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It's one o'clock in the morning.
Finding a restaurant to go to daily with Irina is no easy task.
Having quickly exhausted our list of restaurants, I eventually had to rely on the staff's recommendations to find a decent place.
"This is a dish called Dwaeji Gukbap, originating from places like Miryang and Busan in Gyeongsang-do, Irina."
"Dwaeji Gukbap?"
"Yes, it's a dish where pork bones and meat are boiled together, then the cooked meat is sliced and served on top of rice in the flavorful broth. Would you like to try it with more chives?"
Irina seems fascinated by Korean soups like Gukbap. Honestly, before I had to explain it to her, I never thought of Gukbap or Bibimbap as a somber commoner's food.
These were meals quickly eaten by peddlers to get back on the road, by farmers to save time during harvest, or by soldiers to stave off hunger during war. That's the origin of Gukbap and Bibimbap.
Irina, being Polish, knows well about the pain of war, considering World War II began with Nazi Germany's invasion of Poland. Ever since learning about the history of these dishes, she often says she wants to try Gukbap when asked what she'd like to eat.
As Irina tasted the steaming soup and blew gently on it, she said, "Hmm, it's somewhat similar to Sundae-guk, but without the smell and a bit tangy."
"Do you like it?"
"Yes, every place Jeong-hoon recommends is delicious."
According to Min-young, since coming to Korea, Irina mostly dined at the hotel. They wouldn't serve such dishes there. To truly experience a country's culture, a hotel isn't always the best choice.
Min-young, while discussing Irina, mentioned she looks forward to dinners with me.
I watched Irina eat with a touch of pity in my eyes.
"A person starving all day to improve their performance."
Anyone sacrificing something for their passion, regardless of profession, deserves respect. And honestly, the fact that she's an extraordinarily beautiful woman also plays a part.
Who would pass up the chance to dine daily with a beauty?
Even today, dozens of men ogled Irina on our way to the restaurant. I felt like a victor, walking beside her through them.
Ah, what am I thinking?
I bit my lower lip to regain focus.
"Um, Irina."
"Yes?"
"About rhythm."
"Yes."
"They say rhythm is the most important principle in music composition, right?"
When music came up, Irina put down her spoon. She becomes very serious when it comes to music.
"Well, technically, it's not rhythm, but 'rhythm' derived from the Greek 'flow', meaning the flow and movement of sound."
Ah, so that's what rappers mean when they talk about flow. It's just rhythm, why use such an obscure word?
Irina continued, "Beat, accent, length, regularity, repetition, or change all these are aspects of rhythm. Since music is perceived as sound by humans, it's easier to first notice the melody, but the flow of the notes is also a type of rhythm."
That makes sense.
Music is composed as rhythm repeats, transforms, and connects.
The continuous movement in nature inspires musicians, just like Chopin was inspired by raindrops falling on a roof.
Irina said, "You must have heard music that instantly catches your ear."
Indeed, like a new song that feels familiar, one you find yourself singing along to before it even ends. Those are usually the hits.
Yes, a song that seems familiar even though it's the first time you've heard it, and you find yourself singing along before the song ends. Usually, those are the hits.
"But the sophistication of tone and the completeness of the performance come from the rhythm. In the case of pop music, the millennial hits usually capture both melody and rhythm."
"So, did the development of music start with rhythm?"
"It evolved from rhythm, melody, to harmony."
"What kind of art is music to you, Irina?"
"."
After a moment of thought, Irina answered,
"The art of time."
Indeed, just like someone who has spent a lifetime studying Chopin, Irina speaks of the essence of music as the nuances of timing, affirming that music is, in essence, the art of time.
Having confirmed that her answer aligned with the hint I had in mind, there was no more reason to hesitate.
Irina nodded in agreement with what she had just said.
The most important thing to dynamically express the highs and lows of sound is rhythm. Also, paying sensitive attention to the rest notes, just as much as to the notes, is what brings music to life. Because a rest note is also music, just without sound.
A rest note is also music, just without sound.
I had indeed caught on to the right thing.
I smiled slightly and gestured towards the stew.
Im sorry for interrupting your meal. Your food is getting cold, please go ahead and eat.
Oh, right.
And, Irina.
Yes?
Your most confident performance. Do you have it recorded?
..
Irina fell into thought and then nodded.
Theres a live performance album from Berlin in my collection. The piece I performed there, F. Chopin, Nocturne No.13 in C minor, is what I'm most confident about. Ive been wanting to reproduce that sound, but its been difficult.
Irinas face fell a bit gloomy.
Reproducing the same sound one has played is also a challenge in the world of pianists.
I wonder, is it the same with art?
Contemporary painters mainly create abstract paintings.
I've heard that even if they perfectly replicate the feeling, the air, and the flow of time, it's not easy to produce the same painting again.
I made a note and said,
"Please tell me about the album that contains the best live performance for each piece. If you can't think of it now, you can text me later."
"Why is that?"
I simply answered with a smile.
"Let's start with dinner for now."
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