Welcome Explorers!
Song of Heart
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Whenever I play my piano, I remember this beautiful story of a student who loves his mother so much. I don't really remember the source of this one, but I love it so much and would like to share it with you. If you happened to know the real author of this story, kindly share it with me in comment so I can give the credit to him/her. Since it's been a long time ago, I hope I didn't lose any message in the story as I create this new one.
I call my story... "Song of Heart"
It always been a dream for Marie to play a piano and describe all of her feeling to her beloved son. Unfortunately, Marie came from a family that we all call someplace near the poverty line. Her house could only fit her and her son. They dine, sleep, and work in the same room. Her husband just passed away two years ago, leaving Richard, her 12 years old son to be accompany her. She loved Richard so much and couldn't tell her deepest secret with him. "He just lost his father... How could I share this one also?" Marie said in her heart.
I call my story... "Song of Heart"
It always been a dream for Marie to play a piano and describe all of her feeling to her beloved son. Unfortunately, Marie came from a family that we all call someplace near the poverty line. Her house could only fit her and her son. They dine, sleep, and work in the same room. Her husband just passed away two years ago, leaving Richard, her 12 years old son to be accompany her. She loved Richard so much and couldn't tell her deepest secret with him. "He just lost his father... How could I share this one also?" Marie said in her heart.
Richard is a very diligent boy and loved her mother so much. He knew that his father would never came home again. So he work after school to help her mother pay the rent. His love for music was passed from his father and mother. Marie's husband is a street violist (and that's one of the reason why she marry him). Sometime he could earn many from people passing by, but again sometime he got nothing.
One day, a famous Pianist came to their town to give his performance after playing music for many years. It was meant to be his final before he decided to teach. He earn so much from his performances around the world and want to give his birth town a little present. He wanted to teach any talented young boy or girl from this town for the rest of his life for free.
Know about the news, Marie told Richard to go to the Pianist and ask if he care to teach Richard. Richard once complain with her mother request. He think that it would only less his working hour after school and that's mean another reduction for his family income. But, Marie insist Richard to learn to the Pianist for his own future. As an obeisant child, Richard finally gave up his argument and go to the Pianist to learn piano.
When the Pianist took Richard as a student, he could see that he saw another talented pianist born in this town. Couldn't say more, Richard is the favorite student. Richard also found himself fell in love with the piano and know deep inside him that he could express all of his feeling through this magical instrument. And since he can't have his own piano at home, he went to the Pianist house almost every day to do some practice.
Nevertheless, Richard grab his skill in a quick time. He advanced beyond his fellow friends. He learn and play every songs just like some one read a regular book. As fast as our eyes read this story, so did Richard read the notes in piano score. The Pianist himself now thinking that Richard is ready to get his first performance with his other senior student in this town. Richard was so happy to hear the news and can't wait to tell her mother. One thing that this young boy didn't realize is the only secret that her mother kept all this year. And a secret can't always be a secret when it must happen someday. That was the time Richard knew that her mother has a dangerous cancer in her body instead of him telling her about the performance.
Marie can no longer keep her secret alone. Her weak body began to showed up and can't be hid behind her cloth or make up. Richard ask her as soon as he noticed the changes in her mother's condition. It was just 5 years ago since he lost his father, and now he should accept the reality that he could lose her mother too. A secret for a family is always kept within the family. And so Richard didn't want to share this one to his friends or even his teacher, the Pianist.
Filled his heart with anger and sadness, his play began to change. He stroke the piano keyboard so hard that even the Pianist didn't understand what he played. Every songs has been carefully chosen for his first performance. But in each songs that he choose, he always stroke the piano so hard and produce a very loud sound. The Pianist tried to ask Richard if there's something wrong with the song or even with his teaching. Richard said nothing to answer. He just came to the Pianist's house every day after school, sit in front of the piano, play as loud as he can, and went home.
The Pianist himself can no longer hold his patient to see his favorite student did something 'rash' with the piano. It's not about the piano as a music instrument, it's about his passion with music and piano was disturbed by Richard's play. As the day of performance getting closer, the Pianist often get mad with Richard and swore him that he wouldn't attend and claim him as his student anymore after this performance. Richard didn't care about it and practice as loud as he could as usual.
