Peace.


After a hard day's work, a week away from home... the reunion is a very happy one. And a quiet one.


There is no composer who writes music more beautifully than Rachmaninov. Beautiful as in the common understanding of it; other composers exceed Rachmaninov in other areas, but I find it is the beautiful sounds of Rachmaninov that I miss most in camp. Especially the third piano concerto. A very inaccurate word that comes to mind in description of this piece is "fairytale".


The word raises a reminder of Disney's Fantasia 2000 with Shostakovich's 2nd piano concerto and the Steadfast Tin Soldier tale, but after marching around camp for weeks one can't be blamed for shunning marches and movements with a regular-and-highly-emphasised beat.


And to hear to the sure-footed tone of a cello again... powerful and grand, concentrated and intense, or quiet and humble, like a grandfather who has seen much and known much, but yet is gracious enough to let the younger ones take the stage while he remains in the background, never faltering, ever present, reassuring them and supporting them; and he is respected and deferred to by everyone. And when he speaks, he does not have to raise his voice to be heard; everyone listens to him.


But he is not timid. He is not scared to show himself. Cello music does not aspire towards the center of attraction, but supports and adds depth and power to everyone else, and when the solo comes, it soars without fear.


There is too much I cannot say; only those who understand the music will know. And yet, there are many ways of understanding the music. And they will know different things.


I will know, and be content tonight. Further inquisition will come tomorrow.