歌の前奏を聴き、曲名を当てるクイズ・・・「脳トレの一環」

　昨日、私の家の前の「上四集会所」で行われた「高齢者あんしんセンター倉賀野」主催による「のびのび健幸クラブ」で会員である私も汗をかきました。指導者はあんしんセンターの若き女性職員２名です。最初に血圧測定を行いました。私は１３０台で安心しました。その後、１５名程の全員でウォーミングアップに始まり、手足の筋力アップ、みんなの体操、鬼石体操をしました。

　その後、今回は珍しく「脳トレの一環として」有名な歌の前奏を聴いて、その曲名を当てるクイズです。そしたら、私にピアノで前奏を弾くように依頼があり、楽譜はありませんが、昔から歌われてる知ってる曲だったので、左手で伴奏もつけ、どうにか弾きました。結果的に、会員の中にすぐに答えてくれた人がいて嬉しかったです。彼女は普段、合唱している方でした。

　その後、全員で３曲とも元気に歌いました。体操だけでなく歌を歌うと皆さんの表情が溌溂としてきます。曲は「椰子の実」「高原列車は行く」「上を向いて歩こう」です。特に「高原列車は行く」の前奏はかなり長いですが、ピアノを弾き始めたら元気のよい曲なので、どうにか最後まで弾けました。

　実は「上を向いて歩こう」を歌い終わったとき、私は皆さんの前で、群馬県上野村の御巣鷹山に眠る「坂本九」さんの墓参りをしたことを話しました。その時、１５羽程のレース鳩を持って行き、有名な「昇魂之碑」の前で、犠牲となられた５２０名のご冥福を祈り、写真のように鳩を放したことがあります。鳩は翌日、５０キロほど離れた私の家にすべて帰りました。

Dear my friends who are crazy about nature, humans and great music.

　The simultaneous interpretation into English for our mutual understanding will be done after my breakfast in Japan time.

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　Yesterday, I perspired at the "Nobinobi Health Club" organized by the "Elderly Safety Center Kuragano-town" held at the Kam-4th Community Center named "Furusato" in front of my house. The instructors were two young lady staff from the Safety Center. First, we had our blood pressure measured. I was relieved to see that it was in the 130s. After that, about 15 members started with a warm-up, then we did some arm and leg strength training, NHK's Minna no Taiso, and Onishi Taiso.

　After that, "As part of our brain training", the members listened to the introductions of famous songs and guess the name of the song. Then, I was asked to play the introductions by the piano. Although there was no sheet music, it was a song I knew that had been sung for a long time, so I played intro melody together with my left hand for accompaniment. In the end, I was happy because one of the members answered right away. She was a member who usually sings in a choir.

　After that, we all sang all three songs with great energy. Not only we do the trainings, but singing the songs made everyone's expressions more lively. The songs were "Yashi no Mi, Coconut," "Kohgenressha wa yuku, The Highland Train Is Going," and "Ueomuite aruko, Sukiyaki." The intro of "Kohgenressha wa yuku" is particularly long, but once I started playing the piano, due to a lively song, so I somehow managed to play it to the end.

　In fact, when we finished singing "Sukiyaki," I told everyone that I had visited the grave of "Sakamoto Kyu," who rests on Mount Osutaka in Ueno Village, Gumma Prefecture. On that occasion, I brought about 15 racing pigeons with me, and in front of the famous "Shokon-no-hi" monument, I prayed for the repose of the souls of 520 people who became victim by the JAL's clash accident, and released the pigeons as shown in the photo. The next day, all pigeons returned to my home, which is about 50 kilometers away.