fandomhigh | Music Appreciation, Tuesday period 2

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Music Appreciation, Tuesday period 2

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.//

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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."

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

"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."

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?"

"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."

"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?"

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.

"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."

"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?

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?"

"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."

"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?"

Kaylin nodded. "Okay. Thank you."

"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.

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."

"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?"

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?

"It is..." Hannibal cocked his head. "I was going to say the same world, but I'm rather certain this island is in no world but its own. Baltimore is the city across the water from here; if you were to cross the causeway, you would find yourself there. It's where I live and hold practice when I'm not teaching."

He pulled up his schedule on his tablet. "Would some time Sunday work for you?" That way he could be out here for Derek's therapy as well ~~assuming it happened~~.

"Oh. Okay."

She nodded. "Anytime. Except maybe not too early in the morning?"

Hannibal's lips twitched at that. Apparently somebody wasn't a morning person.

"One p.m.?" He asked. "I can bring lunch."

This was going to be the nicest detention ever, Kaylin. And you would appreciate music ~~if it killed him~~ ~~if it killed you~~ if he had any say in it.

Someone thought that morning shouldn't start till sometime after noon, yes.

"One p.m. would be fine," Kaylin said politely. "But you don't have to bring lunch."

She looked again at the food he had given her to bring home and decided to modify her statement. "Though it would be very kind of you."

She was actually very bright, which was partly why her teachers despaired of her when she wouldn't focus enough to learn. If you can get her attention and interest, though...

Hannibal chuckled. "One thing you will learn in this class if nothing else, Ms Neya - I adore feeding people."

He nodded to her and got up, packing the food neatly for her. "In that case, I will see you at one p.m. Sunday in office number five upstairs. Now, please." He held out the package of food. "Go sleep."

"I will," she said, taking the package gratefully. "I may sleep straight through to tomorrow!"

"If you have classes tomorrow, let your teachers know," he reminded her. "Good day."

"Oh, don't worry, no classes tomorrow," she said as she started for the door. "I'll see you on Sunday."

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Music Appreciation, Tuesday period 2

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