[Choral] Rehearsals have begun in various locations

Members of the Tohoku Youth group are putting even more effort into practicing in preparation for their concert in March, and choir practice has also begun in various locations since December of last year.

This time, we recruited choir participants from the following 10 prefectures, which are areas affected by natural disasters that have occurred since 2011.

"2011 Great East Japan Earthquake": Fukushima Prefecture, Miyagi Prefecture, Iwate Prefecture

"2016 Kumamoto Earthquake Disaster": Kumamoto Prefecture

"July 2017 Northern Kyushu Heavy Rain Disaster": Fukuoka Prefecture, Oita Prefecture

"July 2018 Western Japan Heavy Rain Disaster": Okayama Prefecture, Hiroshima Prefecture, Ehime Prefecture

"2018 Hokkaido Iburi Eastern Earthquake Disaster": Iburi region, Hokkaido (Muroran City / Tomakomai City / Noboribetsu City / Date City / Toyoura Town / Toyako Town / Sobetsu Town / Shiraoi Town / Abira Town / Atsuma Town / Mukawa Town)

Thank you very much for your many applications.

Those who pass the selection process will practice in their respective prefectures about twice a month, and the choir participants from all over the country will gather together for the first time at a training camp just before the actual event.

This time, the choir will be a mix of beginners and experienced members.

With the cooperation of choir instructors from each prefecture, we are starting with the basics, such as vocal training and how to read German lyrics.

Conductor Mr. Yanagisawa also visits practice sessions in various locations to provide guidance.

Freude, schöner Götterfunken, Tochter aus Elysium,
(Rejoice, beautiful sparks of the gods, daughters of the paradise world,)

Wir betreten feuertrunken, Himmlische, dein Heiligtum!

(Led by the fire, we step forward. Into heaven, into holy ground.)

Deine Zauber binden wieder, Was die Mode streng geteilt
(With the magic of the gods, we will reunite what the flow of time has so cruelly separated.)

Alle Menschen werden Brüder, Wo dein sanfter Flügel weilt.
(All men shall be brothers, where the gods rest their gentle wings.)

The above is a part of the lyrics of "The Ninth Symphony." (※The translation is an example.)

"I wonder if we could do a project to connect the various areas in Japan that have been affected by the major natural disasters that have occurred since 3/11. If people who live on the same Japanese archipelago and have suffered hardships from nature could come together and sing songs of hope for the future, it might provide some encouragement."

With this intention in mind, we recruited participants for this choir.

At concerts, I hope to deliver music that incorporates the meaning of the lyrics.

The orchestra members are also looking forward to performing together with the choir.

Let's practice hard for the performance in March!