This piece, composed by the Spanish composer Maquina in the late 19th century, reveals its origins from its name.
Its creation was inspired by Spain’s ancient bullfighting history.
As a sport filled with blood and a violent aesthetic, whenever the march plays by your ear, you can visualize the bullfighter bravely battling the raging bull in the arena... as if it’s right in front of your eyes.
As Spain’s national treasure, this sport later evolved into a dance that swept the world called the Crazy Bull Dance.
Men impersonate the bullfighters, and female dancers act as the red capes that attract the bull’s attention.
Lin Tian has not seen this dance and doesn’t quite understand Spain’s classical art.
But he imagines that if female dancers play the role of the cape, and men the raging bull, accompanied by this impassioned music charging fiercely towards the cape, the scene must also be incredibly spirited.
there are many pieces that can evoke a feeling of "passion."
But some pieces require you to understand their background and the stories behind them to appreciate their charm.
Like the "Voice of Berlin" — "Erica," which Lin Tian is very fond of.
Its melody may not seem so fiery, but every time Lin Tian listens to it, his right hand itches, always resisting the urge to lift it up at 45 degrees.
Moreover, depending on one’s perspective, the impression one gets from listening might also vary.
For example, in the eyes of the Polish, this piece becomes the "Polish Trouble Tune."
In the eyes of the Jews...
Without understanding the story behind it, the experience of the piece is greatly diminished.
After careful consideration, Lin Tian chose "España Cani."
The first time Lin Tian heard this piece in "Tom and Jerry," he found it extremely exhilarating.
Especially when Jerry outdid the world champion insomniac Tom, it was just too thrilling.
After writing out the score, Lin Tian, based on his understanding, adapted the piece for a cello and piano duet.
This kind of modification is actually a way to show the charm of the instruments, interpreting the piece from different angles.
In the original version, the main melody is played by a trumpet, thus giving the original "España Cani" a feeling of "elevation," "excitement," and "energy."
However, after changing it into a cello version, the bass becomes thicker, the emotions more profound and restrained, adding an epic feel to it.
A duel dictated by fate.
No longer just a bullfighter vs. a raging bull contest purely based on courage and skill.
It involves a more calculated play, a stoic confrontation, but... still equally thrilling and exhilarating!
After writing the piece, Lin Tian tried playing it himself on the piano.
If it’s just played with cello and piano, he always felt something was missing.
Perhaps, adding electronic synthesized percussion could be tried?
He would think about it more when he goes out with Gan Yanyu tomorrow.
Qingzhou Seventeenth Nursing Hospital.
Located in the suburbs of Qingzhou City, the hospital is secluded, quiet, with a small garden at the entrance, occasionally, a few elderly people in patient attire hobble by.
Even on a Saturday, it still looks scarcely populated.
Compared to the bustling outside, this place seems like a secluded, forgotten corner.
The withered leaves fall with the gentle breeze, landing in the palm of a young girl.
Gan Yanyu looks at the dry leaf in her palm, and lifts her head.
Staring at the dilapidated building in front of her, she takes a deep breath,
Pushing open the ward door.
In the center of the ward, an aged body quietly lies on the hospital bed.
Lin Tian walks forward.
The familiar face before him is none other than Sir Gan, whom he hasn’t seen for a month.
Although he already knew about the situation, seeing this scene... Lin Tian’s heart is quite stirred.
He places the bouquet of carnations he brought at the bedside of the grandpa.
"Grandpa, I’ve come to see you."
Beside him, Gan Yanyu has already bent down, holding the old man’s hand.
Her face shows no sadness, only a gentle smile,
"I bet you didn’t expect this, I brought another guest—I and Lin Tian have become partners now."
"He said he received a lot of care from you in the past~ Truly worthy of you, always unable to stand by seeing someone in trouble, seeing a lonely Lin Tian, you couldn’t help but lend a hand, right~"
"But, it’s because of your meddling, grandpa, that I have been under Lin Tian’s care now..."
"Just last week, I reappeared on the stage of Qingzhou Music Hall, the next step is the Yingqin Cup...."
Lin Tian didn’t listen further.
Instead, he walked out alone to the hallway, heading to the window.
In the past, Lin Tian always lived alone, and Sir Gan was one of the few presences that made him feel the warmth of family.
Lin Tian had made a resolve in his heart.
In the future, if he ever became someone of significance, he would definitely treat Sir Gan like his own grandfather and repay him properly.
Life is unpredictable.
Perhaps when he first learned about this, Lin Tian was preoccupied with the troubled Gan Yanyu, thinking she wanted to commit suicide, and hadn’t the chance to grieve.
But when the sorrow finally caught up, Lin Tian also found it somewhat hard to bear.
He truly wished he lived in a fairy tale world.
That way, maybe he could write a piece of music that could awaken Sir Gan—with stories, it’s always written like that.
When the ward door opened again.
Gan Yanyu had come out, her eyelid rims slightly reddened.
Clearly, she had cried.