The composition student

A young composition student in one of the more prestigious conservatories in Russia is running out of time for an important project. In the coming weekend, the school orchestra will be gathered on stage to read through all the composition students’ symphonies for the first time in front of the professor.

In a fit of last-minute genius, he goes to the library and checks out one of his professor’s symphonies, and writes out the whole work backwards. That weekend, after his hand-copied parts have been distributed, he waits nervously as the orchestra looks over the music.

The conductor gets into place and readies the orchestra, and on his downbeat, out comes the opening fanfare to Tchaikovsky’s 4th.