[oh... this is fun. she'll unwrap the butter and let it roll into the bowl, adding half a cup of sugar in too. this is part of the base of cookies? mixing... for a minute, that's easy; kaede is used to counting measures, and a quarter note is a second, so sixty seconds in standard time would be fourteen measures just about, with the fifteenth being a half note and a rest. her foot taps as she starts, easy as any metronome.]
I never knew they came from such a simple base... It's almost like a growing piece in that sense, like Grieg's In The Hall of the Mountain King. Every little bit counts towards a bigger sound!
[there wasn't a thing for her in particular, just that she's skilled and it's something helena respects, so she stops short of humbling herself; she is just one of so, so many talented people who bring their own sound to things, after all.]
I've always loved playing piano, ever since I was small. Some of my first memories are with a metronome, as weird as that sounds.
[clack clack clack clack, a sound she keeps in mind as she mixes.]
But writing's just as amazing, if not moreso! I've always admired people who can create something from nothing -- I haven't tried my hand at composing anything, but it seems more difficult than just playing it. You and others are simply amazing.
You're too kind, really. It's not really from nothing - every writer has experiences, inspiration, and their life to draw from as raw materials.
[speaking of. she offers out an egg to Kaede, to crack into the bowl. oh, and they'll need the vanilla next - she knows that bottle by the shape of it, and the scent that lingers around it.]
I imagine it's the same for composers. They're just using another language to do it in, and in another voice. If you ever did try it, Miss Akamatsu...if you felt confident enough to share it, it would be an honor to hear it.
[oh, cracking eggs...!!!! something that she is not well-practiced in at all, and that'll come at the price of a few shell pieces she has to pick out with a small frown. she has to make sure they're all out... she'd hate to ruin helena's dish, much less her kindness in teaching her.]
... I never thought of it that way, even though I understand it now that you've said it. Pianists, and all musicians really, give life and voice to the compositions others write — each of us bring our own experiences to it too, and add them into the music we play. That's why there are so many unique performances depending on who's at the bench, because we all have a different view on the piece we're sharing.
[why piano competitions, like the one honoring frederic chopin himself, have such a variety of sounds despite the songs being the same among the number; it has always been something kaede liked, that she could add her own sound to classics.
...
if she thinks too long about it, though, she begins to wonder what she brings to their finished pieces.]
And... thank you, Adams-san. If I ever write a piece, you'll be the first... or the second to hear, depending.
[Kaede's words are so engrossing, Helena's hands simply still on the vanilla bottle, listening to her speak. different performances for different musicians...it makes sense, thinking about it in that respect. how someone plays music factoring into it...it's a concept she'd never thought about hard before. but then Kaede has to go say that, and she can't help but smile, laugh a little.]
I believe in you!
[she means it with all her heart. now the vanilla - it requires a measurement in an exact spoon, so it's easier if Kaede does it.]
[kaede mirrors her bright smile and thinks that maybe... she can look at books about it, at least; there won't be anything too high level, she's sure, and she really could do with a more professional hand to help, but looking at basic compositions and working something out might not be too hard.
but ah, yes, the vanilla-- she knows vanilla easily overpowers other flavors, so she takes care in doing exact measurements for it...]
But for now... what sort of things do you enjoy writing? Have you ever written a mystery novel? A dear friend of mine was a detective, and he loved stories like that!
[perfect, and once the vanilla is done, the next step is lemon rind, she remembers. a quarter teaspoon, grated - she can grate, if Kaede can tell her when to stop. it's a careful job, but as long as she's steady, there shouldn't be a problem.]
Not mysteries, no...I've been trying my hand at fiction, but what I like to write most of all is poetry.
[and that, she had been hard at work with. if she stopped trying to make her fiction read a specific way and just wrote, it was coming out better, if more poetical.]
