Not A Soloist
Dragonsfall Weyr
Amber Hills Hold
Vintner Hall
Healer Hall
Hidden Meadows
Dolphin Cove Weyr
Dolphin Hall
Emerald Falls Hold
Harper Hall
Printer Hall
Green Valley Hold
Leeward Lagoon Hold
Barrier Lake Weyr
Sunstone Seahold
Citrus Bay Hold
Writers: Cali, Paula
Date Posted: 25th September 2006
Characters: Eilomar, F'gol
Description: Figol hopes for one of the Turn's Beginning ensemble groups.
Location: Harper Hall
Date: month 13, day 9 of Turn 3
Notes: Lyrics by Todd McCaffrey
"Apprentice Figol!" Master Eilomar slapped his wand against the table
top with a loud crack-voice. "Please stop woolgathering and pay
attention!"
"Sorry Master." Figol replied, genuinely apologetic. While singing wasn't his favorite subject, he'd never be a soloist, he was trying to improve enough to get into a ensemble group for the Turn's beginning celebrations.
The fat singer glared at him. "Give me the last verse again!" he
commanded.
He nodded, remembering to straighten his posture and to take a proper breath before beginning.
"Fire-lizard dance on wing,
To the raucous song I sing.
Fire-lizard wheel and turn,
Show me how the dragons learn."
"At least you remembered the words," Eilomar remarked sarcastically.
"But the rest leaves alot to hope for."
Figol furrowed his brow, he thought he had done everything right, and it had _sounded_ right to him. What was he missing? Or did the Master Singer just not want him to succeed?
"Use the whole of your lung capacity. That will never reach to the back row if you're singing for the audience. And gather audiences are
rowdy," Eilomar continued.
Personally, Figol didn't think he could sing any louder without sacrificing the quality of his tone. Wasn't that why it was an ensemble, so more voices could make it louder? Taking in air until he felt like his lungs would burst, he tried the verse again. When he was done he decided that it was louder, and he just hoped that Eilomar hadn't noticed that slight furry sound that popped up twice.
"No! No! NO! Don't bellow. Use your stomach muscles to aid the
breathing, that way you can have strength without destroying the quality. Watch and learn," Eilomar winced and told. He took a deep breath thru his nose, and sang the verse. His bass voice was still mighty one, rolling out from depths of his bowels. His large belly heaved up and down with the voice. There was no furriness or other fault his singing. But when he finished, he was out of breath.
Figol watched... but he didn't learn. If anything he just re-affirmed his belief that he didn't like Eilomar, and he thanked the egg that he wasn't at the Hall for his voice.
"Well, did you notice how I used my abdominal muscles to aid my midriff?" Eilomar asked.
"Yes." he lied, hoping it was what the singer wanted to hear.
"Try again then," Eilomar couldn't keep the irritation out from his
voice.
Since Figol hadn't learned anything new, he had two choices; he could try and sing as loudly as possible again or he could sing correctly but not as loud as the Master wanted. Deciding that he'd rather sing properly, even if he didn't get in the ensemble, he started again.
"Fire-lizard dance on wing,
To the raucous song I sing.
Fire-lizard wheel and turn,
Show me how the dragons learn."
Eilomar sighed theatrically. "Why am I wasting my time with
mediocrity?" he asked rhetorically. "You're not going to sing solo-parts," the
master snorted.
Figol held his tongue. He'd had enough smacks to learn to not talk back or out of turn to the masters. His words hurt, but he tried to tell himself that it didn't really matter. He wasn't at the Hall to be a soloist for voice, he was a guitarist first and foremost, and he was _very_ good at that.
Eilomar moved onward to torture the next apprentice.
Last updated on the September 26th 2006