Devil’s Music

A room adorned with old opera records and frames of black-and-white photographs.

A plump, elderly African American grandmother with a kind smile looked at Professor Sharon and Professor Corigliano who had come to visit her. On the table in front of them were cups of tea and cookies that the grandmother had offered.

Looking at the professors seated around the tea table, the grandmother spoke, “Busy professors have come to visit this old grandma. What brings you here?”

With a smile full of warmth, the grandmother spoke, and Professor Corigliano, with a puzzled expression, said, “Ah, I apologize for not visiting earlier, Professor. I promised to come often, but I couldn’t keep my word.”

Professor Sharon hastily added, “Professor Price, we care about you like a mother.”

The African American grandmother was Leontine Price.

Born in 1927 as a farmer's daughter in Mississippi, she overcame the racial prejudices of her time and became a legendary soprano singer, later working as a professor of opera at Juilliard.

Professor Price chuckled, saying, “Oh, it's a joke. Professors are so sincere.”

Seeing Professor Price chuckle and speak, both of them heaved a sigh, feeling a sense of relief. While they held a deep admiration for her, it was challenging to interact casually.

After exchanging glances for a while, Professor Price, wiping away tears, said, “I'm sorry. Perhaps it's because I've been a bit lonely lately and haven't had much reason to smile. But now that you're here, I can't seem to stop laughing. Hehe, excuse me.”

As Professor Price suddenly erupted into laughter, Professor Corigliano waited for the moment her laughter subsided. After laughing for a while, Professor Price gradually stopped, noticing Professor Corigliano looking at her with a serious expression.

After observing Professor Corigliano's expression for a moment, Professor Price glanced at Professor Sharon sitting beside her. Professor Sharon made a subtle nod, meeting eyes with Professor Price.

Professor Price then turned to Professor Corigliano and asked, “Professor Corigliano, do you really know what Pyemon's Cry is?”

Professor Corigliano shook his head, saying, “I'm not entirely sure, but I remember the phrase ‘Pyemon's Cry’ triggering a realization when heard. I've been in the music scene for a long time, Professor. I didn't come all this way just to speak nonsense.”

Looking curious, Professor Sharon held Professor Price’s hand and asked, “Professor Price, I'm curious too. What exactly is Pyemon's Cry that Professor Corigliano mentioned? He said you heard about it.”

Professor Price got up, pointed to a part of the map behind her desk, and said, “Do either of you know about the 'Pueblo' tribe that existed in New Mexico, Arizona, and Texas?”

Nodding, Professor Sharon replied, “Yes, Professor, I've heard of them. I know they were a tribe involved in conflicts with Spanish settlers around the 1600s.”

“Actually, it was in 1598. The Spaniards called them the 'Pueblo Indians.' Pueblo in Spanish simply means 'village,'” clarified Professor Price.

“Our knowledge about the Pueblo is mostly about their brutal history. They suffered under Spanish oppression, with around 600 people killed, and young men under 25 had their ankles cut off,” Professor Price explained.

Regarding the primitive beliefs of the Pueblo, Professor Price continued, “No one really cares about their original faith. They believed that humans emerged from the underworld and it was their duty to maintain harmony with nature. Though scattered in different places now, they hold a common ceremony.”

When Professor Price mentioned the Corn Dance, Professor Sharon’s eyes expressed curiosity. Professor Price smiled, saying, “It’s a ceremony to wish for good corn growth due to heavy rains.”

Picking up a cookie and then realizing it was a different flavor, Professor Price chuckled, “Hmm? I thought I brought almond cookies, but these are cinnamon. I guess my memory isn’t what it used to be. Hehe.”

As the atmosphere lightened, Professor Price shared, “During this ceremony, there used to be singers. They've vanished now. They were called 'Kachina,' acting as intermediaries between nature and humans.”

Professor Corigliano inquired about religious persecution in 1675, wondering why it happened, to which Professor Price clarified that it wasn't about forced conversion but something else entirely.

Curious, Professor Sharon asked, “Then what was it?”

Professor Price, holding a cup of tea and inhaling its aroma, said, “Let me tell you about the religious persecution of the Pueblo tribe…”

"At that time, due to rumors circulating among the Spaniards who had emigrated, the deity served by Pueblo was called 'Pyemon,'" Professor Sharon asked.

