離れていても「大合奏」、コロナ禍の憂うつ癒やすハーモニー

【東京ＡＦＰ＝時事】トロンボーンからバイオリン、パーカッションまで、それぞれの奏者が音を合わせる──だが、今回の演奏会はいつもとは違う。新日本フィルハーモニー交響楽団の60人を超える団員らがこのほど、テレワークで「合奏」した。（写真は東京の自宅でテューバを演奏し、その様子を録画する、新日本フィルハーモニー交響楽団の佐藤和彦さん）
　新型コロナウイルスのパンデミック（世界的な大流行）でテレワークの潮流が広がる中、音楽界でも新たな試みが行われている。楽団員らが各自のパートを収録し、それらをテクノロジーを用いて重ね合わせることで、楽しげな合奏が仕上がった。
　テューバ奏者の佐藤和彦さん（４４）は、テレワークでの演奏と聞いて、最初は信じられないと思ったという。「そうはうまくいかないだろうと……半分だまされたような感じだった」
　しかし、演奏会が中止、延期され、楽団員が家で身動きの取れない中では、これが音楽を届ける唯一の方法だった。
　バイオリン奏者のビルマン聡平さん（３５）は最初、テレワークの演奏を楽観していた。
　ビルマンさんはＡＦＰに対し「何年も何年も一緒に音楽を作っている仲間が、同じ動画を見聞きしながら弾くので、絶対合うだろうと思っていた」と笑顔で語った。だが「全く合わなかった」という。
　普段楽団で演奏する際は、他の団員の呼吸や目の動きを見ながら演奏を調和させる。今回はリズムや音の高さの微調整のため、何度か撮り直しを行わなければならなかったという。

■「音楽で励まされるという動きが必ず出てくる」
　トロンボーン奏者の山口尚人さん（４５）は、今回のような危機に見舞われると、音楽は無力だと感じることがあるという。前回そう感じたのは、２０１１年の東日本大震災の時。世の中には「音楽どころじゃない」という雰囲気があった。
　それでも、今後も愛する音楽を続けていくという山口さんは、音楽を通じて、世界中の誰とでもコミュニケーションが取れる、言葉はいらない、と話す。
　「少し落ち着いてきた時に、やっぱり音楽で励まされるんだという動きが必ず出てくる」「僕らはまた必要とされる時が来るだろう」
　演奏はこちら（ｗｗｗ．ｙｏｕｔｕｂｅ．ｃｏｍ／ｗａｔｃｈ？ｖ＝ｋＴ９ａＯ３ｑＬｉｓｗ）で鑑賞できる。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2020/04/07-12:58）

The members of the New Japan Philharmonic orchestra tune up for their latest recital, more than 60 musicians ranging from trombonists to violinists and percussionists -- but this is no ordinary performance.
In a musical twist on the telework trend forced on the world by the coronavirus pandemic, they appear in tiny blocks on screen, recording their parts separately before technology brings them together in joyous harmony.
The on-screen mosaic shows some musicians performing in their tiny apartments, others playing their instruments outside under a bright blue sky.
In scenes familiar to millions working from home globally, one veteran violinist has two toddlers -- apparently his grandchildren -- larking about in the corner.
And a trombone player has a pet bird perched next to him as the orchestra belts out not Beethoven or Mozart but Paprika -- probably Japan's most popular children's song.
Tuba player Kazuhiko Sato said he was incredulous when the idea of the teleworking orchestra was first floated.
I didn't think this would work. I felt as if I was being tricked into something, said Sato, 44.
But with all orchestra members stuck at home and concerts cancelled or postponed, this was the only way to make their music heard.
Sato confined himself in a soundproof room and filmed on a smartphone his tuba part -- mostly a rhythmical low-pitched da-da-da.
Second violinist Sohei Birmann, 35, was more bullish about the teleworking trial initially.
We have played together for years and years to create music, so I thought we could do it with no problem, Birmann told AFP with a smile.
The result of it was totally out of rhythm.
Usually when we play in the orchestra, we harmonise ourselves using the breath or eye movements of other members, he said.
They had to do several takes of their respective videos, he said, fine-tuning the rhythm and pitch.
- 'Most unbearable thing' -
The mastermind of the teleworking orchestra is trombonist Hisato Yamaguchi, 45.
An orchestra like ours creates music together within a group of 80 musicians. Having to stay alone and not be able to come together to play is the most unbearable thing, he said.
With coronavirus cases spiking in Tokyo in recent days, Governor Yuriko Koike has pleaded with residents to work from home and avoid all unnecessary trips.
The pandemic has had a huge impact on the entertainment industry with venues from downtown jazz bars to large concert halls shuttered.
It has caused Sato to appreciate what the orchestra once had.
I never thought twice about playing for an audience at a concert hall and hearing fellow members playing, he said.
I now know what a wonderful moment it was.
- 'We don't need words' -
Birmann said they have learned an important lesson from the teleworking.
I think it's been a good opportunity to think about how we can reach out to an audience, rather than simply waiting for them to come to our concerts, he said.
As the killer virus upends lives and economies around the world, other prestigious orchestras have also gone virtual.
For example, the French National Orchestra has played Ravel's Bolero from home in a similar fashion.
The Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra tried the same trick with Beethoven's Ode to Joy and the Toronto Symphony Orchestra played Aaron Copland's Appalachian Spring.
As the coronavirus spreads in Japan, there are growing fears that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will soon declare a state of emergency, paving the way for greater restrictions on movement.
Trombonist Yamaguchi said although he often feels music is helpless during a crisis like this, he will stick to doing what he loves.
Last time I felt this way was the (2011 tsunami) disaster... people say 'this is no time for music', he said.
We can communicate with anybody in the world through music. We don't need words. Music gives us great encouragement.
There will be a time soon when people will need us again.
The performance can be seen here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=kT9aO3qLisw