Music Appreciation, Tuesday period 2

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal nodded at the students once they were seated. "Today we will begin with a bit of opera. For those of you who may not be aware," he nodded at the students from other worlds, "opera is a musical form of drama. It tells a story in song, accompanied generally by an orchestra."

He wrote a title on the board. "Today we will listen to some of La Bohème, an opera by a composer named Giacomo Puccini. It was originally performed in 1896, and set in Paris in the 1840s." He smiled briefly at Cosette assuming she's there. "It follows a story of several bohemians - artists and such - and the romance of two of them, Rodolfo and Mimi."

He explained the plot briefly and then played excerpts from a traditional production. When that was done, he said, "Also, there has been a more recent production, set in the 1950s. As one example of how to modernize opera, we have this."

//On the other end of the spectrum,// Jono said, leaning back against a desk and holding up a CD for the class to see, //we have a more modern retelling still, prevalent on the Broadway stage, by the name of meta for RENT. They took it, set it in New York, and then worked in current themes and issues, such as drug abuse and homosexuality, and had AIDS taking the place of the tuberculosis from the original.// He wasn't going to launch into an explanation of those things for the less modern students in the class, because they would never get through the syllabus otherwise. He was learning! //The result is a rock musical that draws parallels to La Bohème in everything from plot elements and character names to samples of the music itself. Here...//

Jono put the disc into the CD player, hit a few buttons, and stood back, letting La Vie Bohème begin to play. Not work school appropriate? Did Jono look terribly as though he cared?

Did Hannibal? These were clearly the coolest teachers in school, you guys.

//Anyway, now that you've listened to three examples of the same, or at least a very similar story told differently over the years, I want us to take some time to discuss it. Talk about what emotions the three pieces made you feel, or discuss the differences in the lyrics and themes between them. If you want to listen to more of one or the other, feel free to ask, and we'll play whatever we have time for through the class period. If you have questions about any of the themes in any of the above, again, ask, and we'll do our best to answer whatever we can.//

Comments

Re: Talk to the teachers!

[notamascot]

"There are only four people who can heal with magic," Kaylin explained a little nervously. "And they are all seconded to the emperor. I'm not even supposed to tell anyone what I can do - not anybody official in Elantra anyway. They know someone with my abilities exists and they know steps have been taken to make sure I don't lose control of what I do, but... they don't know who I am."

She let out a deep breath. "And the emperor would never waste a true healer on something like birthing a baby. He saves them for himself or members of his court."

And he could probably almost see the bristles go up on the back of her neck. "But I think it's important to help them! And they only call me if it's dire."

Re: Talk to the teachers!

[never-dull.livejournal.com]

Hannibal sighed. "Your guardians know of this?"

Re: Talk to the teachers!

[notamascot]

"Of course!" Kaylin said, looking surprised. "That's why Marcus let me bring a mirror. That and so he could call and growl at me whenever he felt like it. And the Hawklord pretty much knows everything anyway, so..."

Re: Talk to the teachers!

[never-dull.livejournal.com]

Hannibal held up a hand to forestall the babbling. "What does it take out of you, apart from sleep?" Honestly, teenagers thought they were immortal.

Re: Talk to the teachers!

[notamascot]

Immortal? Kaylin knew very well that she was mortal. She'd grown up in the fiefs after all and watched - well, she'd seen a lot of people younger and more deserving of good things than she die for no good reason. She just didn't really care. If she died saving someone else, well, maybe it would salve some of the huge guilt she lived with every day.

"Apart from sleep?" Kaylin opened her mouth to say 'nothing', then closed it again. He didn't seem a good person to lie to, even if she hadn't been told more often than she could count that she was a terrible liar.

"I... if it's bad enough... I might pass out. Or be weak as a newborn babe for a few days. It drains me, I guess."

Re: Talk to the teachers!

[never-dull.livejournal.com]

Hannibal grimaced. "Ms Neya, I am more than passingly familiar with the attitude of working yourself to exhaustion for the sake of your patients. Until I came here, I had only ever taught medical students and other doctors," he remarked dryly.

"However, please keep in mind that you have finite resources. And as an adolescent, you need adequate sleep and food, not only to function, but to mature healthily."

Re: Talk to the teachers!

[notamascot]

"What's a medical student?" she asked. "Do you mean you teach people about herbs and things? It must be hard with no magic or anything, not that most healers back home can do much even with that. You're better off hoping you just don't get sick."

And her brow furrowed. Mature heathily? Was that some backhanded comment about how scrawny she was? She knew she was tiny even for her age and not much more than skin, bones, and muscle from Hawk training, but really!

"I eat," she said in weak protest. "When I remember anyway. And mostly I'm very happy to sleep."

Except that wasn't strictly true. If she wasn't completely exhausted the nightmares got her. If she was wiped out she'd at least get a few hours at a shot when she was too tired even to dream.

Re: Talk to the teachers!

[never-dull.livejournal.com]

"Doctors and surgeons," Hannibal clarified. "People who use medicine and technology to heal. And who have a similar regrettable tendency to forget their own bodies."

He looked her over. "You will clearly learn nothing while you are exhausted. More than that, you compromise your own growth. But, as I said, I am familiar with the mindset; I doubt I could tell you to stop, even if it would be best for you?"

Re: Talk to the teachers!