Finally, the performance day came. The Pianist sit in front seat and watch the performance of his senior students one by one. Save the best for last, that was he thought when he ask Richard to play the final piece. But at this moment, he couldn't think of anything else when he remembered how Richard practice recently.
It almost time for Richard to play the piano... but something is not right...
The announcer has called his name two times and still the audience didn't found Richard in front of the piano. The Pianist began to angry and couldn't hold himself when he stood up and walk to the stage. He was so mad and yell 'till all the audience can hear his voice in backstage. "Where's Richard?! That ungrateful boy! Isn't it enough that he's made me angry by practicing in my home with loud volume?" Just when the Pianist say these words, he saw Richard running with his home cloth. The Pianist really mad now, "GO! Do your last play with piano and never asked me to teach you again after this one!"
Richard kept silent and walk to the stage. He gave his bow to the audience as an honor he could play in front of them. No one can hear anything when Richard sat in front of the piano. The pianist clench his fist behind the curtain and wait what Richard gonna do this time. Richard stretch his hand and touch both end of the piano when he kissed it. His eyes was closed when his finger touch the piano keys for the first time.
It was the most beautiful song that ever heard by all the audience. Richard close his play with high pitch note in pianissimo, letting all the silence fill the ear of the audience. His eyes never open when he play the masterpiece and none of his finger produce the loud sound like the one he always practice. Even the Pianist can't believe what he just heard today.
All was stood up and give their big applause when they realized that the masterpiece has been played perfectly by a young boy named Richard. The audience want more and more. They didn't stop their applause until Richard finally raised and stood beside the piano. Tear drop from his eyes and fell to the stage as he bow down to gave his honor to the audience. Everyone in front seat notice this and began to stop their applause, followed by others in the back seat. Richard tried to said something so softly. The announcer gave him the microphone and now everyone can hear what Richard said.
"Thank you mom, for always taking good care of me. I dedicate this piece only for you, and I know that you could hear it in your new home with dad. I'm sorry if I can't play for you while you were in this world with me. I tried my best by playing as loud as I can in my teacher's house so you could hear what I'm playing. But now, I'm sure you could hear it even for the most softly last note... cause you're always here in my heart since you left me before I go to this stage. I love you, mom..."
The Pianist release his fist and ran to Richard to hug him. Everyone can't hold their tears when they heard what Richard said. Slowly and softly, the applause began for the second time and this time it's even louder. Every person in that room that day can only show Richard that he was never alone by clapping their hand. They will never forget the most beautiful song they ever heard... a song of heart.
Picture courtesy of filtran (Colin)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/filtran/2399761689/sizes/m/
One day, a famous Pianist came to their town to give his performance after playing music for many years. It was meant to be his final before he decided to teach. He earn so much from his performances around the world and want to give his birth town a little present. He wanted to teach any talented young boy or girl from this town for the rest of his life for free.
Know about the news, Marie told Richard to go to the Pianist and ask if he care to teach Richard. Richard once complain with her mother request. He think that it would only less his working hour after school and that's mean another reduction for his family income. But, Marie insist Richard to learn to the Pianist for his own future. As an obeisant child, Richard finally gave up his argument and go to the Pianist to learn piano.
When the Pianist took Richard as a student, he could see that he saw another talented pianist born in this town. Couldn't say more, Richard is the favorite student. Richard also found himself fell in love with the piano and know deep inside him that he could express all of his feeling through this magical instrument. And since he can't have his own piano at home, he went to the Pianist house almost every day to do some practice.
Nevertheless, Richard grab his skill in a quick time. He advanced beyond his fellow friends. He learn and play every songs just like some one read a regular book. As fast as our eyes read this story, so did Richard read the notes in piano score. The Pianist himself now thinking that Richard is ready to get his first performance with his other senior student in this town. Richard was so happy to hear the news and can't wait to tell her mother. One thing that this young boy didn't realize is the only secret that her mother kept all this year. And a secret can't always be a secret when it must happen someday. That was the time Richard knew that her mother has a dangerous cancer in her body instead of him telling her about the performance.
