一泊バスツアーに参加 A group bus tour

７月３１日～８月１日
宿泊を兼ねた団体バスツアーに参加したのは何十年振りだろう。個人の旅行としては、いつも自由に気の向くままの旅をやってきたせいか、今回は少し緊張感があった。全国童謡サミットという横浜でのイベントに、私がこの４月からジョインしたコーラスグループが参加するというのがそのツアーの趣旨。わざわざ宿泊を兼ねたのは、観光も多少は出来るようにとの企画者の配慮があったからであろう。
 The first time in the tens of years, I joined a group bus tour including one night staying at hotel. Since I'm used to travel around all by myself up until now, I felt bit nervous this time. The purpous of this group tour is to join the Fifth National Summit of Songs for Children to be held in Yokohama.  The group leader who planned this tour has been very concerned with the menbers who might wish to have some free time to do either sightseeing or shopping in Yokohama more than the participation in the event.

会場となった横浜開港記念館

日光から早朝７時には出発したものの、途中渋滞に巻き込まれて目的地には遅れて到着。リハーサルの時間に間に合わず、結果的にぶっつけ本番という顛末に。しかし、60、70代の主婦は肝が据わっている。一見慌てているようで、実はどうにかなるという確信が体内にある。人生経験を無駄には重ねていないことがわかる。
 We left Nikko for Yokohama at 7 in the morning, but due to the traffic conjestion on the Metropolitan highway, we arrived at the place for concert much later than the expected time, therefore we missed the time for rehearsal. We ended up our performance with no rehearsal but with a great success.  Women in 60s and 70s have iron nerves and can do with determination. They look nervous or pretend to be nervous at the last moment but they have confidence, deep in their minds, of the success of their performance, in another word, they are impudent. That comes from their experiences piled up through their long life.


今回歌った童謡は、作詞（作曲ではないのが意外）が我々のグループの指導者によるものであり、作曲は一見可憐な大和撫子ながら、心には力強いエネルギーを秘めた女性によるもので、歌えば歌う程、従来の童謡とは異なるリズムが繊細な歌の文句を躍らせて非常に感情豊かなハーモニーを産み出してくれる作品。まさに「き・も・ち」と表題がついた本の中の６曲が歌われた。作曲された方も会場に駆けつけて、初公開のご自分の曲を聴かれた感想は「素敵に上品に歌っていただいた」と喜ばれ、団員はホッとした次第。実際に作品を作り上げた方の指導でこのように歌ったのは初めての経験であり、幸運なことである。終わった後の作詞作曲家の表情から、何とか彼等の思いに近いものが精一杯表現されたのではないだろうか。楽しく歌えるということが良い結果につながるものと信じている。
The lylics of songs we sang this time are made by the leader of our choir group, while melodies are by a Japanese woman who looks quiet and fragile but she is energetic with strong power in herself. As we practice to sing her notes, we understand that all her pieces are well composed with very rich and delicate feeling to produce a comfortable and enjoyable harmony of tones in a different way from conventional songs for children. The title of the book is "Ki.Mo.Chi" meaning" Feeling". The composer showed up in the hall and listened to our performance. "Thank you for singing our pieces in such a gentle and dignitary mood." was what she commented afterward. We were relieved with her kind comments. We were rather lucky and honored to be able to introduce their new pieces as the first performer. We tryed to keep smiling faces at least during our performance in order to attempt doing our best.

コンサート全般は真心が溢れ、素直で一生懸命さが会場を熱くした大変素晴らしいものであった。トップに立って指導されているひまわりのように燦々と輝く７５歳の大庭照子先生のソロとトークは天下一品。６０歳７０歳は花盛りと歌われるそのお声の力強くて迫力のある舞台には会場全体が感動していた。童謡を次の世代に伝えていく使命が我々には託されているというメッセージを後押ししていかなければとつくづく思った。
The National Summit Concert was participated by 15 groups from Hiroshima on the west to Sendai on the east and as a whole it turned to be very successful encouraged by the great lady like a big sun-flower shinning under the clear sky who initiated this Summit, Ms.Ohba who performed her own songs and sweet but powerful talks with full of precious messages like "People in 60s and 70s are in full bloom! ". "We have to acknowledge our responsibility to convey those songs for children full of affectionate messages to the next generation." This action has to be kept going on and on...

一方で、自由時間はフル活用。早朝の散策、地元の人との触れ合いも出来たし、昨晩のクルーズの場所も再確認。横浜美術館でのプーシキン美術展にも何人かと一緒に足を運んだ。これも素晴らしいコレクション。ついでに横浜ランドマークビルにも入り、昼食をとったりしてホテルに戻る。預けた荷物を引き取って、待機中のバスに乗り込み、予定通りに帰路につく。そして帰路のバスの中は順繰り全員が指名を受けて感想を述べ、語っていくうちに、興奮と感動の中に埋もれて行き、バスは笑いと叫びで充満し、尋常ではなかった。みんな１０歳ぐらい若返ったのではないだろうか。
The next day, I went out early in the morning to 　　　　walk around to enjoy a different air and feature.
Also did I make sure where we were last night. (We all choir members and the people concerned were on board "Royal Wing" for dinner last night to congratulate the successful event and to deepen our friendship. It was at Osanbashi but I couldn't understand exactly where we were. ) Osanbashi is named "Whale's back" constructed 7 years ago so as to be gentle for environement by using all woods for the floor. I found it just marvelous. If I lived nearby, I could come up here to have an everyday walk. Then I moved to Yamashita Park to find myself in the local people who are used to do exercise every morning listening to a small radio broadcasting
nationwide Radio Excercise program. Back in hotel, I joined our group to have breakfast, then I went to Yokohama Art Museum with some friends to see "Pousikin Art Exhibition" which was well organized and well displayed. I was happy to be able to enjoy the marvelous collection. Then in order to utize our free time left, we walked to Yokohama Landmark to do shopping or just window shopping and had lunch. Then we all walked down to our hotel to pick up our bags to get ready to go back home. As scheduled we were all set on the tour bus back again. I expected our return journey would be quiet to let us in sleep after such active behavior. On the contrary it produced a totally different world full of talks and laughs. The bus was almost exploded. It was after 9 at night when I got back   home safe.
何故か下の画像がついてまわって削除不可能。由緒ある建物だけにしつこい。