2024 Summer to Japan (21st International Handbell Symposium) Day 1

DAY 1 (NEW YORK > TOKYO) August 3, 2024 — On the Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of the week we left, KCR and the ER1s met at Emanuel for rehearsal from 7-9 pm. We rehearsed all the pieces both for the symposium and for the Sunday concert at some point during those three rehearsals, but spent a bit more time on the pieces for the Sunday concert. There are four: Compassion by Jason Krug (a beautiful piece, with some fun little polyrhythms, which both choirs have previously performed), Galaxy Express 999 by Yukihide Takekawa (which is a theme song for a Japanese anime and generally well liked by most of us, although a few of us at first had quite some difficulties with some actually very simple rhythms), Prayer by Arnold Sherman (a simple and beautiful piece by a well-known handbell music composer who passed away a few months ago), and Song of Peace, also by Arnold Sherman (the ringers have mixed feelings about this one due to its very dissonant dissonance, but certain sources say that we have come to appreciate it). Friday morning we arrived at Emanuel at 8:15 am and made sure all the bell cases had luggage tags with their assigned traveller’s names on them, and also made sure every single piece of to-be-checked luggage had a rainbow strap (although when the rainbow straps ran out a few people had to endure neon green or orange luggage straps instead). We then had a meeting in the sanctuary to officially say goodbye and for Eiko to give a few announcements, and Pastor Martin sent us off with a blessing. Once we got to the airport, we checked in our bells and suitcases before making our way through security. From there, we had about an hour before we had to be back at our gate for boarding, so many of us went off to find lunch. Soon, it was time to board the plane, and although we were a little delayed in take off, everything went fine. Our flight time was approximately 14 hours, so to occupy the time we mostly slept, read, and watched movies/TV. Throughout the flight we got some meals and plenty of snacks from the flight attendants, who were amazing. We landed at around 5 pm Japan time, which is 4 am in New York. Everyone disembarked and headed for Customs with all of our luggage thankfully, although a cookie or two might have been left behind. Customs took 2 hours for everyone to get through, but we all made it and loaded our things onto the bus before heading to the hotel. Some of us grabbed a quick bite to eat at a market next to the hotel, and then we all settled in for a night of rest before our concert tomorrow. by Chloe & Julia (repost from KCR/ER1 Japan Tour 2024)