addicted-to-talent

[addicted-to-talent]

Recently I have a Russian-German pen pal named Tanja. We know each other through Tumblr and we get along really well until we decided to send letters and gifts to each other. I've never had this kind of friendship before so it really made my day today 💙🌸 #blessed (at Bremen, Germany)

[addicted-to-talent]

why cellos arent in marching band

[addicted-to-talent]

"Do your drafts first, do something short later."

✿ —- I’d say ‘who wants to do something short,’ but all of my drafts right now are short, so. Maybe I should just do my drafts?

[addicted-to-talent]

Lately I, I've been heading for a breakdown Every time I leave my house Well, it feels just like a shake down Between the street sweepers and the pushers, are the lawyers Who may as well be butchers Between the small timing hustlers who all seem to feed upon each other Oh God why you been Hanging out in that old violin While I've been waiting for you, to pull me through Lately I, every time I try to lie down Oh, my mind just gets away I can't even close my eyes now Between the big fish and ambition, and the lovers Using words as ammunition Between the warped planks I've been pacing endless Impossible dream that I've been chasing

[addicted-to-talent]

The Audition

Marlianne arrives at The Maze Bank Arena. She picks up her cello and enters the building. She sees a suited man in the corner holding a music book, and then she comes to him, “Uh...I’m Marlianne Greathson. Devin Weston told me to come here.”

“Ms. Greathson. Follow me, please.” He says and she follows him. Marlianne thinks that she’s going to be auditioned first before she’ll perform tomorrow. And it’s right. There’s an audition room. She enters it and sees there is a composer by the name of Justin Clark. “Marlianne Greathson?” The composer asks. Marlianne answers, “I am. Weston told me to come here.” The composer replies, “Ah. He said that you’re good. Now, come on, prove it before we can see you bright your lights tomorrow.”

There is a chair that was written “For the Cellist”. Marlianne thinks that’s for her, so she sits there. She picks up her cello and use a little time for thinking what a song that she will play. Usually, for the audition time, she plays orchestral-sounded song. There’s this one song that Marlianne often use, she used to called it “The Extraction”. And now, Marlianne decided to play The Extraction for the composer. The song has no lyric though – just the music. The song was originally played by piano and drums – not a cello, so it would be like a cover version. And while playing a song, usually Marlianne gives a thought about something :

So, this is me. Marley – a girl with a musical instruments on her head, that’s what they called me. Finally I’m back to the music recitals. I’ve never gave a thought about it. Not because I don’t want it, but because I don’t improve my skills at this time. All I’ve ever did was coming to the same house everyday, playing the same songs, seeing some usual faces, which was boring but awesome. Morgan usually come to my recitals and even involved himself and his guitar, but it looks like The FIB had ‘took’ him away. But, hey, at least he’s still alive. He’s the only family that I have right now. My friends....I just let them to be wild and free while I’m sitting here and doing nothing.

The song takes about 5 minutes. Clark is standing up and come close to Marlianne, “That was great, Ms. Greathson. Really. You played The Extraction perfectly. I mean, I’ve never heard the cello version of it. And when you played that for me, you made me up. You’ll be our cellist for tomorrow.” And he shares his smile to Marlianne. Then Marlianne said, “Thank you. That was my favorite song though.”

Clark gives a thick book to Marlianne says, “That’s the songs that we’ll play tomorrow. You will play 4 songs, including the end song. Tomorrow will be orchestral and many people will come, so I hope you can show your best, Ms. Greathson. Have fun practicing it at home.” And Marlianne replies, “Thanks, Mr. Clark.” Then she picks up her cello and leaves the audition room.

In the outside, Marlianne sees there is Morgan standing up in front of her car and he says :

Morgan : “You’re back to the music recitals, huh? Why don’t you invite me, sister?”

Marlianne : “I thought you were busy with your job.”

Morgan : “Come on. Even though I’m serving this country every day, so it means I’m not allowed to attend recitals?”

Marlianne : “Not like that. I mean, it’s my job. You’ll spend most of your time on serving our country, and I’ll spend most of my time on recitals and studios.”

