Episode 8 — “Melancholy Ostinato”
Hmm.
We knew the auditions would add compounding drama and frustration for the
Kitauji band members. Hibike! Euphonium had slowly built up the tension
between Mayu and Kumiko. Both are competent euphonium players, so they never
worried about failing to join the band for the concerts. The contention came
from joining the trumpet soloist. And so, in the second round of auditions,
Kumiko lost to Mayu. There’s still the third round before Kitauji moves on to
the national level, so Kumiko should be there. I have no doubt.
Here’s where the frustration and distrust of audition criteria rises
exponentially in Hibike! Euphonium. The third-year students had been
used to a single audition based on merit. But what if they made the first
round and lost in the second? What changed? Did someone else get better? Did
they get worse? Or did Taki-sensei change his mind? What’s the deal? Kumiko
will have to explain how auditions work to choose the best sound for the sake
of the orchestra as an ensemble. But what if she’s not sure herself? Kumiko
had better find a confident voice before the concert band implodes from
recriminations, resentment, and self-doubt.
Heh.
Whoa! The second audition will be at the summer camp! All stress, no fun.
Kumiko and Reina are in the bus’s front row. Yay! Taki’s friends are back
to make jokes and look pretty. Poor Kanade. She lost someone to tease
after Motomu reconciled with his grandpa. Mayu still has reservations
about auditioning for the euphonium solo. Hibike! Euphonium, we get
it. This show loves hammering on the same thing. Reina worries that Kumiko
hasn’t paid enough attention to Taki’s suggestions. We get it! The
foreshadowing is so thick right now. Ah! Mayu finally blew up at Kumiko
about being the transfer student who would make everyone mad if she should
get the part.
Kumiko tells Mayu about how Kitauji used to favor seniority over merit for
orchestra members. But that was when the club prioritized a high school
experience instead of winning a national award. Uh oh. It’s a summer camp,
so you know we’ll see teenage hijinks. Motomu wants to “talk” with Midori!
Duh. There’s your parallel for rejection in Hibike! Euphonium.
Thick, thick foreshadowing!
The eye catches center Mayu at her audition and Tsukamoto’s trombone
section. I’m sure everyone has warned Kumiko about how many girls compared
to boys are in the section already.
Haha! Reina wants Taki-sensei’s juice! Ho. Tsukamoto thinks it’s likely
that the euphonium section will change for the next concert. That’s news
to Kumiko! Also, Tsukamoto anticipates even more fallout from the
auditions after Taki-sensei announces seat changes. Aw. Midori rejected
Motomu, but Kanade left him a get-better-soon gift. Aw, even more! Reina
gave her “cherished” juice to Midori.
Hit me in all the feels, Hibike! Euphonium! Kumiko plays Asuka’s theme
at her last summer camp. She keeps a postcard with Asuka’s address on it.
Important! Look at the T-shirt Mayu wears: it’s a camera! Here are the results
of the auditions. More tubas, only two euphoniums, and Kumiko lost the solo!
Reina doesn’t look that surprised.
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