"It's over, with the Erhu ranked so low now, if Ting Yu chooses it, he might not even make the top ten."
"Not necessarily, didn't you hear him say he knows a little?"
"No matter how good he is, can he be as good as Teacher Zhou Ningbin? Even if his popularity is high, the Erhu's ranking is so low!"
"I still think choosing the Guqin is safer."
"Do you really think the Guqin and Erhu are things you can just pick up and play? You can choose whatever you want. Ting Yu was just unlucky not to get the Suona, otherwise, those foreigners wouldn't be so smug."
The comments debated.
On stage, Su Yu had already sat down with the Erhu.
This was probably his first time performing a solo with a traditional Chinese instrument. After all, the Suona last time was as accompaniment for the song "Xi" and didn't count as a solo.
"What should I play?"
After thinking for a moment, Su Yu's eyes lit up.
The Erhu's ranking was very low now. If he wanted to improve its ranking, he had to make the audience fully appreciate the Erhu's prowess.
This instrument was quite distinctive, giving the public an impression of beauty, resonance, and lingering emotion.
But Su Yu was going to do something different this time.
"System, customize the sheet music for 'Er Quan Ying Yue' and 'Sai Ma' for me!"
First make them cry, then make them laugh!
After customization, the system directly implanted the sheet music into Su Yu's memory.
Although "Er Quan Ying Yue" was not difficult, it required considerable skill to bring people to tears.
Su Yu had directly commissioned the system for a master-level Erhu skill, allowing him to perfectly execute all the techniques.
On stage, Su Yu sat on the stool, placed the Erhu on his lap, and slowly drew the bow with his right hand. The sound of the Erhu suddenly erupted!
The discussions in the venue instantly ceased.
Because the sound, from strong to weak, instantly conveyed a sense of desolation.
After capturing everyone's attention,
Su Yu narrowed his eyes, still gently and slowly playing the Erhu.
Melancholy.
Gentle beauty.
Sorrow.
All sorts of negative emotions surged in with the sound of the Erhu.
In Su Yu's previous life, "Er Quan Ying Yue" was a timeless masterpiece in music history, enduring through the ages. Besides its beautiful and melodious tune, it also contained Taoist philosophy.
It not only depicted scenery but also expressed emotions. The original composer, Ah Bing, while portraying the beauty of his hometown, also infused the work with his reflections on life's experiences and the ups and downs of fate.
With the system's help, Su Yu perfectly mastered the emotional flow of the piece, imagining himself as someone who wandered the martial world, making a living by playing the Erhu. The sorrow and desolation resonated with the entire audience.
"This is what you called knowing a little?" Zhou Ningbin's eye twitched involuntarily.
He had never heard this piece before, but having played the Erhu for most of his life, he instantly fell in love with it.
Moreover, Su Yu's skill and emotional expression in intonation had reached the pinnacle of mastery.
Zhou Ningbin almost cursed when he recalled Su Yu's earlier comment of "knowing a little."
If this is knowing a little, what am I?
As for Liu Qingxue, she was completely stunned, her eyes wide open, her mouth agape!
"Holy crap, you can play the Erhu like that?"
"I'm shattered, it's too sad. The moment this piece started, it felt like my mood after the college entrance exams."
"Can you believe we were laughing and joking with friends just now, and after this piece started, everyone became depressed!"
"Ting Yu actually knows the Erhu! And he's this good!"
Everyone had been worried that Ting Yu wouldn't be good at the Erhu, but reality slapped them hard.
Ting Yu wasn't just good; he was incredibly awesome!
In the second part, the mood of the piece began to change.
The notes became hesitant, as if foretelling pain.
Then, a sudden, rapid strum!
A prickling sensation rose from the depths of their hearts!
Following this, the entire piece, with its shifts and turns, progressed with alternating moments of rapidity and gentleness.
The smiles on the audience's faces had vanished.
Even the internationally renowned master musicians looked at the young man playing the Erhu on stage with solemn expressions.
They felt as if they weren't looking at a young man, but at an aged elder slowly recounting his sorrowful life.
Finally.
As some people's eyes welled up, wanting to sob aloud,
The piece "Er Quan Ying Yue" slowly concluded!
"It's finally over!"
"Oh my god, this instrument is too amazing! Why did it give me goosebumps all over?"
"When the Erhu master performed earlier, it was just an accompaniment, so I didn't fully grasp the instrument's characteristics. Now I finally understand. I almost couldn't hold back my tears!"
"I remembered when I couldn't find a job and was wandering outside, it was so difficult!"
Many audience members let out a sigh of relief.
However, just as everyone thought Ting Yu's performance was over and intended to applaud,
He did not stand up. Instead, he took a deep breath and placed the Erhu bow back on the strings.
Then, a melody that shocked everyone instantly swept through the venue!
The Erhu piece "Sai Ma" was a complete polar opposite to "Er Quan Ying Yue"!
One was ecstatic, the other deeply mournful!
It perfectly showcased the versatility of the Erhu!
As Su Yu's tempo gradually quickened, many in the audience began to get into the groove!
They even started to tap their feet to the Erhu music!
This piece was not inherently difficult, but to perform it smoothly and crisply required considerable effort.
Furthermore, this piece possessed a distinct Mongolian style, with a powerful rhythm, much like horse racing, exuding a sense of tension within its joyfulness.
"What the hell! What kind of monstrous instrument is this!" Shawn couldn't sit still and blurted out an expletive!
He had heard of the Erhu, but he had never heard a piece like this!
Just moments ago, he was feeling depressed, and now he was flying with joy!
"A broken heart from one song, where to find a soulmate across the world!"
"So the Erhu can be played like this..." Master Erhu player Zhou Ningbin stood up directly!
His voice held excitement, realization, and a hint of wistful loss.
This Ting Yu was truly a prodigy. With his two contrasting pieces, he perfectly presented the characteristics of the Erhu. Moreover, with the contrast, he effortlessly controlled the audience's emotions, building them up and then letting them down. He first made them depressed, then made them incredibly jubilant!
And all he used was the Erhu in his hands!
"Holy crap, is there anything he can't do?"
"Unbelievable, too unbelievable! After this last piece, my mood instantly improved!"
"I want to say, Erhu is the best in the world!"
"Ting Yu is awesome, Erhu is the best in the world!!"
At this moment, the Chinese audience erupted!
Ting Yu's new performance was an unexpected surprise for them!
Everyone had assumed he would just play around, but after "Er Quan Ying Yue," everyone was astonished. Yet, it wasn't over. The emotional reversal in the final piece, "Sai Ma," made Ting Yu's fans admire him immensely!
...