The man, with a focused expression, played the cello on stage like a refined scholar.
The entire venue resonated with his gentle and elegant music.
In the rest area, the contestants stood around the big screen, listening intently.
Lin Tian seemed to be in deep thought.
The characteristics of chamber music—
A fixed ensemble, typically consisting of 2 to 9 instruments.
Beyond Mao Junfeng’s cello, there were three other violins accompanying.
Moreover, the balance and transparency in the music were well managed.
Every note had high clarity, and the texture of the music was more transparent; despite being a multi-string ensemble, it allowed the audience to feel the detail and levels of each voice part.
The structure of the pieces was diverse, also a style that’s rare.
From simple two-part forms to complex sonata forms, performers need a deep understanding of the structure to interpret the works accurately.
Unlike other contestants, what set Mao Junfeng’s music apart was coordination.
The ensemble of multiple instruments, high interactivity, and profound emotional expression created an intimate and deep musical experience...
According to Lin Tian’s understanding,
Mao Junfeng also had the largest number of accompanists in the semi-finals.
...An entire four people!
Like damn gang fighting.
It felt like he could take on four contestants at once.
Such multi-instrument ensembles have no restrictions in the Yingqin Cup, but in reality, they are quite risky.
Because if the cello doesn’t overpower the performance of the other instruments, it could easily be overshadowed by so many accompaniments.
But Mao Junfeng did very well.
He successfully created the effect of chamber music on stage; the audience had a great listening experience, yet could still accurately feel the shining points where the cello played the leading role.
He became the dark horse of the preliminary round, standing out and advancing into the top eight.
The judges must have seen this point.
And gave extra points for it.
This was why Lin Tian said he was a CJB.
"Novel," perhaps allowed him to become a dark horse and advance into the semi-finals, but clearly, the judges wouldn’t just give him a second time extra points for "novelty" alone in the semi-finals.
Not that he wasn’t good, but that his competitors were too strong.
The performance ended.
Lively applause rang through the venue.
The audience revealed pleased expressions, nodding to each other, and discussing... It was the acknowledgment that comes after enjoyment.
Indeed, the ensemble of multiple instruments is audibly more pleasant than a single instrument or just two kinds of instruments.
But what sounds good is up to the audience.
The judges have a lot more to consider.
Several judges exchanged glances, some furrowed their brows, some chatted non-stop, seemingly between a large argument.
Ultimately, they agreed and finished scoring.
Next up was Yun Qiuxiu.
As Mao Junfeng returned to the rest area and the broadcast announced the next contestant’s preparation, everyone in the rest area turned their gaze to the girl in the corner.
At this moment, she was motionless, head bowed, with her hair obscuring half her face.
A staff member even thought the girl had fallen asleep.
She walked over, bent down, and carefully called out:
"Mrs. Yun, it’s your turn...."
"Mrs. Yun... Mrs. Yun?"
Yun Qiuxiu suddenly raised her head as if jolted awake.
Giving the staff member a fright.
Yun Qiuxiu waved her hand and replied softly, rubbing her eyes and yawning.
She slowly got up from the ground.
"She looks like she just woke up."
Mao Junfeng, who saw this scene, rested his hands on his hips and laughed wryly,
"This child... what on earth does she think the Yingqin Cup is?"
Among the performers present, Mao Junfeng was the oldest at 33 years old.
So, calling Yun Qiuxiu a "child" wasn’t inappropriate.
Actually, everyone was aware that none of the pianists who could make it to the semi-finals were simple.
But, the aura Yun Qiuxiu exhibited... made it difficult for everyone to view her as normal.
Really possible for someone to doze off right before it’s their turn to compete?
Previously in the preliminary round, everyone thought Yun Qiuxiu might be showing off, aiming to confuse the competition...
But after observing for a while, everyone realized.
This guy genuinely seems sleepy.
"Mrs. Yun, are you really okay?"
The staff member aiding Yun Qiuxiu’s rise asked with a hint of uncertainty.
A faint smile suddenly appeared on Yun Qiuxiu’s dazed face.
"I stayed up too late watching anime last night...."
Not only was the staff member taken aback, but also the crowd in the distance who heard this were stunned.
"How did she even advance to this round!"
Mao Junfeng couldn’t hold back.
The night before the semi-finals, he tossed and turned in bed, his mind full of the competition, almost falling into insomnia.
And there was someone who managed to stay up late watching anime the night before?
Lin Tian and Gan Yanyu were also dumbfounded.
Her purity was too intense.
After a while, Yun Qiuxiu left the rest area and stepped onto the stage, as people turned their eyes back to the big screen.
At the judges’ seat, several judges were checking the material, seriously comparing.
"Is... that the same person?"
An older judge squinted trying to get a clearer look.