The 126th Installment
My Turning Point “Ode to Joy”
by Kiyomi Miyoshi,
Professor
My Turning Point “Ode to Joy”
In December, Ode to Joy is heard along with Christmas songs. I think that there will be fewer chances to hear the 9th Symphony this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The first time I participated in a 9th Symphony chorus was a concert at Suntory Hall on December 29, 2004. After that, I participated at Suntory Hall again in 2008 and 2012, and at Osaka-Jo Hall as a member of a 10,000-person choir in 2017. This was my first time taking part in Ode to Joy at Suntory Hall, and it was one of the turning points in my life. It is no exaggeration to say that the experience at that time became the basis for my actions today.
It all started from wanting to give better presentations
When it comes to choruses, the last time was when I lip-synced at a high school music performance, and I only sang at karaoke in my 20s. Besides that, I learned a little piano and singing in a mandatory music education class at my university (it was a required class in the Faculty of Education). Even though I am a member of a chorus, the original reason for coming to standing on stage at Suntory Hall is because I wanted to become better at giving presentations. I will explain how giving presentations and chorus are connected, since I am sure many are confused. Around 2003, when I was a company employee, the departments in my company were reorganization, and I had more opportunities to give presentations due to changes in job descriptions and processes. I did not have much difficulty creating materials using PowerPoint or summarizing content, but I could not give explanations in front of people as well as I thought, so I wanted to become better at it. Now there are a lot of books and videos about giving presentations, but this was not the case back then.
Receiving Encouragement
As a result of thinking a lot about how to communicate with others and make explanations, I arrived at these two things: vocalization and enunciation. This is when I saw that they were recruiting members for the 9th Symphony chorus to sing Ode to Joy at Suntory Hall. There would be one practice per week for six months, and the performance would be on stage at Suntory Hall with a real orchestra.
I was so motivated by being able to perform at Suntory Hall that I had forgotten all about giving better presentations. However, as I mentioned earlier, music was not a part of my life, and I was extremely busy at work every day due to the restructuring of my company’s organization. I was worried that I could not pull it off. Then I heard that my boss was in a chorus. So I found the courage and asked about it, and was given encouragement and told that everything would work out fine. It would not be an exaggeration to say that receiving this encouragement (instead of comments such as how busy we were and how German is difficult) and performing at Suntory Hall made me into the person I am today. In July of that year, I started to go to practice every Wednesday. Under the guidance of the chorus teacher and the voice trainer, I practiced getting the correct pitch and the pronunciation of German, practicing by parts, and started chorus practice in earnest from September.
Being in Harmony as a Large Group
The chorus teacher gave various instructions: “Listen to your own voice,” “Listen to the voices of others in your part,” “Listen to the voices of those in other parts,” “Sing as a part of the whole chorus.” Even trying to sing following the notes, listening to those around you can make you realize that you are actually a little off and where along in the score you should be. With these small changes in awareness, a beautiful harmony was formed from what had been a collection of disparate voices. We were also told not to try to sing high notes that were hard for us and to sing properly. Chorus is not a case of simple addition but multiplication. If there is even one zero (an off note), it will ruin everything.
In the actual performance, the chorus, orchestra, and soloists would come together to be in harmony, with echoes and reverberations that fill the entire hall. And all the sounds uniting would create a trembling splendor.
Conductors are Amazing
In December, the orchestra was led by the maestro Tetsuji Honna. At first, probably due to nervousness, no one in the chorus could properly vocalize. However, the maestro gave simple instructions, such as “Raise the tempo!” or “Stay on beat!”, and made large and small movements with both of his hands and entire body. All of this helped us to gradually become better. We were able to create beautiful music by following the fortes, crescendos, pianos, and other directions on the musical score, as well as the maestro’s movements that could not be expressed or interpreted on paper. When he stretched his arms out, our voices also rose. One could say that he was bring out the voices inside of the singers using his hands and whole body. Despite neither singing nor using an instrument, it is mysterious how the mere presence of the conductor makes everyone ten times more powerful. The time passed quickly despite being on our feet for 90 minutes.
Double Fugues where Different Things Come Together as One
The double fugues could be considered the climax of the 9th Symphony. A fugue is when the melody of the first part is initially followed by the same melody, with each part undergoing various changes as the song progresses. For the double fugues, the two progress at the same time. In short, it is like playing many different songs at the same time in a circular canon (although a canon is different from a fugue).
In the 9th Symphony, two melodies, one with two beats and the other with three beats, seem to never come together, and eventually create a wonderful melody by melding in 6/4 time. The two melodies, which seemingly could not become one, progress simultaneously, become one, and create an excellent piece of music. These double fugues are moving no matter how many times you listen to them. When the four parts combine well in practice, even we are impressed and feel a sense of accomplishment.
Orchestras are Projects
Project management is often likened to an orchestra, but when you actually experience it in the music world, you really feel like it is. Conductors are like project managers, you have to listen to your own voice and the voices of others (and keep the work of others in mind), both have multiplication effects, and the double fugues that come together. While IT projects and music are in completely different worlds, there are aspects of both that share many similarities.
Just Jump in When in Doubt
Regardless of whether the presentation that inspired me in the first place actually improved, my participation in this 9th Symphony chorus became one of the turning points in my life. I realized that I had been ignoring all of the many different fun things that were all around me. My horizons broadened from that point on, and I just jumped into things I was not sure of, and started things I was unsure of achieving. And through encountering various people, I am inspired by their ways of thinking and living. This experience of jumping into “Ode to Joy” also led me to enroll in AIIT when it had just opened in 2006.
In retrospect, it all started with encouragement when I was in doubt. I also try to encourage those who are feeling anxious. I hope everyone will take the plunge and try something they are not used to.