[Traveler's Row] Something Magnificent (Solo)

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This shining population center is considered the jewel of The Sylira Region. Home of the vast majority of Mizahar's population, Syliras is nestled in a quiet, sprawling valley on the shores of the Suvan Sea. [Lore]

[Traveler's Row] Something Magnificent (Solo)

Postby Dlight on February 24th, 2011, 4:09 am

32nd Winter, 510 AV

Dlight's room at the Traveler's Row was sparsely furnished. At first glance, it would seem to hold the same as any other room: a bed big enough for one, a table and chair, a chest for his belongings and a hearth which fire was burning to warm him during the night. The Ethaefel was pulling out an important possession of his from beneath the bed though, a full sized violin case containing his most treasured belonging.

He hadn't opened it even once since two days ago when Sina had shut it close after making sure he was satisfied with her craftsmanship. Dlight vaguely remembered the smooth curves of the violin, it's front surface that of a pale, star-lit sky. All of it's details weren't fully remembered, however the Ethaefel could recall that it was an echo of Leth and Syna, it's front representing his God and it's back golden, representing His lover.

The wooden case was carefully lifted from the ground and placed atop the plain bed, Dlight staring at it with adoring eyes. It was a maiden, never played once, never touched except by it's creator. He tore his eyes away from it, almost ashamed at considering opening it. Dlight hadn't recovered it from beneath the bed to uncover it, he simply wanted it's company. The violin would remain untouched until he felt he was ready to do so, until it would be in hands that knew it's parts, knew how to play it.

Atop the small, inexpensive wood table was the Akvatari's journal alongside the new violin book he'd bought at Undeniable Interests. After giving a careful look over the case to make sure it wouldn't fall and was comfortable, Dlight went to the chair pulled close to the table. The Traveler's Row didn't have the most pleasant feeling furniture, but it was cheap and very well guarded, exactly what he needed.
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Dlight
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[Traveler's Row] Something Magnificent (Solo)

Postby Dlight on February 24th, 2011, 4:22 am

Inhaling the scent of the two burning forest incense sticks that were safely in their holder atop the chest, Dlight pulled the Akvatari's journal closer to him. It's cover was very worn, binding beginning to finally come undone, however the Ethaefel was smiling at it's tattered state as if it was the most beautiful thing he'd ever laid eyes on. He fluidly opened it, it's rough pages feeling natural and pleasant against his fingertips. This was his child, the second most important possession of his.

It's words were like a mantra and Dlight knew them by heart. There were only a few pages the Ethaefel couldn't repeat without reading them first, and although they didn't strictly pertain to violin, he began reading the wise words of the Akvatari musician.

Even though music comes naturally to me, without a doubt it's most important that I'm able to record it. Edr taught me today the most basic parts of a music sheet and even though it's hard to grasp, I'm determined to remember it.

A sheet of music has staffs, each of it's five lines and four spaces representing a different note. At the beginning of each staff will be two numbers, one stacked atop the other. This is the time signature, it shows how many beats are within a measure. Beats are alike that of a heart, sometimes fast or slow. A measure can only extent up to four full beats and is always separated by a vertical line.

One of the most important things to notice is the clef, which explains what notes and octave the instrument is played in.
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The treble clef is used by higher pitched instruments like violin and flute, and sung by those with higher voices.
From top to bottom, the lines represent E, G, B, D, and F. From top to bottom, the spaces represent F, A, C and E.
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The bass clef, in contrast, is used for lower instruments and voices, and has it's own set of lines and spaces. From top to bottom, the lines represent G, B, D, F, and A. From top to bottom, the spaces represent A, C, E, and G.
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The C clef determines where the middle C is that connects both treble and bass, and can be placed anywhere on the staff.

It was the first page of the journal, and it made his eyes brighten with both unshed tears and pride. Many seasons ago he'd first laid eyes on these same words, begun his journey by turning that first page. To anyone else it may have been unimportant, less preferred to a more in tact and less novice book, but it was never set aside by Dlight, always read at least once a day. The Akvatari's journal was closed and moved to another part of the table, and ever the most thoughtful caretaker, the Ethaefel made sure that it wasn't too close to the edge lest it fall.

Dlight had a thing about falling, some may call it a fear or phobia, maybe even as slight as a distaste of it. The Ethaefel just knew that he didn't want anything of his to do so, not one possession, or he felt it would be ruined forever. And he would not have one of his treasures be disgraced in such a way.
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[Traveler's Row] Something Magnificent (Solo)

Postby Dlight on February 24th, 2011, 5:58 am

Dlight's indigo eyes moved from the journal to his left, settling on the treasure atop his bed. Although he tasted the temptation to set hands on it, he bit his tongue and restrained himself. The violin would not be revealed until he knew more about the instrument. Amateur as he was, he could always move to the more experienced side of the word.

