He Opened A Matchmaking Agency In 18Th Century London [EN]: Chapter 152

152. Meeting with Bach

Theo entered the house and asked the maid,

“Where is Mr. Bach?”

“He’s in his studio.”

“Then, carry on with your work. We can go directly.”

“Yes, Lord Sanderson.”

Theo and Patrick headed to the studio together.

Arriving at the studio on the second floor, they found the door wide open, and a middle-aged gentleman was visible through the doorway.

The man sitting at the desk, focused on the sheet music, was Johann Christian Bach.

He was the youngest son of Johann Sebastian Bach, the ‘Father of Music’ who composed the Aria on the G string, and a musician who was born in Germany, passed through Milan, and settled in London.

In fact, Theo hadn’t known much about it when he was in the modern era, but ‘The London Bach’ was a more influential person than he thought.

He not only gained fame as the best opera composer of his time but also taught the famous Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, greatly influencing his early works.

According to one account, the ‘Bach’ praised by Beethoven as a great musician actually referred to the current ‘Johann Christian Bach’ in London, not his father ‘Johann Sebastian Bach’.

Theo became acquainted with Bach while traveling between the royal family and aristocratic households for treatment.

Although he was much older than Theo, they quickly became close after a chance meeting at Windsor Castle and became close enough to exchange jokes.

Theo’s psychological treatment played a big role in this.

Bach, who was then serving as a music teacher for Queen Charlotte and aristocratic children, was under a lot of stress from teaching those who had no talent or skill.

In addition, as he got older, his composing skills became worse than before, his reputation declined, and his popularity waned.

Johann Christian Bach was going through difficult days financially and mentally.

It was Theo who he met during this time.

Bach had several experiences where his mind was healed just by confiding in Theo, and he was able to concentrate on creative activities with a much better spirit by learning how to manage stress and emotional wounds.

Knock, knock.

“Mr. Bach? Isn’t today your day off?”

Bach, who was absorbed in his sheet music work, looked up with a surprised face.

“Oh? Lord Sanderson! When did you arrive? Haha.”

Bach ran over and held Theo’s hand tightly, delighted.

Then, he asked about his well-being for a long time.

However, he coughed and gasped for breath from time to time, and his health did not look good.

Theo asked worriedly.

“But, teacher? You don’t look well. Are you feeling unwell?”

“I think it’s because I haven’t seen Lord Sanderson often these days, so I don’t have peace of mind. Hahaha.”

“Yes, yes. I’ve been neglecting you because I’ve been busy. I’ll visit you often from now on, haha.”

Only then did Bach, who discovered Patrick Bogart standing behind him, ask Theo.

“But, who is this young man…?”

Theo called Patrick and introduced him.

“Hello? My name is Patrick Bogart.”

At that moment, Bach’s eyes widened slightly. He seemed interested in the unique timbre [the characteristic sound or tone of a voice or instrument].

But he quickly returned to his original expression.

“And what brings this young friend here?”

“I was wondering if you would have time to give Bogart some music lessons. He needs to sing an opera aria [a solo song in an opera] in about a month. I know you’re very busy, but I’m imposing on you.”

“…”

Bach’s expression wasn’t very bright.

It wasn’t the first time that talentless aristocrats had come to him and asked him to improve their skills.

Bach was so sick and tired of such requests that he was fed up with them.

Theo also knew Bach’s feelings well through their counseling sessions.

But there was no other way. If he wanted to improve Patrick’s singing skills in a short period, there was no better teacher than Bach.

“It’s not just anyone, it’s the first thing Lord Sanderson has asked me to do, so I want to grant it, but…”

“Are you very busy?”

“Well… I’m preparing for an opera after a long time. I have a lot of headaches these days because of that.”

“Ah, I see.”

Bach was busy preparing for a new opera performance these days.

Moreover, this opera had a very special meaning for him.

It was an opera dedicated to his father, Johann Sebastian Bach.

His father, ‘Johann Sebastian Bach’, composed excellent songs in many fields, but he did not write a single opera during his lifetime.

This was the opposite of Handel, who was born in Germany in the same year.

Handel gained great fame throughout Europe thanks to his innate talent for composing popular opera songs that resonated with the public.

On the other hand, Bach, who was a devout Protestant, was not very interested in popular opera songs.

Instead, he made it his mission to compose church music with a heart devoted to God, and devoted himself to composing, private instruction, and conducting day and night.

In the distant future, ‘Johann Sebastian Bach’ would be called the ‘Father of Music’ and would surpass Handel’s popularity by far, gaining a reputation comparable to Mozart and Tchaikovsky.

However, at this time, he was an artist who was not well known among the public because he did not have popular opera performance songs.

His son Bach felt sorry for his father’s life, so he stayed up all night composing for several months and eventually completed the best opera song of his life for his father.

However, a problem occurred with the completed song.

It turned out that there were many parts that required continuous high-pitched singing, making it a very difficult work.