"Pyemon? Are you referring to the Pyemon from Solomon's 72 demons?" Professor Price nodded as he took a sip of his tea and placed the cup back on the table.

"Yes, indeed. That's why such cruel incidents occurred. Anyway, they say Pyemon's screams were the voice of a demon delivered by 'Katjina,' a religious leader in Pueblo. That's all there is to the story I've heard since I was young," Professor Corigliano said, crossing his arms and deep in thought with a serious expression.

Professor Sharon, seeming momentarily lost in thought, gazed blankly at a point. Alternating between the two, Professor Price spoke up.

"Really? The screams of Pyemon."

With closed eyes, Professor Corigliano nodded in agreement, saying, "I am absolutely certain."

Professor Price, seemingly trying to gauge the truth, stared intently at Professor Corigliano. After observing the serious expression on Corigliano's face for a while, Professor Price sighed and leaned back on the couch.

"Professor Corigliano doesn't speak lightly, so it's hard not to believe him."

Suddenly recalling something, Professor Sharon turned to Professor Corigliano and asked, "But Professor, what would happen if it were true that the student's voice is Pyemon's scream?"

"Nothing. Nothing would happen. We would simply witness a phenomenal musician," Professor Corigliano replied after briefly gazing at Professor Price.

Breaking the silence that had fallen between them due to their divergent thoughts, Professor Price said, "I will also make sure to remember about the student. In fact, the fact that they possess that voice alone shouldn't be a problem. Just keep an eye on them and guide them, professors, so they don't stray."

Seeing the two professors nod slightly in agreement, Professor Price smiled again and held Professor Sharon's hand, asking, "Oh, by the way, Professor Sharon, what about Daniel's request three months ago?"

"I haven't resolved it yet, Professor. I've been trying various methods. Professor Corigliano here has been helping as well," Professor Sharon replied with a sigh.

"I acted too rashly and inconvenienced Mr. Daniel Weiss," Professor Corigliano interjected with a sigh.

Laughing, Professor Price looked at them and said, "If it were an issue easily solvable, Mr. Daniel would have already fixed it. He's become the CEO of the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art before even turning 60. But, I seem to have forgotten, what was the request?"

"The '19th Century Masterpiece Gallery' among the various galleries in the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art contains around 3,000 paintings by famous artists like Van Gogh from the 19th century. Recently, an analysis of the audio guides given to museum visitors showed that they pass through the 19th Century Masterpiece Gallery at a considerably rapid pace," Professor Sharon said after taking a moment to catch her breath.

"Mr. Daniel Weiss tried changing the interior and relocating the paintings to solve this problem. However, despite his efforts, the issue remains unresolved. He requested a change in the music playing in the museum, hoping that might help. But no music seemed to detain the visitors," Professor Corigliano shook his head, explaining.

"At first, we thought our compositions might be insufficient. So, we tried incorporating music by historically renowned musicians, but it had no effect," Professor Price nodded in understanding.

"A perplexing issue indeed. You both have been through a lot," Professor Price acknowledged, holding their hands tightly before standing up.

"I'll bring more tea."

Fetching a tray with tea, Professor Price suddenly chuckled and said, "How about this? That student you mentioned, a guitar major?"

As Professor Sharon nodded, Professor Price continued, "Rumors suggest they are flawless in their performances. What if we have that student perform?"

"It's a museum, Professor. Even if a musician performs, we can't claim it to have an effect on visitors' footsteps," Professor Corigliano agreed with a nod.

"Indeed. I was shortsighted. Hmm... How about asking that student for suggestions?" Professor Price widened his eyes, asking.

"The student?" Professor Corigliano looked surprised.

"Sharon, the esteemed guitarist known worldwide couldn’t solve this puzzle. But if this child, who solved it, gets a chance..." Professor Price smiled, tapping his chin.

"Certainly. They have the qualifications to be given a chance. Even if it's not their own performance or composition, they might have value in selecting music. What do you say, Professor Corigliano?" Professor Sharon shrugged, looking at both.

With a shrug, Professor Corigliano looked at the two.

>

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