Phoenix Rising: From Heartache to Heroism
Chapter 252 Who is Better?

Hattie's zither performances are undeniably enjoyable.

Nonetheless, as previously noted by Darwin, her playing lacks a sense of connection between herself and the music. Her emphasis seems to be solely on demonstrating her technical prowess, resulting in a noticeable absence of emotion. A zither piece without emotion is dry.

The technique is crucial, but achieving top-tier musical tones also requires time for maturation and refinement. Many aspects are perceptible to listeners attuned to music.

The music concluded.

Darwin applauded, "Well done, Miss. Your dedication to zither practice is evident. Yet, I can only award you eight points."

Hattie's expression darkened, her gaze intense.

"Why?" she inquired.

Darwin responded, "I've already explained my reasons earlier. I prefer not to repeat myself."

"Violeta, please."

While Hattie was performing on the zither moments ago, Violeta had already applied her finger picks.

She offered the owner a slight smile, saying, "Okay."

Then, she cast her eyes down to the strings, mentally tracing the musical score. Her initial notes mirrored Hattie's exactly.

However, as the piece progressed into its middle section, distinctions began to emerge.

Hattie's rendition of "Beyond the Ridge" lacked depth in its complex emotional shifts.

However, Violeta's performance highlighted the emotional changes within the music and contrasts in dynamics when plucking the strings.

As Darwin listened, his satisfaction grew steadily.

The primary distinction between Violeta and Hattie lies herein.

Although both possessed impeccable skills, the divergence lay in this aspect.

Darwin gazed at Violeta with growing admiration, while Hattie struggled to discern what made Violeta's performance stand out.

She was slightly taken aback by Violeta's ability to play the zither. However, apart from that, she didn't replace Violeta's performance particularly impressive.

The music concluded.

Kaylee enthusiastically clapped beside them, "Clap clap clap!"

"Vio, your performance was outstanding!"

Darwin chimed in with praise, "Excellent job, Violeta. You have a deep understanding of this piece. It's remarkable to see someone your age play with such skill. "I'm giving you a perfect ten!"

Hattie was taken aback.

She abruptly stood up from her chair and exclaimed, "Why? Where do Violeta and I differ in the completeness of this piece?"

Darwin sighed, "Emotion."

He continued, "When Violeta plays, the piece showcases emotional changes and stark contrasts in string plucking. Hattie, that's where the gap lies between you two." Hattie was utterly baffled!

Indeed, she was perplexed.

The key difference between her and Violeta was decades of experience.

While Hattie had devoted many years to mastering the zither, so had Violeta. The distinction lay in the amount of time Violeta had invested, not less than Hattie. Music, like people, requires accumulation. Hattie was reluctant to accept this outcome.

However, Darwin insisted on awarding Violeta a perfect ten score, leaving Hattie no room to contest.

In total, Hattie had 16 points, whereas Violeta scored a perfect 10.

Considering her higher score compared to Violeta, Hattie chose not to contest the decision at that moment. "Let's begin! Next piece."

She still couldn't believe it. Could Violeta really play better than her?

Darwin continued to flip through the music scores.

"Next song, 'Dahlia Lullaby""

Hattie insisted, "Let me go first!"

"Sure."

She began to play.

The "Dahlia Lullaby" painted a picture of graceful and vibrant dahlia flowers swaying in the breeze.

Hattie still earned a perfect score for her technical proficiency.

As the piece concluded, the onlookers joined in applause.

"Amazing performance!"

"Indeed, so bea

skilful in playing the zither."

Hattie experienced a sense of satisfaction upon hearing the compliments from the crowd.

She cast a quick look towards Violeta.

Violeta paid no attention to her and proceeded to start playing.

Darwin had a knack for selecting pieces. The one he chose blended the theatrical elements and characteristics of the Allureville region, combining fast and slow rhythms to evoke a picturesque scene of Allureville's misty rain and charm.

He leaned back with satisfaction, occasionally nodding in approval.

Wonderful.

Absolutely wonderful!

As the melody faded away, a hush settled over the audience.

Unlike the response to Hattie's earlier performance, they seemed so captivated by the music that they forgot to applaud, still lost in its lingering resonance.

Only after Darwin applauded and praised with a "Well done!" did the crowd join in with their applause.

In the crowd, Nolan joined in with applause, and soon everyone else followed suit, clapping enthusiastically.

Onlookers enjoyed the spectacle, while those knowledgeable appreciated the nuances.

Hattie played exceptionally well.

Violeta played very well too, but between their performances, Hattie lacked something.

It was an experiential quality, something that must be nurtured over time.

Imagine asking a ten-year-old to perform the rumba dance. While she might execute all the steps

and allure of an adult dancer.

flawlessly, she lacks the he

Determining excellence can be challenging, but it's clear that Violeta and Hattie differ significantly in their skill and artistic expression. Violeta's playing exhibits a more refined and natural proficiency compared to Hattie's, emphasizing artistic interpretation.