Sim_spiration - Tuning the piano
Title: In tune
Rating: U.
Spoiler rating: 2/10.
Summary: The piano tuner at work in the Legacy house.
Notes: For the sim_spiration prompt "tuning the piano"
Word Count: 931
Frederick Morrison was aware of her eyes on him as he worked. For many, the thought of being scrutinised so closely would be disconcerting, but not to him, and not when it was Emina Legacy watching him. For the most part she was silent, letting him sound out the notes and adjust the strings in peace, understanding how important it was for him to be able to hear each note clearly. Occasionally she would speak, saying “that note is still a little flat” or “now it is a little sharp.” She was always correct and so he would nod his head in agreement and make the required adjustment.
He heard footsteps outside the door a moment before it opened and the light stride of Mr Legacy entered. He turned round and raised his hand to where his cap would be if he was wearing it as Eddie spoke. “Good afternoon Mr Morrison. How are you today?”
“Very well, thank you for asking Mr Legacy. And yourself?”
“Oh cannot complain. Thank you for coming at such short notice.”
“It is a pleasure sir. You are one of my best customers.”
Eddie laughed. “I expect we are, the amount of use our pianos get, they need tuning regularly, that is for certain.” He paused. “I hope Emmi is not proving to be a distraction whilst you work?” It was the question he asked each time he realised Emmi was watching the piano tuner.
As he always did, Frederick replied “she is no distraction at all.” It was the truth and besides, when she watched him work, it meant he would get to hear her play once he had finished and that was not something he wanted to miss. The first time he had heard her play was about four or five years ago. He had been tuning the piano in the music room one afternoon, when he had heard a clamour of booted footsteps on the wooden floor of the next room and the door had burst open. There had been a sharp intake of breath before an indignant young voice had said “what are you doing to my piano?”
Before he could answer, he’d heard the tread of her brother who had replied for him. “Emmi, this is Mr Morrison. He tunes our pianos. He normally does it whilst you are at school, which is why you have not met him before.”
“Pleased to meet you, Miss,” he’d said, nodding. He was surprised when, rather than returning his greeting, she’d said in a voice laden with curiosity “how do you tune a piano?”
“I adjust the strings. Would you like me to show you?” She must have nodded her assent, because he’d heard her trot across the room, and felt the air change when she stood beside him. He’d put out his hands to help her up onto the stool, and showed her inside the lid, explaining how the notes were produced by hammers striking the strings (”which is why the pianoforte is a percussion instrument: the strings are hit, whereas on a harpsichord, the strings are plucked”), and that the note can be changed by adjusting the tension of the strings. She’d listened intently, before hopping down from the stool and retiring to the nearby seating to watch him. His brother must have joined her, because he’d heard her whisper to the boy as he worked; remarking on the notes as he tried them, and asking other questions such as why it was he wore smoked glasses indoors. Stuart had explained that he, Mr Morrison was blind and that was why he wore the glasses. There had been a pause before Emmi had said “but how does he know where the tuning pins for the strings are then?” Frederick hadn’t been able to stop himself from smiling at that and had started to explain in more detail what he was doing, and how he found his way around the inner workings of the piano. Once he had tuned the last note and closed the lid he had turned towards the direction of the whispering and said “I have finished. Would you like to try it and see if it sounds better now Miss Legacy?”
She’d sat at the stool and played a simple, but competent scale, and then another and another, getting faster each time, until she had played every note on the instrument. She finished with a chord and said “it sounds perfect. Thank you Mr Morrison.” He had been about to compliment her on her scales and say that she had the makings a fine pianist if she continued with her lessons, when she’d begun to play properly and he had been swept away. He had rarely heard anyone play the piano so well, and especially one so young. It was as if the music flowed from her soul and it enveloped him completely. He knew then that he would forgo his fee, if he could hear her play instead.
Today, Eddie said “if you are sure. Emmi let Mr Morrison work in peace.”
“I always do Papa,” there was a petulant note to her voice when she replied.
“I am sure you think you do, but I also know how impatient you can get.”
“Mr Morrison’s task is important Papa. I will not disturb him in it.”
“Hmm. I will leave you to it then. Emmi, when Mr Morrison is ready to leave, come find me or your mother so we can pay him his fee,” and with that Eddie left Frederick and his watcher to it.
