世界の国歌は、長さ、曲調、使う言語など実にさまざまだ。ドイツはハイドンの作曲。「君が代」は短いが、数分続く国も。悲しげな調べもあれば勇ましい曲もある。その国の言葉で、現地の人たちと遜色ない発音で歌う。
その数は70を超える。
9年前、知人が催す集いがあり、台湾の駐日代表の前で歌ったのが始まり。以降、各国から依頼が相次ぎ、建国記念日などの公式行事に呼ばれる。事前にチェックしてもらうが、アフリカ・レソトの大使からセソト語の発音指導を40分近く受けたこともあった。
「みなさん、本当に喜んで下さる。美しい音には魂が宿る。日本とその国の国歌を歌うことで温かい心のエネルギーを交換できる」
東京生まれ。民謡好きの父のもと、音楽は身近だった。小6の授業でシューベルトの「魔王」を聴いた。言葉は分からないのに心を奪われた。「私も200年後に残る音楽家になりたい」と、桐朋学園大学音楽学部に進んだ。いまは声楽の教室を開くかたわら、オペラやコンサートの舞台に立つ。
東京五輪に向けて提案がある。小学校ごとに一つの国を担当し、選手村の入村式で子どもたちがその国の国歌を歌って迎えてはどうか。歴史や社会、音楽の勉強にもなる。「世界の人たちに最高のおもてなしになります」。もちろん指導は引き受ける覚悟だ。
Ms.Masako Shindo (56)
A soprano that sings national anthems of more than 70 foreign countries.
The national anthems vary according to the countries of the world in points of length, melody and word language. The national anthem of Germany was composed by Haydn.The Japanese one, Kimigayo, is comparatively short. Some of them are long, lasting a few minutes, either sorrowful or brave.
She can sing more than 70 of them in the original words and in pronunciations as well as the original people do.
Nine years age, she sung in front of the Taiwan ambassador to Japan at the party held by one of her acquaintances, and this singing of hers triggered many other countries to invite her for the singing, for instance, to the ceremony of the commemoration of the founding of the nation. She has had
her pronunciation checked in advance. Actually she was instructed by the
ambassador Lesotho to Africa for about 40 minutes in the pronunciation of
セソト.語
She says“Every body is very much pleased with my singing in the original
language, and beautiful sounds allow soul to inhabit in them. By singing the
Japanese anthem and the original one of the country will sure make it possible to exchange the warmth of their hearts.”
She was born in Tokyo, her father so interested in folk songs that music was
close to her. When she was in the 6th year in primary school, she enjoyed
listening to the number Mao of Schubert in a class, she was fascinated with it though she couldn’t understand the words at all. She entered the faculty of music, Tomei Gakuen Universlty, wishing to be as great a musician as he that has left a great name behind him for 200 years.
Now, while she teaches singing in her music room, she sings on the stages of opera and concerts
She has some suggestions about the Olympic games, Tokyo. How about making a use of Japanese primary school ? Each primary school takes care of a visiting country and the Japanese pupils sing the national anthem of the country to welcome them to their lodging facility.. This will be a good study of their history, society and music, and will also be the best treatment to the visitors. Needless to say, she will be willing to teach them.