Only in Japan

Yesterday, Robin and I loaded up his double bass, put it on a luggage-cart, rolled it up hill and down to the police Koban near our station, waited for a black car driven by some stranger's MOM whom we've never met, was waved at by the Mom, put Robin's somewhat fragile and expensive bass in the back of the car and watched it ride away up the hill and out of sight. As we turned and walked back home, Robin said, "Only in Japan!" Then we started to chuckle, then laugh as we realized the absurdity of what had just happened.

But this is Japan, and I just knew that Takeru, the stranger we had never met but had spoken to would deliver our bass to rehearsal on time, along with his tiny drum set, and all would be well. He did and it was.

Last night was the last real rehearsal for my portion of the Chiba Singer's up-coming October 11 concert. The Rutter Birthday Madrigals are really cool jazzy renditions of It was a Lover and His Lass, Draw on Sweet Night, Come Be My Love, My True Love Hath My heart and When Daisies Pied. Working on these Shakespearean texts with Japanese speakers has presented me with one of the greatest choral conducting challenges of my career. Last night we practiced the phrase, "Really live with me," over and over. This phrase presents multiple problems for them.
First of all...they don't have the sound "r" or "l" in their language, or at least they don't distinguish between the 2. It's a flip of the tongue. I also suspect that the "v" sound doesn't exist in Japanese. "V" turns almost always to "b." "Th" at the end of words often turns into an "s."

It's a worthy aim, to work toward authentic English diction as we sing these great movements together. They work so hard. Their concentration is impressive and their commitment to the group is astounding. They have really challenged themselves with this piece. Last evening, Robin and Takeru added their bass and drum accompaniment to the work. John Rutter didn't call for drums on this music. Pretty cheeky of me to be messing with Rutter, but Takeru has a music degree with a jazz concentration from U Conn, and is absolutely fabulous. I think Rutter wouldn't mind.

When we walked down and out of our station on the way home last night, there was Takeru, silhouetted in front of Family Mart, with the bass on the luggage cart, waiting for us.

Only in Japan.