267th Reflection💬

“The Lord’s direction, how to catch one after another❓”

Don’t care about your benefits in your every move.

…….

07/02/2023 (Tue) 23:00 Band Room

I packed my stuff and got ready for the 1st audition in HKAPA tomorrow.

Another me said, “Everything is ready?”

I said, “Ready. Actually there is not much thing to bring along. HKAPA said the interview tomorrow is just a time for my self-introduction.”

Another me said, “Done then.”

The moment I tightened my bag pack strings, an idea flashed over my mind.

I loosened the strings and picked up the I-pad on the desk.

Another me said, “What are you doing?”

I said, “Air Drip your 4 pieces of compositions onto the I-pad, and put it into your bag.”

Another me said, “Mad. HKAPA says that it is the 2nd audition that your 4 compositions will be addressed. It’s just for your self-introduction tomorrow. You know it, don’t you?”

I said, “Yes, I do.”

Another me said, “You do? Why do you bring your I-pad along?”

I said, “A thought has just flashed across my mind.”

Another me said, “So what?”

I said, “It tells me to air drop the score onto the I-pad and bring it to the 1st audition.”

Another me said, “Mad. Put down your I-pad. I don’t want to carry with me the whole day an electronic product that I’m never going to use tomorrow.”

I said, “No.”

Another me said, “Why?”

I said, “What if it’s the Lord who gives me the thought?”

Another me said, “Evidence?”

I said, “No."

I put my I-pad into my bag.

Another me said, “Mad. You enjoy collecting trash. Pity, I'm going to be tired out."

…….

07/02/2023 (Wed) 16:00 A121, Electronic Music Room, Department of Composition and Electronic Music, Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts

I sat down, took out my I-pad, opened the score and placed it on my lap.

Another me said, “What the hell did you take it out for?”

I said, “Now that I’ve brought it here anyway, why not take it out? It may be of use in the 1st audition a while later.”

Another me said, “Can’t you hear? Your 4 pieces won’t be discussed until the 2nd audition. Mad, alas.”

…….

07/02/2023 (Wed) 16:15

The Department Head of Composition and Electronic Music opened the door.

Department Head said, “Yip Wai Hung.”

I said, “Yes, here.”

Department Head said, “Come in. It’s your turn.”

I said, “OK.”

Department Head said, “Do you know where you are now?”

I said, “A121, Electronic Music Room, Department of Composition and Electronic Music, Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts.”

Department Head said, “Right. What are you coming here for?”

I said, “1st Audition.”

Department Head said, “Right. Introduce yourself.”

I said, “Sure.”

I introduced my background, my music learning history and my desire to further studies in composition. When I was talking about my upcoming composition recital in Hong Kong International Institute of Music……

Department Head said, “The 4 pieces you handed in, is going to be performed in the recital?”

I said, “Yes.”

Department Head said, “When is it?”

I said, “November this year.”

Department Head said, “Have you got instrumentalists?”

I said, “Yes.”

Department Head said, “Have the practices started?”

I said, “3 times already.”

Department Head said, “Your 1st piece is called ‘Errer’, isn’t it?”

I said, “Yes, Errer.”

Department Head said, “What does it mean?”

I said, “Wandering around.”

Department Head said, “Show me the score.”

I said, “What? Are we having only a conversation? Getting to know each other?”

Department Head said, “Have you got with you the score?”

I said, “Yes.”

Department Head said, “Show me.”

I passed to the Department Head the I-pad on my lap. He read through the first few lines pages.

Department Head said, “Bpm = 144. Really fast. Can your instrumentalists catch up?”

I said, “Not really, not until the 1st practice did I find it out.”

Department Head said, “Any other findings during your practice?”

I said, “Bar 10. The original figure was an ascending form in semi-quavers, too challenging for the oboe. I rewrote it into an ascending chromatic scale. Then, it’s fine.”

Department Head said, “OK.”

Department Head moved to another topic.

…….

I left room A121.

Another me said, “Didn’t they say it’s no more than a time to know each other?”

I said, “Yes, they did.”

Another me said, “So why on earth did he ask you for the score all of a sudden?”

I said, “Ad-hoc Arrangement.”

Another me said, “Terrible, who knows? The Spirit?”

I said, “Not sure about the Spirit, but no doubt the Lord does. Very little doubt about one more thing either.”

Another me said, “What’s that?”

I said, “You don’t want the Lord’s directions.”

Another me said, “No, don’t make up any story about me. You just don’t know, how much I desire His directions in my every step. If I get His directions, everything will go smooth.”

I said, “You want to know? Why did you stop me from air dropping and bringing my I-pad along even after I’d told you about the thought that came to my mind.

Another me said, “How could you have questioned me like that? You haven’t got enough evidence at all that could prove the thought came from the Lord, have you?”

I said, “No.”

Another me said, “You trust so much, even with no evidence, that you air dropped and brought along your I-pad?”

I said, “Mad! For those as certain as supported with enough evidence, is your trust needed?”

Another me said, “If today’s result was, as expected, the Department Head hadn’t asked for your score, your effort in bringing along your I-pad would have been in vain.”

I said, “How calculating! You’re reluctant to make even a tiny piece of sacrifice. How much does it matter if I have my efforts all in vain? I’d rather have my efforts all in vain than miss any half of the directions that the Lord shows me.”