Tokyo Performances

Kanto Plains Choral Festival

The Kanto Plains Choral Festival was held at the University of the Sacred Heart Marion Hall on March 16. This annual event features the choirs and choral ensembles of the local international and US base schools, and it repeatedly proves that fine choral performances are routine for some of these high school ensembles.

The major players usually are The Christian Academy in Japan, St. Mary’s International School, and the International School of the Sacred Heart, as they were again this year.

Although CAJ performs beautifully, the choice of music unfortunately tends to be of the “Praise the Lord with Jubilation” genre. This year, however, one of their pieces featured an aleatory section which was breathtaking.

The base schools tried their best, but were hampered by tiny forces. The exception was Kinnick High School which has made tremendous strides over the past years.

The highlights included performances by St. Mary’s Mens’ Choir (although many of them looked, and undoubtedly were, 14 years old) and the Varsity Ensemble. They produce a full, robust sound and sing interesting music. They are best experienced with eyes closed, however, since they believe in waving their arms around and bobbing and weaving while singing. Perhaps it accounts for their excellent sound, but visually it’s very distracting.

Sacred Heart is always fantastic – beautiful singing and interesting music. Highlights this year included Walker’s “My Love Walks in Velvet” which was gorgeous and the Vocal Ensemble’s foray into Egyptian and Lebanese music “Ya Faroule” which was stunning.

The very best singers of all the schools form the Kanto Plains Honor Choir which performed two works, including another with aleatory sections. It was stunning, and the quality of performance measured up to any I have heard from professional groups in Tokyo.

Finally, all 500 students performed Stroope’s “Lamentations of Jeremiah”. And there is little more musically thrilling than being one of 15 audience members sitting on a stage while 500 singers seated in the audience serenade you.

posted by Larry Wells @ 4:39 PM