For A Song

Writers: AL, Eimi
Date Posted: 9th May 2008

Characters: U'kaiah, Lirit
Description: U'kaiah helps Journeyman Lirit find a piece of music
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 9, day 25 of Turn 4

As Lirit made his way to the upper cliffs, he found the crowd thinning until he could feel no presence nearby. There were no sounds of shuffling feet or the murmur of hushed conversation. He made his way through the hallway, his feet shuffling against the floor, then stopped as his stick thunked against the wood of a door. He had come to his destination and pushed open the door, calling out, "Hello?"

A bronzerider looked up from his pile of hides at the table. "Can I help you?"

"Oh good, there's someone here." Lirit let his grin flash over his lips, then turned and moved toward the sound of the voice. "I was hoping someone could help me find a song. An old Master made a reference to it and now I'm curious." Of course, he would have to get someone to play it for him, but that wasn't a problem.

The bronzerider took in the look of the man's eyes which didn't seem to focus on anything and the walking stick. "Ah, you must be Lirit."

"Yes, that's me!" Lirit raised a hand in salute, "Has my reputation preceeded me?"

"We usually hear when a new harper comes to the Weyr. Especially one who stands out." U'kaiah felt there was no harm in pointing out the obvious difference between he and most harpers. He was sure Lirit was used to the fact that people would notice he was blind.

"I've been here at least a turn though." Lirit waggled his finger in the direction of the archivist. "You're a little behind the times."

It had been a busy turn. "I'm a Wingleader. I unfortunately don't have as much time to spend in the craft as I once did."

"Yes, well, Thread..." Lirit trailed off, the grin gone and he shivered. A moment later, though, the cheerful expression returned.
"But at least we have dragonriders to fight it. I, for one, am grateful!"

"Well, it's good to know someone is grateful," U'kaiah chuckled as he put a marker in his page. "So what is it you're looking for exactly?"

"It's a song, the title is 'Lady of Telgar'." Lirit responded, tapping a finger upon his chin. "It was brought up by a Master and I wanted to see if we had it in the archives."

"We do. Multiple copies of it, I believe, and all arranged by a different composer." The bronzerider has noticed it several times while thumbing through looking for gitar music. "Do you know which composer it was written by, or which instrument it was written for?"

"I don't know the composer, but I do know it was for violin and voice."
Ah, violin an instrument that Lirit had a passing acquaintance with.
He was going to have to see if he could have one of those more talented in the area of composition to adapt it to gitar. Either that, or he would be spending a lot of time practising that violin.

"I _think_ I saw a version for violin and voice..." U'kaiah said thoughtfully as he rose from his chair. "Would you like to have a seat while I pull the files?"

"Certainly, thank you." Lirit reached out, shuffling forward and finding the the chair with the tips of his fingers. He lowered himself into it and leaned back, linking his hands behind his head. "Thanks a lot, I appreciate it."

U'kaiah walked back to the music section and ruffled through a few files until he finally found a promising folder. He decided to take the whole thing back with him. "All right. I have an arrangement for violin and soprano, and violin with alto and soprano. Which were you looking for?"

"Soprano please." Lirit let his hands fall and sat up straight. "I'm afraid I have yet to master singing two voice parts at once. I'm working on it though."

"You've mastered singing soprano while playing a violin then?" the bronzerider asked incredulously, an amused smile pulling at the corner of his lips.

"No, I'm still working on that as well." Lirit admitted with a grin.
"Though I wouldn't mind learning it on violin. I've actually heard of people playing the violin while singing."

"Fiddling, perhaps," the bronzerider adimitted. "But playing a violin tucked under your chin I would think would bend your vocal chords all out of shape."

"I certainly couldn't do it." Lirit shook his head. "No, what I was hoping was to find a composer who would be willing to adapt it to gitar. Now that I _can_ play and sing at the same time!"

"Oh, I can tell you who can do that. Journeyman Forox. He is a wonderful composer and arranger for the gitar." His works were some of U'kaiah's favorites to play. They were challenging, but it gave him a sense of satisfaction when he could finally master one of his pieces.

"Ah, yes, I've heard of him!" Lirit wondered why the name hadn't come to him in the first place. "I shall take you up on your suggestion.
Do you think I could get a copy of that music to take to him?"

"You can have the original and Forox can make a copy, if you like." It would be easier than having him pay a scriber to make a copy, after all.

"Sounds good to me." Lirit held out his hand for it. Once there was a written version for the gitar, he could have someone play it and then he could memorise it for himself. "Thanks for the help. I'll take good care of this."

The bronzerider carefully placed it in the harper's outstretched hand.
"I trust you completely, Journeyman. Good luck."

Last updated on the May 18th 2008

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

For A Song