More music geekery-this time with Bleach
Title: Variations on a Japanese Folk Song
Fandom: Bleach
Pairings: Multiple-IchiRuki, ByaRen, ShunUki, IkkaYumi, etc
Genre: Romance
Rating: T
Warnings: Cursing, implications, music geekery, AU
Summary: Orchestra AU. The Yamamoto Orchestra was known for both its brilliance in music and the complicated nature of its members' personal lives.
Link: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7649883/1/Variations_on_a_Japanese_Folk_Song
Note: This is an ongoing project. There are 2 chapters so far, and I'm posting the first. If you want the next, you know the deal: link or comment.
The most famous symphony orchestra in Japan, and they were more like an overdramatic, dysfunctional, slightly incestuous family.
The Yamamoto Orchestra was known worldwide for its impeccable technique, its original compositions, and its colorful cast of characters. Not one of the musicians was not strange or notable in some way or another, and in addition to their quirks, the way they interacted seemed like it would impede any kind of productive rehearsal. Everyone was always at someone's throat, or else they had their tongue shoved down it. No one had any idea how the hell they managed to pull off flawless performances night after night, but somehow, they had risen to the top and stayed there.
Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto. A man known throughout the world for his almost fanatical devotion to music and his strange but effective technique of organizing his musicians into 13 "squads" who practiced together when the full orchestra was not available. An ancient but sprightly man with a bearded braid which almost reached the ground, he stood at the podium and brandished his baton, changing it from a sword to a feather to a piece of cloth wafting through the air from beat to beat. His conducting was known for being so overdramatic as to be entertaining, if it wasn't so effective. He had hand-picked and hand-trained most of the musicians in the group, grooming them for the most elite music schools in the world before bringing them back and paying them handsomely to be part of his ensemble.
Yamamoto's partner in the business was Ukitake Jyuushiro. One of Yamamoto's first students and an acclaimed composer, Jyuushiro had risen to prominence with the help of Yamamoto's endorsement. His name was synonymous with the Yamamoto Orchestra, and out of gratitude, he composed exclusively for his former teacher and mentor.
The rest of the orchestra at first seemed a ragtag group, but Yamamoto's emphatic gestures coaxed miracles out of every horn, string, and drum.
There was Jyuushiro's lover, Kyoraku Shunsui, who had followed Jyuushiro into a contract with Yamamoto. He had also studied under Yamamoto, and despite his eccentric appearance and apparent laziness, he was able to play the bassoon while sleeping, drunk, or leering at Ukitake. Many people cried favoritism when he was chosen to lead one of the squads with studious clarinetist Nanao Ise, but the combination of Shunsui's mellow atmosphere and Nanao's gentle, but strict discipline worked wonders for their squad.
Nanao Ise was a stern but efficient woman, and kind in a wry sort of way to her friends. She put up with Shunsui with a grudging acceptance and rallied the women of the Orchestra for frequent girls-only get-togethers, to build female solidarity in such a male-dominated profession.
Kuchiki Rukia was another ardent feminist, and one of Nanao's friends and partners in politics. She played the bass clarinet, which was practically taller than her, but despite her size, no one could find fault with her playing. She was a little firecracker with a sharp tongue, whether it was used for sixteenth notes or sarcastically chastising Kurosaki Ichigo. She had been a street urchin as a child, but her brother-in-law, Kuchiki Byakuya, had legally adopted her and pampered her, giving her anything she wanted, including music lessons. She had joined the orchestra at the recommendation of Ukitake, who was quite fond of her, and the two could often be found discussing music theory.
Rukia's brother, Kuchiki Byakuya was a very prominent businessman from an important family in Tokyo. The current head of a vast empire, he only played in the orchestra as a hobby, and to spend time with Rukia. He could play a wide range of instruments, as he had been brought up to be extremely cultured, but he preferred the flute to the violin and the cello, despite its feminine associations. With his long hair and delicate features, he looked rather feminine anyway, but everyone in the ensemble agreed that short of Yamamoto, he was by far the most intimidating when displeased. Most people regarded him with a wary kind of respect, but he was not close to many people. He was one pleasant terms with Ukitake and Yamamoto, but he remained with the group for two people: Rukia and her childhood friend Abarai Renji.