Morgan : “I know about that, sister. I just don’t get it. Who invited you to do this? Yourself or a call?”

Marlianne : “Devin ordered me.”

Morgan : “Aargh...You know, everytime you says ‘Devin’, I always gave a thought that he has hypnotized your brain. You’re almost belong to him, according to me.”

Marlianne : “Is that wrong to you?”

Morgan : “No. It’s not wrong. Totally not. I just thought that you should work with some people, not just him.”

Marlianne : “Morgan, I’m always trying to find out who is that people, and this is what I got.”

Morgan : “Except FIB would like to employ some musicians or literature writers, I’ll put you in there ASAP.”

Marlianne : “Come on....you’re dreaming.”

Morgan : “I’m just saying. Let’s go home. I’m driving.”

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Finally - Music Recitals

Marlianne is at home right now. She took a little nap and made a tea for herself – just for relaxation (that’s one of her daily activities). She picked up her phone and trying to call Dave after Morgan gave his phone number to her :

Dave : “Special Agent Norton.”

Marlianne : “Umm...Hello, Agent Norton. I’m Marlianne. Agent Greathson’s sister. Do you still remember me?”

Dave : “Mar... Ah. Marlianne. Haven’t talk to you in ages. How are you?”

Marlianne : “I’m fine. Thanks for asking. How’s your work?”

Dave : “Just as usual. How’s your brother?”

Marlianne : “Morgan is good too. At this time. Listen, can I ask for your help?”

Dave : “Of course. Just tell me.”

Marlianne : “Well, next week is our birthday and I still don’t have a present for him. He told me that he wants to meet that Legato-Host –“

Dave : “Legato-Host?”

Marlianne : “Sorry. That’s a nickname we created for Steve Haines.”

Dave : “Steve? He wants to meet Steve?”

Marlianne : “Yeah, that’s right. Can you tell Agent Haines that we would like to meet him next week?”

Dave : “Sure. I will tell him for you.”

Marlianne : “Oh. Thanks, Agent Norton.”

Dave : “No problem. I love helping you and your brother.”

Marlianne : “Haha. See you later.”

Marlianne hung up the phone and back to her relaxation. She’s happy that she finally has a present to her beloved brother. She drank her tea and took a deep breath for a while. Until her phone rings but before she took the phone, she saw the name of the caller : Devin Weston.

Marlianne : “Hello.”

Devin : “Marlianne Greathson. Glad to hear your voice. How are you?”

Marlianne : “I’m fine.”

Devin : “Hey, Listen, do you have a free schedule tomorrow?”

Marlianne : “Well, I have some spare time at night. Why?”

Devin : “I wanna invite you to a music recital in the Maze Bank Arena tomorrow night. They’re looking for a great cellist. So I thought I might choose you as their cellist.”

Marlianne : “How do you know I can play cello?”

Devin : “You’ve told me! Come on, it would be a great chance for you. I will come there tomorrow for you.”

Marlianne : “Uhh...I think I can made it.”

Devin : “Great. Come to the Maze Bank Arena right now and meet the composer. I’ll tell them that I’d invited you.”

Marlianne : “Yeah. Yeah. I’ll go there.”

Devin : “Show your best tomorrow.”

Marlianne never thought that she will attend music recitals again. She’s not attending music recitals that much since she met Devin. Sometimes Marlianne gave a thought that she should say “thank you so much” to Devin, but she’s too lazy to do it. Marlianne remembered when she met Devin for the first time :

It was 2011. Marlianne was there not as a violinist or a cellist, but as a pianist. Morgan was there too – as a guitarist. The theme of the recital was not orchestral – but slow-motion and a little bit indie-rock. They played 17 songs on that day. When the last song was ended, the whole people gave them an applause. Morgan received some flowers from the girls (Don’t know why Morgan is so charming in front of girls) and Marlianne was just smiling brightly to the people. Almost on the way to home, two men came to her and said, “Devin Weston wants to meet you.” Marlianne was just accept it and go with those met.

