They say there are many different ways to spend Christmas eve. In Japan it is a national holiday today, so many people are taking it easy, I suppose. For those “in the business,” though (of church music), today is no day of rest. Here is how we spend it at Rikkyo University.
9:00 am: arrive on campus, duel with Beckerath organ in the chapel for two hours (why WILL it make mistakes in the fast passages?)
11:00 have an “it absolutely must be today” meeting with students for the upcoming England tour
12:00 10 minute lunch break
12:10 realize seating chart for the mass choir is all wrong and tear off to Tucker Hall to rework it. Good for the digestion.
12:30-3:00 choir rehearsals in the not-so-lovely ambience of Tucker Hall (see above photo – it has the resonance of your bedroom closet, though it seats 1500)
4:00 start of the all-Rikkyo Schools Christmas Eve service. As usual, people stood in line for over an hour to get a seat, yet there were still people in the aisles. All of the young musicians were great, from grade school to university level. Youth Power!! Singers came from all the Rikkyo Schools: Rikkyo Primary School, Rikkyo Niiza Jr/Sr High, Ikebukuro Jr/Sr High, and the University Chapel choir. They numbered 120 singers, backed by a 20-piece brass ensemble and organ. Exciting! The primary school boy who sang verse one of “Once in Royal David’s City” was a star. Imagine yourself standing in a very non-resonant room surrounded by 1500 people and singing a solo without accompaniment. It be a living nightmare for me, but the boy sang with out batting an eyelid.
6:00 short rehearsal for choir party entertainment (Sound of Music excerpts, don’t you know! Do you want to hear me sing “The hills are alive” again? What’s your budget?)
7:00 choir party: tons of food, live entertainment provided by members, present exchange.
choir party food
“the wife” provided a particularly festive dish
KURIPA (Christmas Party in young-people jargon)
9:00 rest for the old (me), but caroling for the choir.
10:00 the old ones (me) head back over to the chapel to battle the Beckerath organ for one more hour.
11:00 rehearsal of the choir and midnight mass instrumentalists
11:45 IT’S SHOWTIME (again)
1:30 am: end of the mass, time to head home for some champagne. The choir heads off to hotels.
Now don’t you wish your had chosen church music as a career? But wait, there’s more! We get to gather again tomorrow morning at 9:00 for the Christmas Day high mass!!! The fun just doesn’t stop. Until noon, when the choir and I finally finish our Christmas duties. Good thing Christmas only comes once a year, I say.
Merry Christmas to you and yours!
Merry Christmas – you add to the joy of Christmas for so many with your profession.
I remember the fun craziness of Rikkyo Christmas – it certainly helped me forget to get homesick… This year, I took it easy, only a Lessons and Carols service in a tiny church up in the hills (choir of 10, congregation of about 20) and midnight mass last night – but just as a member of the congregation. Hope you can enjoy some rest now! Merry Christmas to you and your family!
Merry Christmas, Angelika. We were just remembering your visit to our house Christmas Eve some years ago. This morning two German grad students attended the high mass. Have a nice holiday season.
Thanks, Lynda. It is a nice profession do be in, especially at this time of year. Are the Beckers having a nice holiday?
wonderful christmas with the laughter of our newest grandson . . . joy was experienced by all
He is a real cutie, too. We have enjoyed his photos on FB.