In particular, unlike traditional operas, a male tenor, not a female soprano, had to lead the song, but there was no male singer who could properly perform the aria of this song.

There were technical difficulties in performing extremely high notes with a true voice, and it was not easy to maintain the correct pronunciation and tone when singing high notes, and it was almost impossible for a male tenor to put emotions into it.

He tried calling several talented tenors and castratos [male singers castrated before puberty to preserve their high vocal range], but their pronunciation was distorted in the high range, falling far short of Bach’s expectations.

That said, a female soprano could not lead the play due to the content of the opera.

Eventually, Bach decided to revise the song as a whole and was scheduled to begin the revision work in earnest from today.

However, he felt sorry for refusing Lord Sanderson’s request outright.

It was because Theo was the one who gave him strength and helped him when he was having a hard time, even though he was busy with his own affairs.

‘First, I’ll listen to him a little, and then, depending on the situation, I’ll refuse him on the pretext of the opera performance.’

Bach asked Patrick.

“Do you usually sing? Have you ever had any lessons?”

Patrick replied in a timid voice.

“I know one song, but… I don’t know the exact notes or the lyrics… I don’t really remember. I’m really sorry.”

“Hmm, then an accompaniment would be meaningless…”

Bach, who was contemplating in front of the piano for a while, slowly got up and approached Patrick.

“Try it once.”

“…Yes?”

“Just sing without accompaniment. It doesn’t matter if you get the lyrics wrong. I can tell what parts need to be supplemented just by listening roughly, so just sing with your bare voice as you please.”

“…”

Patrick, with a flustered expression, looked at Theo.

Theo nodded as if to tell him to hurry up and do it.

Patrick, at a loss, closed his eyes as if he had no choice and began to sing, trying to recall as much as possible.

“Che fa – ro ~ senza- Eu – ri – di – ce ~”

The song Patrick sang was a part of Act III of Gluck’s *Orfeo ed Euridice*. [A famous opera based on the Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice.]

This piece was based on a Greek myth about Orpheus’s attempt to save his wife Eurydice from the world of the dead. It premiered in 1762 and gained immense popularity.

‘…….’

Theo, who had been listening intently to the first verse with great anticipation, let out a soft sigh.

“Hah-”

It was even worse than he had imagined.

Even to Theo, who didn’t know much about music, the pitch and rhythm were unstable, and there were many off-key notes.

Moreover, perhaps due to nervousness, his unique, beautiful tone was buried in a trembling voice, losing its charm.

‘So, he just has a good voice… And he lacks confidence, making it sound even more awkward. It doesn’t seem like a month of lessons will fix this, as Mr. Bach said?’

Theo wondered if he had placed too much hope on his unique voice.

“D-ove an-dro~ senza – il mil ben~”

‘No matter how I look at it, this isn’t something that can be quickly improved with teaching. If Sir Smith really sings the aria with great skill at the birthday party, the opportunity will be completely lost.

Besides, if he competes with such poor skills, he’ll only be compared more unfavorably and lose Olivia’s heart. I need to find another way as soon as possible.’

Patrick Bogart, straining his voice that wasn’t coming out well, was now pitiful.

Moreover, his hesitant appearance, as he couldn’t remember the lyrics in between, made him look even more foolish and pathetic.

‘What is love that he’s doing such a pointless thing with an out-of-tune person?’

Patrick’s song stopped in the middle because he couldn’t remember the lyrics.

Bach glared at Patrick with a dumbfounded look.

Theo quickly made excuses with an embarrassed face.

“Sir! Patrick said he has never sung before. Moreover, his family doesn’t really like music…”

However, before Theo could finish speaking, Bach hurriedly ran to the piano and sat down.

‘?’

Then, he started doing something incomprehensible.

“Patrick! The very first part you sang! Sing it again following the notes I play! Here-”

“Yes?”

「♪♩~ ♫ ♬♪♪~」

When Patrick looked puzzled at the piano accompaniment, Bach shouted.

“What are you doing! I’m telling you to sing the first part again, matching the accompaniment!”

“…Yes? Ah, yes.”

「♪♩~ ♫ ♬♪♪~」

“Che fa – ro ~ senza- Eu – ri – di – ce ~”

As Patrick sang again as instructed, Bach scolded.

“No! That’s not it! You need to listen to the piano sound! The note has changed! How can you sing it the same way? Sing it higher than before! Listen to the piano note!”

「♪♩~ ♫ ♬♪♪~」

Patrick listened quietly and then started singing.

“Che fa – ro ~ senza- Eu – ri – di – ce ~”

“That’s it! That’s exactly it!”

Bach nodded greatly with a bright smile.

For a moment, Theo doubted his ears.

Unlike before, he was catching the pitch quite accurately and following the piano sound.

Bach shouted, excitedly pounding on the keyboard.

“Again! We’re going again exactly the same way! Listen to the notes!”

It was the same part, but the note was several steps higher than before.