Abarai Renji had been an orphan from childhood, and had gone through a very difficult childhood. He and Rukia were part of a small band of homeless children who stole food to survive. When they were old enough, they took odd jobs to support themselves, but life on the streets was difficult in some parts of Tokyo, and they had lost multiple friends to drugs and violence. When Renji's closest male friend was killed in a drive-by shooting, he became disillusioned with his life, and decided to get himself and Rukia into school. They were both naturally bright, and after telling the sad stories of their lives, were accepted on scholarship to a local academy. There, Renji discovered a passion for percussion. He took out all his angers and frustrations on snare drums, bass drums, timpani, cymbals. The notes were just a way to funnel his resentment into something satisfying. After Byakuya found Rukia and took her to live with him, Renji was at lost ends. He eventually went to college on a music scholarship, and some time after graduating, he received a call from Byakuya inviting him to join an ensemble to reconnect with Rukia. Renji accepted and soon became one of the top percussionists, even leading a squad with Byakuya, whom he eventually grew very close to. The two bonded over their intense desire to protect Rukia, and their personalities clashed in a very intriguing way. It wasn't long until rumors started to circulate that they were lovers. Although it was never confirmed, Rukia seemed very pleased.
Renji wasn't the only child prodigy. Rukia's boyfriend Kurosaki Ichigo had picked up her clarinet one day and claimed that he could play it better than her. He wasn't better than her, but he was good enough that she dragged him to a rehearsal and made him try instruments until he found one he was good at, eventually settling on the trumpet. He learned quickly, and a little bit of wheedling from Rukia aimed at Byakuya and Ukitake got him into the orchestra quickly. He fit in easily with the other musicians, although he often got into impromptu musical "duels" with the others, especially Renji. They would play scales-marimba vs trumpet-as fast and as far as they could until someone gave out or until one of the Kuchiki's whacked them on the head (Rukia) or gave a disapproving look (Byakuya).
The rest of the orchestra was just as varied. Madarame Ikkaku, the first chair tuba player, was eager to challenge anyone, anytime, anywhere. The idea that a tuba and a violin were so different that they couldn't be compared never crossed his mind, and he played with a wild energy that would usually be associated with fighting. His best friends and longtime lover, Ayasegawa Yumichika, was pretty much the opposite. Refined and somewhat prissy, he only played instruments which he deemed beautiful enough in appearance and sound, which translated to violin (but not if it was called a fiddle), flute, and piccolo. His lilting trills were the polar opposite of Ikkaku's deep rumblings, but they were the only people who could really put up with each other's idiosyncrasies, and their relationship somehow worked.
Zaraki Kenpachi was an oddity. He never learned how to read music, and still couldn't identify a quarter note, but he was one of the best drummers they had. He couldn't play any keyboard instrument-marimba, xylophone, vibraphone-but give him a stick and something to hit and he could feel the rhythm well enough to play something that miraculously fit the arrangement. His adopted daughter Yachiru tagged along wherever he went, crashing cymbals and tapping triangles. Nobody stopped her because she was practically a force of nature, and besides, she could cause percussive mayhem on beat.
The Shiba clan was also represented. A family of noted musicians, they had three siblings in the ensemble. Kaien, the eldest, played any kind of saxophone flawlessly, while his sister Kukkaku sawed away at the viola like a madwoman, so fast that some people swore they saw sparks. Their younger brother Ganju was rather crude, but played the baritone well and helped the terminally shy flautist Hanataro Yamada get over his paralyzing stage fright.
Boy genius Toshiro Hitsugaya played any music for any brass instrument that was put in front of him, and his co-squad-leader Rangiku Matsumoto drove him nuts with her slightly rebellious French horn. Matsumoto's childhood friend Ichamaru Gin played the most sensual and disturbing oboe ever heard. Sosuke Aizen chimed in on the piano, with Hinamori Momo occasionally playing a duet with her mentor, who she tended to idolize. Izuru Kira and Hisagi Shuuhei joined Zaraki and Renji in the percussion, specializing in mallets and timpani, respectively.
There were others as well, too many to record and put in the press. Every week, without fail, there would be some new story about the Yamamoto Orchestra and what they had done now. Both their music and their personalities were a hot topic, and they didn't plan on leaving the spotlight anytime soon.
