Thursday mornings, I sing with the international ladies group from Andrew's school. We're all mums who like to sing. Our director, Peter, is the organist / choir director at Askimskyrka, about 15 minutes away from where we live. He has us doing Christmas music at the moment - swedish classics, english classics translated into swedish, a couple of english english classics thrown in to appease our linguistic challenges. My favourite is "Jul, jul, strålande jul" because with our 2-part harmony lady voices, it's beautiful.
Peter also has a youth choir, and he warmly welcomed my Sprout. Tonight is the first time we've come out, hence the reason I'm sitting at the back of a church during Tuesday night practice. I really hope this works out for Andrew. There are 19 young people up there, aged 14+, singing in 4 part harmony, and it's beautiful. Currently, they're singing swedish translations of English carols. Andrew may be familiar with the melodies, but he doesn't yet read swedish, so it must be interesting for him being up there, surrounded by kids he doesn't yet know, singing in a language he doesn't yet know either.
Peter also extended the invitation to the members of my ladies' group to join his regular church choir, and I'm going to take him up on it. He's incredibly kind is Peter. There is a tremendous feeling of the familiar with church music - the traditions stand no matter what country you're in or what language you're using. It's a bit like coming home. And to that end, I leave you with the current song - Caroling caroling now we go,
Christmas bells are ringing.
Caroling, Caroling through the snow,
Christmas bells are ringing.
Joyous voices sweet and clear, Sing the sad of heart to cheer
Ding dong, ding dong,
Ding dong, ding dong,
Christmas bells are ringing
Here's hoping the music of the season brings your heart to cheer too.
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