Rating: U.
Spoiler rating: 2/10.
Summary: The piano tuner at work in the Legacy house.
Notes: For the sim_spiration prompt "tuning the piano"
Word Count: 931
Frederick Morrison was aware of her eyes on him as he worked. For many, the thought of being scrutinised so closely would be disconcerting, but not to him, and not when it was Emina Legacy watching him. For the most part she was silent, letting him sound out the notes and adjust the strings in peace, understanding how important it was for him to be able to hear each note clearly. Occasionally she would speak, saying “that note is still a little flat” or “now it is a little sharp.” She was always correct and so he would nod his head in agreement and make the required adjustment.
He heard footsteps outside the door a moment before it opened and the light stride of Mr Legacy entered. He turned round and raised his hand to where his cap would be if he was wearing it as Eddie spoke. “Good afternoon Mr Morrison. How are you today?”
“Very well, thank you for asking Mr Legacy. And yourself?”
“Oh cannot complain. Thank you for coming at such short notice.”
“It is a pleasure sir. You are one of my best customers.”
Eddie laughed. “I expect we are, the amount of use our pianos get, they need tuning regularly, that is for certain.” He paused. “I hope Emmi is not proving to be a distraction whilst you work?” It was the question he asked each time he realised Emmi was watching the piano tuner.
As he always did, Frederick replied “she is no distraction at all.” It was the truth and besides, when she watched him work, it meant he would get to hear her play once he had finished and that was not something he wanted to miss. The first time he had heard her play was about four or five years ago. He had been tuning the piano in the music room one afternoon, when he had heard a clamour of booted footsteps on the wooden floor of the next room and the door had burst open. There had been a sharp intake of breath before an indignant young voice had said “what are you doing to my piano?”
Before he could answer, he’d heard the tread of her brother who had replied for him. “Emmi, this is Mr Morrison. He tunes our pianos. He normally does it whilst you are at school, which is why you have not met him before.”
“Pleased to meet you, Miss,” he’d said, nodding. He was surprised when, rather than returning his greeting, she’d said in a voice laden with curiosity “how do you tune a piano?”
“I adjust the strings. Would you like me to show you?” She must have nodded her assent, because he’d heard her trot across the room, and felt the air change when she stood beside him. He’d put out his hands to help her up onto the stool, and showed her inside the lid, explaining how the notes were produced by hammers striking the strings (”which is why the pianoforte is a percussion instrument: the strings are hit, whereas on a harpsichord, the strings are plucked”), and that the note can be changed by adjusting the tension of the strings. She’d listened intently, before hopping down from the stool and retiring to the nearby seating to watch him. His brother must have joined her, because he’d heard her whisper to the boy as he worked; remarking on the notes as he tried them, and asking other questions such as why it was he wore smoked glasses indoors. Stuart had explained that he, Mr Morrison was blind and that was why he wore the glasses. There had been a pause before Emmi had said “but how does he know where the tuning pins for the strings are then?” Frederick hadn’t been able to stop himself from smiling at that and had started to explain in more detail what he was doing, and how he found his way around the inner workings of the piano. Once he had tuned the last note and closed the lid he had turned towards the direction of the whispering and said “I have finished. Would you like to try it and see if it sounds better now Miss Legacy?”
She’d sat at the stool and played a simple, but competent scale, and then another and another, getting faster each time, until she had played every note on the instrument. She finished with a chord and said “it sounds perfect. Thank you Mr Morrison.” He had been about to compliment her on her scales and say that she had the makings a fine pianist if she continued with her lessons, when she’d begun to play properly and he had been swept away. He had rarely heard anyone play the piano so well, and especially one so young. It was as if the music flowed from her soul and it enveloped him completely. He knew then that he would forgo his fee, if he could hear her play instead.
Today, Eddie said “if you are sure. Emmi let Mr Morrison work in peace.”
“I always do Papa,” there was a petulant note to her voice when she replied.
“I am sure you think you do, but I also know how impatient you can get.”
“Mr Morrison’s task is important Papa. I will not disturb him in it.”
“Hmm. I will leave you to it then. Emmi, when Mr Morrison is ready to leave, come find me or your mother so we can pay him his fee,” and with that Eddie left Frederick and his watcher to it.