Fandom: Bleach
Pairings: Multiple-IchiRuki, ByaRen, ShunUki, IkkaYumi, etc
Genre: Romance
Rating: T
Warnings: Cursing, implications, music geekery, AU
Summary: Orchestra AU. The Yamamoto Orchestra was known for both its brilliance in music and the complicated nature of its members' personal lives.
Link: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7649883/1/Variations_on_a_Japanese_Folk_Song
Note: This is an ongoing project. There are 2 chapters so far, and I'm posting the first. If you want the next, you know the deal: link or comment.
The most famous symphony orchestra in Japan, and they were more like an overdramatic, dysfunctional, slightly incestuous family.
The Yamamoto Orchestra was known worldwide for its impeccable technique, its original compositions, and its colorful cast of characters. Not one of the musicians was not strange or notable in some way or another, and in addition to their quirks, the way they interacted seemed like it would impede any kind of productive rehearsal. Everyone was always at someone's throat, or else they had their tongue shoved down it. No one had any idea how the hell they managed to pull off flawless performances night after night, but somehow, they had risen to the top and stayed there.
Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto. A man known throughout the world for his almost fanatical devotion to music and his strange but effective technique of organizing his musicians into 13 "squads" who practiced together when the full orchestra was not available. An ancient but sprightly man with a bearded braid which almost reached the ground, he stood at the podium and brandished his baton, changing it from a sword to a feather to a piece of cloth wafting through the air from beat to beat. His conducting was known for being so overdramatic as to be entertaining, if it wasn't so effective. He had hand-picked and hand-trained most of the musicians in the group, grooming them for the most elite music schools in the world before bringing them back and paying them handsomely to be part of his ensemble.
Yamamoto's partner in the business was Ukitake Jyuushiro. One of Yamamoto's first students and an acclaimed composer, Jyuushiro had risen to prominence with the help of Yamamoto's endorsement. His name was synonymous with the Yamamoto Orchestra, and out of gratitude, he composed exclusively for his former teacher and mentor.
The rest of the orchestra at first seemed a ragtag group, but Yamamoto's emphatic gestures coaxed miracles out of every horn, string, and drum.
There was Jyuushiro's lover, Kyoraku Shunsui, who had followed Jyuushiro into a contract with Yamamoto. He had also studied under Yamamoto, and despite his eccentric appearance and apparent laziness, he was able to play the bassoon while sleeping, drunk, or leering at Ukitake. Many people cried favoritism when he was chosen to lead one of the squads with studious clarinetist Nanao Ise, but the combination of Shunsui's mellow atmosphere and Nanao's gentle, but strict discipline worked wonders for their squad.
Nanao Ise was a stern but efficient woman, and kind in a wry sort of way to her friends. She put up with Shunsui with a grudging acceptance and rallied the women of the Orchestra for frequent girls-only get-togethers, to build female solidarity in such a male-dominated profession.
Kuchiki Rukia was another ardent feminist, and one of Nanao's friends and partners in politics. She played the bass clarinet, which was practically taller than her, but despite her size, no one could find fault with her playing. She was a little firecracker with a sharp tongue, whether it was used for sixteenth notes or sarcastically chastising Kurosaki Ichigo. She had been a street urchin as a child, but her brother-in-law, Kuchiki Byakuya, had legally adopted her and pampered her, giving her anything she wanted, including music lessons. She had joined the orchestra at the recommendation of Ukitake, who was quite fond of her, and the two could often be found discussing music theory.
Rukia's brother, Kuchiki Byakuya was a very prominent businessman from an important family in Tokyo. The current head of a vast empire, he only played in the orchestra as a hobby, and to spend time with Rukia. He could play a wide range of instruments, as he had been brought up to be extremely cultured, but he preferred the flute to the violin and the cello, despite its feminine associations. With his long hair and delicate features, he looked rather feminine anyway, but everyone in the ensemble agreed that short of Yamamoto, he was by far the most intimidating when displeased. Most people regarded him with a wary kind of respect, but he was not close to many people. He was one pleasant terms with Ukitake and Yamamoto, but he remained with the group for two people: Rukia and her childhood friend Abarai Renji.