「♪♩~ ♫ ♬♪♪~」

“Okay- did you hear that? This time, it goes up two more octaves! Concentrate and sing! Focus! Follow the accompaniment, one, two, three~”

「♪♩~ ♫ ♬♪♪~」

“Che fa – ro ~ senza- Eu – ri – di – ce ~”

“That’s it! That’s it! You’re finding the notes well!”

Theo’s mouth dropped open without him realizing it.

Even though it was a much higher octave, Patrick’s clear and high note flowed out very easily and smoothly.

It was a note that would be burdensome to just listen to, but Patrick was handling it easily, as if breathing.

No, it seemed much more stable and comfortable than the lower notes.

「♪♩~ ♫ ♬♪♪~」

“Che fa – ro ~ senza- Eu – ri – di – ce ~”

Bach closed his eyes tightly and shook his head to Patrick’s song, pounding on the piano keys.

It was the first time Theo had seen such an enthusiastic and vibrant artist in Bach, who was always drooping.

This time, Bach raised the note several steps higher.

「♪♩~ ♫ ♬♪♪~」

“Did you hear that? Match this sound. Let’s try it! I think it’s possible enough. This time, we’re raising it all at once. More than before, more! Let’s raise it. You hear this note, right? Push it straight up! Push it up! Straight up!”

「♪♩~ ♫ ♬♪♪~」

“Che fa – ro ~ senza- Eu – ri – di – ce ~”

“Bravo! Bravo! Hahaha-.”

A cry of joy erupted from Bach’s mouth, and Theo also unknowingly let out a loud exclamation.

“Wow-!”

Although he didn’t know much about music, it was definitely several steps higher than a female soprano’s voice.

It was a sound that was raised smoothly with strength in the stomach, but an unimaginable high note resonated clearly and cleanly from his mouth.

Moreover, even after making such a high note, it still sounded comfortable enough to feel relaxed.

Theo quickly examined Bach’s reaction.

Bach was deeply absorbed in the sound, stretching his neck long and swaying his whole body back and forth to the high note, like a person in a trance.

*

After the simple test, the three of them gathered to drink tea.

Bach, who had heard the detailed circumstances of why Patrick had come today, asked back.

“So, the reason you want to learn the aria for a month is to score well at Marquis Arthur Perry’s birthday party and win the heart of his daughter?”

Patrick blushed at the direct question and answered.

“It’s embarrassing, but yes. If you help me, I will never forget this favor.”

Bach, who was smiling at his answer, now looked at Theo and opened his mouth.

“When you look at it, Sir Sanderson always seems to be a great help to me when I need it most.”

“Yes? What do you mean…?”

“Actually, today I was going to drastically revise the opera piece I had painstakingly created for my father. I really liked the piece, but there was no one in the world who could sing it.”

“······.”

“Perhaps he wanted my opera piece to reach my father in heaven, so I created an excessively high tenor piece. As a result, it became a piece that was not easy to sing even for any *castrato*. [A male singer castrated in boyhood to retain a soprano or alto voice.]

But the moment I changed the notes of the piece, the emotions I had originally planned did not come out. So, I couldn’t let go of my attachment and looked for many singers, but I even heard that it was not a piece suitable for humans to sing, and eventually gave up.

So, I was going to drastically revise the piece starting today.”

“…Yes.”

“But when I’m having such a hard time, Sir Sanderson is helping me again, as he did before, haha. You brought such a great tenor.”

Patrick was greatly embarrassed.

“Sir? Tenor? I don’t know if I misunderstood, but… are you telling me to sing your opera piece…?”

“Yes, that’s right. I would like to ask you to do that.”

“S-Sir? Are you kidding me? I’m just an ordinary person. I don’t even know what an opera is, and I’m not interested in it. I can’t even read sheet music. You’re overestimating me too much…”

Bach smiled and interrupted.

“The real genius doesn’t know he’s a genius.”

“Ge…genius?”

“Even if you can’t read sheet music, a genius has a sense and does it easily. That’s why they’re called a genius. You found and followed the notes very accurately with the accompaniment earlier. Both the tone and the sense of pitch were perfect to be called a genius.”

“That can’t be… There’s no way I have a talent for music…”

“First of all, I will take full responsibility for completing the talent show at the Marquis’s birthday party. I will make sure that everyone who comes that day falls in love with Patrick. Not to mention the Marquis’s daughter.”

“Yes? Is that really true?”

“However, there is a condition. I would like you to take on the role of the tenor in my performance in six months. This time, I’m asking you. Just once. Please.”

Patrick turned pale and replied.

“That’s impossible. What opera am I going to…”

“This piece!”

Bach continued with a firm expression.

“It will be the first and last opera that no one in the world can sing except for Patrick. For my father, please, just once.”

“······.”

Patrick and Theo stared blankly at Bach, who was bowing his head and asking politely.

The godfather of opera, who handles many professional vocalists, was bowing his head like this to ask him to sing…?

He came here with the purpose of taking a crash course, but something completely unexpected was happening.