Chapter 24 - The first recording of The Lantern Sea
We did not use Blackwood money to produce the first recording.
Not directly.
Settlement money belonged to Daniel’s estate, so technically some of it came from resolving Blackwood claims.
But artistic control was ours.
A nonprofit orchestra agreed to record.
Elena March helped.
Not because she wanted revenge on Victor.
Because she believed the score was good.
Important.
If Daniel’s work had been mediocre, credit would still matter.
Artistic quality should not determine authorship.
But The Lantern Sea was beautiful.
The conductor, Samuel Ross, changed nothing without approval from Daniel’s original markings and the estate’s music editor.
Chloe attended one rehearsal.
Not all.
She had school.
Normal life.
At the first complete run-through, I cried through movement two.
The famous theme.
The one people knew as Victor’s.
Except now it kept going.
Into passages nobody had heard.
Daniel’s architecture reappeared.
Not reduced.
Not adapted.
His.
Chloe whispered:
“That part’s hard.”
“Yes.”
“I can’t play that.”
“Neither can I.”
She smiled.
No pressure to become her father.
May you like
Important.
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