For me, attending "Music Weeks in Sweden" has truly been an incomparable, eye-opening experience. The two weeks in the summers of 2003 and 2005 have been a couple of the most action-packed and tiring weeks of my life, but they were without doubt the most fulfilling. From the meals (delicious food), to warming-up, to choir rehearsals, to socializing, to jam sessions, to soirées, to night cafés… there was little time to kick back and do nothing, although I'm sure one could be a party-pooper and nap through free time (a block of time in the afternoon). But usually people are so active and pumped about making music and the coming concert that few opt the former. Instead, we play Frisbee, Kubb, ping-pong, climb roofs, play with the little kids, and take advantage of the facilities, namely the sound-proof practice rooms equipped with pianos. Others join the orchestra or various other ensembles and perform the music they've practiced during the soirées at night. The soirées were a great part of the Week, where sharing talents, entertainment and encouraging each other was key. People of all ages took part and it was heartening to see even the youngest child perform with a smile on stage.
I was fortunate enough to participate in the Chamber Choir in addition to the big choir. For those who enjoy smaller musical groups, the Chamber Choir is ideal. The ages in this group spanned from boy sopranos to teens to adults. Being under Richard Cooke's direction forced me to brush up my sight-reading abilities in order to soak in his invaluable instruction, gestures and anecdotes. He is one of the most enthusiastic and passionate people I know whose ardor exudes and compels everyone to sing and perform to perfection. Moreover, as a pianist, I was awed by Richard Pearce's ease with accompanying; he plays the most difficult pieces with such effortlessness. I was blown away more by his humble and modest disposition. The concert itself in the breathtaking Lund cathedral was bone-chilling; goosebumps are an understatement. It was wonderful to see how a mere week could produce a near-professional concert performance.
As a teenage American, I never once felt like an outsider; there were countless sociable and friendly Swedes my age with whom I hung out with during free time and night cafés, sometimes staying up to all hours of the morning watching a movie in the theatre downstairs or simply talking (their English is impeccable), all bundled up in blankets outside in the cool air. The party after the concert was unquestionably the capstone of the week. Celebrating with the people I came to know so well during the course of the week was a most satisfying conclusion. We danced the night away to a live band and reveled in the success of the week.
From picking up Swedish phrases to learning how to count, to listening to students' experiences studying abroad, to singing during the party (in near-perfect 4-part harmony while tipsy, mind you) in between bites to eat, to taking part in the tradition Swedish group hug on the last day, I had absorbed some random Swedish culture. While hugging one friend during that group hug, he said to me, "See you next Week," to which I responded with a bewildered look – I would have flown out of Sweden by then. But then it clicked and I smiled, for yes indeed, I would see him next Week.
Yi-Fen Li
Brown University