Marie can no longer keep her secret alone. Her weak body began to showed up and can't be hid behind her cloth or make up. Richard ask her as soon as he noticed the changes in her mother's condition. It was just 5 years ago since he lost his father, and now he should accept the reality that he could lose her mother too. A secret for a family is always kept within the family. And so Richard didn't want to share this one to his friends or even his teacher, the Pianist.
Filled his heart with anger and sadness, his play began to change. He stroke the piano keyboard so hard that even the Pianist didn't understand what he played. Every songs has been carefully chosen for his first performance. But in each songs that he choose, he always stroke the piano so hard and produce a very loud sound. The Pianist tried to ask Richard if there's something wrong with the song or even with his teaching. Richard said nothing to answer. He just came to the Pianist's house every day after school, sit in front of the piano, play as loud as he can, and went home.
The Pianist himself can no longer hold his patient to see his favorite student did something 'rash' with the piano. It's not about the piano as a music instrument, it's about his passion with music and piano was disturbed by Richard's play. As the day of performance getting closer, the Pianist often get mad with Richard and swore him that he wouldn't attend and claim him as his student anymore after this performance. Richard didn't care about it and practice as loud as he could as usual.
Finally, the performance day came. The Pianist sit in front seat and watch the performance of his senior students one by one. Save the best for last, that was he thought when he ask Richard to play the final piece. But at this moment, he couldn't think of anything else when he remembered how Richard practice recently.
It almost time for Richard to play the piano... but something is not right...
The announcer has called his name two times and still the audience didn't found Richard in front of the piano. The Pianist began to angry and couldn't hold himself when he stood up and walk to the stage. He was so mad and yell 'till all the audience can hear his voice in backstage. "Where's Richard?! That ungrateful boy! Isn't it enough that he's made me angry by practicing in my home with loud volume?" Just when the Pianist say these words, he saw Richard running with his home cloth. The Pianist really mad now, "GO! Do your last play with piano and never asked me to teach you again after this one!"
Richard kept silent and walk to the stage. He gave his bow to the audience as an honor he could play in front of them. No one can hear anything when Richard sat in front of the piano. The pianist clench his fist behind the curtain and wait what Richard gonna do this time. Richard stretch his hand and touch both end of the piano when he kissed it. His eyes was closed when his finger touch the piano keys for the first time.
It was the most beautiful song that ever heard by all the audience. Richard close his play with high pitch note in pianissimo, letting all the silence fill the ear of the audience. His eyes never open when he play the masterpiece and none of his finger produce the loud sound like the one he always practice. Even the Pianist can't believe what he just heard today.
All was stood up and give their big applause when they realized that the masterpiece has been played perfectly by a young boy named Richard. The audience want more and more. They didn't stop their applause until Richard finally raised and stood beside the piano. Tear drop from his eyes and fell to the stage as he bow down to gave his honor to the audience. Everyone in front seat notice this and began to stop their applause, followed by others in the back seat. Richard tried to said something so softly. The announcer gave him the microphone and now everyone can hear what Richard said.
"Thank you mom, for always taking good care of me. I dedicate this piece only for you, and I know that you could hear it in your new home with dad. I'm sorry if I can't play for you while you were in this world with me. I tried my best by playing as loud as I can in my teacher's house so you could hear what I'm playing. But now, I'm sure you could hear it even for the most softly last note... cause you're always here in my heart since you left me before I go to this stage. I love you, mom..."
The Pianist release his fist and ran to Richard to hug him. Everyone can't hold their tears when they heard what Richard said. Slowly and softly, the applause began for the second time and this time it's even louder. Every person in that room that day can only show Richard that he was never alone by clapping their hand. They will never forget the most beautiful song they ever heard... a song of heart.
Picture courtesy of filtran (Colin)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/filtran/2399761689/sizes/m/
2
comments
Hi! I'm Grace
said...
All of us has a song in our heart, we have to develop a spirit of discernment to be able to recognize it. :)
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