Abarai Renji had been an orphan from childhood, and had gone through a very difficult childhood. He and Rukia were part of a small band of homeless children who stole food to survive. When they were old enough, they took odd jobs to support themselves, but life on the streets was difficult in some parts of Tokyo, and they had lost multiple friends to drugs and violence. When Renji's closest male friend was killed in a drive-by shooting, he became disillusioned with his life, and decided to get himself and Rukia into school. They were both naturally bright, and after telling the sad stories of their lives, were accepted on scholarship to a local academy. There, Renji discovered a passion for percussion. He took out all his angers and frustrations on snare drums, bass drums, timpani, cymbals. The notes were just a way to funnel his resentment into something satisfying. After Byakuya found Rukia and took her to live with him, Renji was at lost ends. He eventually went to college on a music scholarship, and some time after graduating, he received a call from Byakuya inviting him to join an ensemble to reconnect with Rukia. Renji accepted and soon became one of the top percussionists, even leading a squad with Byakuya, whom he eventually grew very close to. The two bonded over their intense desire to protect Rukia, and their personalities clashed in a very intriguing way. It wasn't long until rumors started to circulate that they were lovers. Although it was never confirmed, Rukia seemed very pleased.
Renji wasn't the only child prodigy. Rukia's boyfriend Kurosaki Ichigo had picked up her clarinet one day and claimed that he could play it better than her. He wasn't better than her, but he was good enough that she dragged him to a rehearsal and made him try instruments until he found one he was good at, eventually settling on the trumpet. He learned quickly, and a little bit of wheedling from Rukia aimed at Byakuya and Ukitake got him into the orchestra quickly. He fit in easily with the other musicians, although he often got into impromptu musical "duels" with the others, especially Renji. They would play scales-marimba vs trumpet-as fast and as far as they could until someone gave out or until one of the Kuchiki's whacked them on the head (Rukia) or gave a disapproving look (Byakuya).
The rest of the orchestra was just as varied. Madarame Ikkaku, the first chair tuba player, was eager to challenge anyone, anytime, anywhere. The idea that a tuba and a violin were so different that they couldn't be compared never crossed his mind, and he played with a wild energy that would usually be associated with fighting. His best friends and longtime lover, Ayasegawa Yumichika, was pretty much the opposite. Refined and somewhat prissy, he only played instruments which he deemed beautiful enough in appearance and sound, which translated to violin (but not if it was called a fiddle), flute, and piccolo. His lilting trills were the polar opposite of Ikkaku's deep rumblings, but they were the only people who could really put up with each other's idiosyncrasies, and their relationship somehow worked.
Zaraki Kenpachi was an oddity. He never learned how to read music, and still couldn't identify a quarter note, but he was one of the best drummers they had. He couldn't play any keyboard instrument-marimba, xylophone, vibraphone-but give him a stick and something to hit and he could feel the rhythm well enough to play something that miraculously fit the arrangement. His adopted daughter Yachiru tagged along wherever he went, crashing cymbals and tapping triangles. Nobody stopped her because she was practically a force of nature, and besides, she could cause percussive mayhem on beat.
The Shiba clan was also represented. A family of noted musicians, they had three siblings in the ensemble. Kaien, the eldest, played any kind of saxophone flawlessly, while his sister Kukkaku sawed away at the viola like a madwoman, so fast that some people swore they saw sparks. Their younger brother Ganju was rather crude, but played the baritone well and helped the terminally shy flautist Hanataro Yamada get over his paralyzing stage fright.
Boy genius Toshiro Hitsugaya played any music for any brass instrument that was put in front of him, and his co-squad-leader Rangiku Matsumoto drove him nuts with her slightly rebellious French horn. Matsumoto's childhood friend Ichamaru Gin played the most sensual and disturbing oboe ever heard. Sosuke Aizen chimed in on the piano, with Hinamori Momo occasionally playing a duet with her mentor, who she tended to idolize. Izuru Kira and Hisagi Shuuhei joined Zaraki and Renji in the percussion, specializing in mallets and timpani, respectively.
There were others as well, too many to record and put in the press. Every week, without fail, there would be some new story about the Yamamoto Orchestra and what they had done now. Both their music and their personalities were a hot topic, and they didn't plan on leaving the spotlight anytime soon.