sixteen years ago.
It’s too heavy.
“.”
“Latest news.”
Just then, the commentators Zhu Ye and Feng Ye received instructions through their earpieces.
Both showed shocked expressions.
Then they quickly adjusted.
Reporting to the audience:
“In light of over eight judges stating they need more time to finalize the scores, in order not to delay the continuation of the competition, the next contestant will now take the stage.”
“…Later, during the intermission, the judging panel will hold a separate meeting to discuss and finalize their scoring!”
Once these words left their lips,
Not only did the audience gasp, but a cluster of cellists in the rest room erupted.
“Is there a precedent for this kind of separate scoring meeting?”
“Oh my, I’ve never seen anything like this!”
“Seriously? Is it that tense?! A separate judges’ meeting??”
“Haha, only the Dragon Zither Cup would dare to do this; in any other competition, it would have been labeled a black box by now!”
The many cellists had feelings of astonishment, amusement, and a rising tide of excitement.
“Let’s win!! Gan Yan Yu!!”
“The last card of classical music must win!”
“If such a piece were eliminated, even if I made it to the finals, I’d find this competition meaningless!”
After experiencing the previous piece ‘Moonlight,’
Watching Lin Tian and Gan Yan Yu, even on the verge of elimination, still presenting such a piece in an attempt to continue impacting this music world,
More and more cellists, even those completely indifferent to classical music, began to genuinely admire them.
Meanwhile, hearing this news, Lin Tian and Gan Yan Yu also felt puzzled.
They sat in the rest room, simply waiting for the verdict.
During the break.
At the Baijing International Concert Hall, in the meeting room.
The judges gathered to continue their heated discussions about the incomplete scores from before, with keywords like “classical music,” “Gan Yan Yu,” and “Moonlight” popping up alarmingly frequently, resulting in chaos.
And just when the debate was at its fiercest,
The door to the meeting room swung open.
“May I say a few words?”
A dignified yet robust figure sauntered in.
Several judges in the front row widened their eyes:
“Teacher Tuo Ba, you…”
(End of Chapter)