The Ethaefel forced his yearning gaze back towards somewhere more useful and picked up the book on violin. An Akvatari's journal it was not, but necessary it was. Dlight was somewhat uncomfortable with reading new material, and he slowly opened the cover, eyes roaming over the words with a slight edge of distrust.

Violin isn't an instrument that can simply be picked up and played without any prior knowledge. If you've already purchased your violin, take this time now to look it over and memorize every part of it. If you haven't, fear not as this book will still be very useful.

The mechanics of a violin rests primarily in the strings. The violinist produces noise from the violin by bringing their bow across the strings, which creates a vibration that then travels to the bridge. The vibration is carried to the body of the instrument and escapes through the f-holes, which not only acts as an exit but as an amplifier. There are four strings on a violin, tuned precisely to G, D, E, and A.

At the very top of the violin is it's scroll, mostly a decorative piece but essential all the same. Below the scroll is a very important part, the pegbox-- this is where the tools are located to tighten and loosen strings, tuning them. Stretching beneath that is the neck and fingerboard; this is where the magic happens. Pressing against any of the strings on the fingerboard will alter the strings pitch depending on at what point on the neck it's touched.

As mentioned before, the vibrations made by the strings that extend along the neck is transmitted through the bridge, which is connected to the body. While the body may not seem as important as the strings, bridge, or pegbox, even the slightest change in a violin's shape can alter it's sound.

The body is composed of three parts: the upper bout, C-bouts, and lower bout. It's shaped in this way to resonate best while still being comfortable while playing. Another important thing to realize is that anything on it's exterior like paint or embellishments will muffle and create a different sound than what's expected.

The f-holes are a pair f-shaped holes cut into the front of the violin, one to the left and right of the bridge. Air is allowed into the interior of the violin through the f-holes, acting as an amplifier to the vibrations that escape through them. This is another part of the delicate violin that under no circumstances should be changed unless a change in sound is desired.


Luckily, Dlight could picture each part of the violin described in his mind, having studied a diagram in the Akvatari's journal prior to reading this. The diagram and layout of the violin made more sense now though, and the Ethaefel realized how connected each part was to one another. A feeling of nervousness rose in him, though. Hadn't Sina painted his violin?
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Your blight is my delight
 
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[Traveler's Row] Something Magnificent (Solo)

Postby Dlight on February 24th, 2011, 6:21 am

Something struck to the surface of his mind, though, soothing his worry before it could turn to dread. Sina had indeed painted his violin, but she had promised him that if played correctly, it's sound would be one that resembled the night. It was custom made for him and without a doubt Sina had taken into consideration the effect that paint would have on the instruments pitch, so the crafter must have intentionally altered it's sound to make it unique to Dlight. She had created something magnificent.

The Ethaefel's frown dissipated and he closed the book, intending on taking a short walk outside and getting some fresh air. As effective and comforting as the forest incense was, nothing was better than truly going outside. He stood and moved towards the violin case, peering down at it for a long while. With what he'd just read, he was one step closer to being worthy of opening the case and laying hands on it.

At the first brush of his fingertips against the wood of the case, Dlight felt temptation once again. He grasped the case and pulled it to his chest, cradling it lest it slip from his hold as he lowered it to the floor. The Ethaefel doubled over to let it lay gently onto ground, then slowly lifted it and moved it further back beneath the bed. Not once did it scrape against the floor.

After double checking that it was safely hidden from sight, Dlight straightened himself out and stood, grabbing his robe. While it was perfectly fine to wear only a loin cloth in his room where a warm, burning hearth was, it wouldn't be as wise a choice for outside during Winter.

Out of habit, Dlight glanced once against towards the bed, then towards the books atop his table. The case was beneath the bed, the chair scooted in, books safely away from the edge of the table, and the incense was nearly burned all the way. His gaze focused on the incense, staying there until it burned no longer, and then the Ethaefel extinguished the flames of the hearth. Dlight then left to gaze upon Leth, only returning when he felt it was time to read once again.
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Dlight
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[Traveler's Row] Something Magnificent (Solo)

Postby Leviathan on March 12th, 2011, 6:17 am

Thread Award!
Dlight
 
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Observation 1 --
Reading 3 --

 
Lore
The Bass Clef (Basic)
The Treble Clef (Basic)
The C Clef (Basic)
Knowledge of the Violin (Basic)
Knowledge of the Violin (Moderate)
Bad News Everybody. School is picking up, Exams are beginning to happen, homework is growing time consuming, I may soon be evicted from my apartment, I'm dealing with severe and physical fights among several of my best friends, and I can't seem to find a time to get much needed sleep. I'm terribly sorry, but don't expect to see much of me for a long while.
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