Olso School Concert
We had a fantastic school concert for elementary students on Friday morning. The boys were in quite good form for so early in the morning and having just arrived the day before. Before we sang in Norwegian, I asked the children to clap in a way that indicated how well we sang in their language. Their applause were thunderous.
There was a second KSB birthday. We sang to him as he conducted, and then we asked if they would sing to our singer. Did they ever! You must picture an entire elementary school of Norwegian children singing their hearts out, complete with the Shosholoza turn around. Very sweet. The receiving lines after the concert were great fun. All of the Norwegian children were intent on shaking hands and doing high fives with all of our boys. We sang South African songs as they processed out with big Norwegian smiles. All were delighted by the connection. Ubuntu!
Ship Musems
From there we went to the Viking Museum. What an awesome thing to be looking at ships that were built in 1400 years ago. We bartered our admission for a short concert, which was performed on a second floor landing looking down over a throng of tourists and directly in front of a Viking ship. It was as if the ship was coming right for us. Cool!
While at the Viking Museum we had sectional rehearsals for our Nobel event pieces. Right in the parking lot! Tourists would stop and listen. While rehearsing the Grads, our “Late Six +1” arrived. Always a happy occasion when the boys are reunited.
Next stop was the Kon tiki Museum, where we also sang for our supper, and then the Fram museum. Both were very neat, but the Fram especially so. This is the ship that Amundsen sailed to Antarctica on his historic voyage. Obviously, KSB feels a special kinship with Amundsen. When I first asked if we could sing on the deck of the Fram, the director said it would not be possible. But then we sang Ved Rondane for her. She was spellbound by our “perfect Norwegian.”
Before you knew it, we were on the Fram singing away. It was a hoot. We sang “Dance Boatman Dance” – of course! Grads too in the falsetto! It was quite surreal, thinking that, surely, Amundsen and his crew sang on that very deck during their journey. To pass the time. To keep morale up. To stay connected to one another in a wonderful, but long, challenging, arduous journey. Tour!
Amundsen was also the first to sail the Northwest passage. The ship he sailed on that voyage sits behind the Fram museum. We sang a little snippet of Fitz’ Old Northwest in honor of the journey.
The Scream!
Then it was on to the Munch museum. Pictures below. ‘Nuf said!
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Vigeland Take Two
We finished our day with a second stop at Vigeland Park so that the Late Six +1 could experience this breathtaking outdoor museum. Put this on your bucket list – it’s a must see. How wonderful that you’ve made it possible for your sons to check it of theirs at such a young age. It’s always a question as to whether young people can appreciate such art at a young age. I believe our boys do. Especially with the help of the Tour Journal which ensures they know what they’re looking it. Thanks to Martha. She did a breathtaking job with this year’s journal. A real KSB labor of love.
Homestay Sing Take Two
We sang a second Norwegian piece for our homestays. We were late meeting them. Nothing asks for forgiveness better than boys singing in one’s language. No phone calls from homestays for the second night in a row, so all the boys must be happy and well.
Oh, last night we took Frederik, the director of Sovlguttene out to dinner. A lovely man. Always fun to trade choir stories and to discover that no matter where you are in the world, the joy and challenges of running a boychoir are the same! It was there that we were re-united with Martha, who upon arriving in Norway with me, went right off to Aurland and Bergen to put finishing touches on the itinerary. Another labor of love. Thanks Martha!
On to the Aung San Suu Kyi event. We have no idea what to expect, but it should be quite a nobel adventure! And then our joint concert with Solvguttene, which promises to be wonderful.
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