For the first time, Marlianne thought Devin was a composer or a music critics – but it’s not. He’s a businessman though. Devin said that he was really impressed on her musical skills and would like to hire her as “his personal musician”. Marlianne refused it at first, but Devin said that he will pay her well, and it looks like Marlianne doesn’t have a chance. She accepted it. Since that, Marlianne come to Devin’s house every week to play a music for him or sing a song for him or maybe, play a violin for his yoga songs (He’s a yogi) until now.

Marlianne stood up and took her tea glass into a dishwasher. She changed her clothes and then walked into her music room and picked up her cello. She goes outside and put her cello in the passenger’s seat and drive her White Feltzer to the Maze Bank Arena.

[addicted-to-talent]

Grand Theft Auto V

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The Brother and The Sister

Marlianne was just sitting in the chair waiting for her brother, Morgan. He texted her that he will come to the FIB Plaza after he finish his job in the FIB. It's already 15 minutes and Morgan still doesn't come. Marlianne decided to pick up her violin from her bag that she brought everywhere she goes, and started playing some slow songs. No one was here. No one will hear me playing violin, she thinks. She didn't need a music book because she's already remembered it and she plays it numerous times. Three songs was played, until Morgan comes.

"Hi, sister." Morgan said and then sit in the front side of her.

"Hi, Morgan." She said while she put her violin back into the bag.

Morgan : "You always bring your violin everywhere. Even in here."

Marlianne : "What's so wrong? I love my violin."

Morgan : "Way too much. You even can use your violin as your pillow."

Marlianne : "Whatever you say, I love my violin."

Morgan : "Okay...I'll stop it. So, how's your day with Weston, sis?"

Marlianne : "Same as usual. He still loves that yoga song. How about you?"

Morgan : "It's great. Being an agent is fun, y'know."

Marlianne : "I'm glad to hear that. Because I'm getting tired playing the same songs every day for Devin."

Morgan : "Then you should write a new one for him."

Marlianne : "I'm making on it. Starts from E-minor."

Morgan : "Mmmm..I would like to playing it with my guitar."

Marlianne : "I thought you have no guitar."

Morgan : "I'll buy a new one next week. As my birthday gift to me."

Marlianne : "Wow. I should buy something for myself." 

Morgan : "You don't need to buy a cello, Marley. Me and Dave already bought it for you."

Marlianne : "Dave?"

Morgan : "Yap. Agent Norton. He's here...with our Legato-Host!!"

Marlianne : Hahaha... Steve Haines. Did you already met him?"

Morgan : "No.."

Marlianne : "Don't be sad. You'll meet him. On your birthday. I promise."

Morgan : "Really?"

Marlianne : "Yeah. As my birthday gift to you."

Morgan : "Best sister ever. It's you, Marley."

Marlianne then hugs Morgan tightly. They are twins though - so that's why they're so close to each other. Morgan leaves as he have to back to his job, and Marlianne picked up her violin and then drives her car on the way to home.

[addicted-to-talent]

Waltz of the Flowers, Piotr Ilitch Tchaikovsky

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Jacqueline du Pré (1945-1987)

Du Pré was a British cellist who was raised in a musical family. At the age of four she demanded what the instrument playing in a radio concert was, and after being told it was a cello, demanded to be given such an instrument. 

After an entire childhood of training she debuted at the age of sixteen and soon played with the BBC Symphony Orchestra and at the Proms (annual British music festival). At the age of twenty she recorded her first record. The music chosen was the Elgar Cello Concerto (Op. 85, first performed in 1919) and not only did her performance go on to lift the work from relative obscurity, but this went on to become du Pré’s signature music. 

Her successful career continued internationally and she met fellow musician Daniel Barenboim, for whom she converted to Judaism and married in 1967. The couple had four children together. Sadly in 1973, when she was only 28 years old, she was diagnosed with MS (multiple sclerosis), which meant she soon had to stop playing. Thus her career ended prematurely and the disease would eventually take her life at only 42 years of age.