[notamascot]

She looked up at him apologetically. "It's the one thing I can't stop, not even for the Hawklord. But I do try to be careful mostly."

"And I can learn even when I'm tired. I have to or they won't let me be a Hawk and nothing else matters except that."

Re: Talk to the teachers!

[never-dull.livejournal.com]

Hannibal's eyebrows raised at that. "And a Hawk is?"

Re: Talk to the teachers!

[notamascot]

"It's one of the branches of the Halls of Law," Kaylin explained. "We, they, investigate crimes. The Swords keep the Peace and the Wolves track down the ones who try to run."

Re: Talk to the teachers!

[never-dull.livejournal.com]

An entire branch of law for people who tried to run? That spoke well of your legal system.

Hannibal nodded. "And you want to do that, instead of healing?"

Re: Talk to the teachers!

[notamascot]

"Being a Hawk means everything to me," Kaylin said fervently. "But I can't stop doing the other things I do. Marcus understands. So does the Hawklord. I can do both. I'll find a way."

Re: Talk to the teachers!

[never-dull.livejournal.com]

"If you intend to take on two highly demanding careers at the same time," Hannibal answered, "I suggest you learn to pace yourself. If you run yourself ragged, they both will suffer."

He crossed his arms and looked at her a moment longer.

"Also, learn to assess your own needs, and ask for help." He suspected she was good at neither. "Or can you tell me you truly learned anything here today?"

Re: Talk to the teachers!

[notamascot]

Assess her needs and ask for help? Surely you jest, Hannibal!

Kaylin bit her lip. "Probably not anything good. Will you get mad if I tell you what I really thought about the things?"

Videos, whatever.

Re: Talk to the teachers!

[never-dull.livejournal.com]

"I try never to get upset at a student speaking honestly," Hannibal answered. "It's not expected that everybody will enjoy everything we hear. We only require that you give it a chance."

Re: Talk to the teachers!

[notamascot]

"They were way too clean for people who lived that way," Kaylin said honestly. "Way too clean and everything was too bright and all that silly love stuff and dying like that and everything, it just didn't make sense. And do you have any idea how much those clothes cost? They could have bought anything they needed with that! And the second one, I didn't understand half the things they said or did and I'm not really sure why everyone sang everything in either of them anyway."

Here, have Kaylin, raised in the fiefs and far closer in time period to La Bohème, but with even less ready cash than most of the people in Rent and absolutely no understanding of any sort of romantic love.


At least he could tell she'd been trying to pay attention?

Re: Talk to the teachers!

[never-dull.livejournal.com]

Hannibal laughed. "They were very clean for that," he agreed. "Opera is highly stylized, as is modern musical theater. You aren't meant to think that the people involved would have such clothes or would actually be singing; it's simply part of the genre."

But yes, at least she had been trying.

He eyed Kaylin and pointedly moved the rest of the food closer. "How likely is it that you will be called away again?"

Re: Talk to the teachers!

[notamascot]

"Oh? Well... Okay then."

Kaylin shrugged. "They really only call if they absolutely need me. Might not be for a month, might be tonight. You can't predict how a birth will go."

She hesitated, then grabbed more food and nibbled again. "This is really good. Thank you."

Re: Talk to the teachers!

[never-dull.livejournal.com]

"Thank you," Hannibal replied with a nod. "Take as much as you like; that's what it's here for, after all. And then, since you missed some of my portion of the class, we will discuss when you can meet me in my office to make it up."

Sorry, Kaylin; detention by any other name...

"Should you be called upon again, here is what I expect," he continued. "Either before you leave or immediately upon your return, you will see that I or Mr. Starsmore is informed. You may e-mail one of us, or tell the front office, or ask a reliable classmate to tell us.

"You will then, once you are done, get sufficient sleep, whether that should mean missing the class or not. Should you miss it, we will make it up later in a similar fashion. Agreed?"

Re: Talk to the teachers!

[notamascot]

Kaylin nodded. "Okay. Thank you."

Re: Talk to the teachers!

[never-dull.livejournal.com]

"I freely admit that I hope this will give us enough time to convince you of the value of music and the arts," Hannibal added with a knowing smile.

"Also, I would recommend you speak to your other instructors and make similar arrangements; they are likely to appreciate the advance notice and be more willing to work with you. And please try to eat." Because you were seriously a bit scrawny, Kaylin.

Re: Talk to the teachers!

[notamascot]

Kaylin started to roll her eyes, then caught herself and gave him an apologetic look. "I'll try," she said.

"And I do try to eat. It's easier here because back home I was always running short on money, but here the cafeteria is free so there's always food. When I remember. Which I'll try to do better at."

Re: Talk to the teachers!

[never-dull.livejournal.com]

"Thank you." Hannibal answered to both things. He did his best not to roll his eyes at the idea of eating cafeteria food, but he supposed it was at least calories and a modicum of nutrition.

"And please take the rest of this with you; it will save me carting it back to Baltimore. Now, when shall we meet to listen to La Bohème?"

Re: Talk to the teachers!

[notamascot]

And a lot better than the simple bread and cheese and/or gristly stew she'd be eating back home!

"If you're sure," Kaylin said. "And I don't have classes on Friday or Monday - or on the weekend either." And then her curiosity kicked in again. "Where's Baltimore? Is it another world, too? Is it far?