Words...I love them, and how the right words help us communicate, and even to express things that we might not be able to know the shape of. You can know another's heart by their words - what they mean to say, what they haven't said. So I want to write poetry and express to others how wonderful life is, when they might not perceive it themselves. But also to go try and give form to sentiment that feels so big it wants to defy language - that's the challenge then, to a writer.
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no subject
she's quiet for a little longer than a bit of thought, but--]
No, cookies are fine. There's a lot you can do with them, and they're easy gifts. Cakes are a little more special.
[though it would be nice to welcome friends back with one... maybe later.]
no subject
[she smiles, and picks up one of the sticks of butter.]
Something that makes it much easier is mixing everything dry, and everything wetter, and then combining. We can start with the butter first.
[holding it out to Kaede, she touches the side of one of the bowls.]
Next, you put in the sugar, and they have to mix for a while - I usually count to a minute while I do it.
[measuring cup....half cup....and there's the sugar jar. they got this.]
no subject
I never knew they came from such a simple base... It's almost like a growing piece in that sense, like Grieg's In The Hall of the Mountain King. Every little bit counts towards a bigger sound!
no subject
This one, or this melody so to speak, ends up a rather simple piece altogether, but that doesn't make it any less enjoyable.
[her smile isn't fading.]
I've heard that you're quite a skilled musician, Miss Akamatsu, and I respect that work very much!
no subject
[there wasn't a thing for her in particular, just that she's skilled and it's something helena respects, so she stops short of humbling herself; she is just one of so, so many talented people who bring their own sound to things, after all.]
I've always loved playing piano, ever since I was small. Some of my first memories are with a metronome, as weird as that sounds.
[clack clack clack clack, a sound she keeps in mind as she mixes.]
But writing's just as amazing, if not moreso! I've always admired people who can create something from nothing -- I haven't tried my hand at composing anything, but it seems more difficult than just playing it. You and others are simply amazing.
no subject
[speaking of. she offers out an egg to Kaede, to crack into the bowl. oh, and they'll need the vanilla next - she knows that bottle by the shape of it, and the scent that lingers around it.]
I imagine it's the same for composers. They're just using another language to do it in, and in another voice. If you ever did try it, Miss Akamatsu...if you felt confident enough to share it, it would be an honor to hear it.
no subject
... I never thought of it that way, even though I understand it now that you've said it. Pianists, and all musicians really, give life and voice to the compositions others write — each of us bring our own experiences to it too, and add them into the music we play. That's why there are so many unique performances depending on who's at the bench, because we all have a different view on the piece we're sharing.
[why piano competitions, like the one honoring frederic chopin himself, have such a variety of sounds despite the songs being the same among the number; it has always been something kaede liked, that she could add her own sound to classics.
...
if she thinks too long about it, though, she begins to wonder what she brings to their finished pieces.]
And... thank you, Adams-san. If I ever write a piece, you'll be the first... or the second to hear, depending.
no subject
I believe in you!
[she means it with all her heart. now the vanilla - it requires a measurement in an exact spoon, so it's easier if Kaede does it.]
no subject
[kaede mirrors her bright smile and thinks that maybe... she can look at books about it, at least; there won't be anything too high level, she's sure, and she really could do with a more professional hand to help, but looking at basic compositions and working something out might not be too hard.
but ah, yes, the vanilla-- she knows vanilla easily overpowers other flavors, so she takes care in doing exact measurements for it...]
But for now... what sort of things do you enjoy writing? Have you ever written a mystery novel? A dear friend of mine was a detective, and he loved stories like that!
no subject
Not mysteries, no...I've been trying my hand at fiction, but what I like to write most of all is poetry.
[and that, she had been hard at work with. if she stopped trying to make her fiction read a specific way and just wrote, it was coming out better, if more poetical.]
Words...I love them, and how the right words help us communicate, and even to express things that we might not be able to know the shape of. You can know another's heart by their words - what they mean to say, what they haven't said. So I want to write poetry and express to others how wonderful life is, when they might not perceive it themselves. But also to go try and give form to sentiment that feels so big it wants to defy language - that's the challenge then, to a writer.