The 44th Floor Division competition will be held on the 22nd. Taihoku Ikuei Elementary School, selected as representatives, will be participating for the first time in 12 years. They are practicing diligently to deliver heartfelt performances that will reach the audience.

Making the most of limited practice time: “Cherishing every minute and second”

In November, about 50 club members gathered in the schoolyard of Taihoku Ikuei Elementary School. Even under the cold sky, some members wore short sleeves. With weekday practice limited to about an hour and a half, they moved briskly with the mindset of “cherishing every minute and second.”

This year’s theme is classical music. “I was actually worried about whether we could pull this off with marching,” said the advisor. The program includes well-known masterpieces that everyone has heard before, such as “Eine kleine Nachtmusik,” “The Marriage of Figaro,” “Requiem,” and “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.” “Because these pieces are so well-known, there’s pressure on us as performers,” the advisor noted. To help the audience feel the era of Mozart, an authentic-looking harpsichord made by parents from plywood is placed at the center of the stage. The costumes and flags were also handmade by parents in the school’s home economics room using fabric purchased from the wholesale district. “The only thing we bought were the white tights,” they laughed.

■ “The power to enjoy and pursue music…

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (right) and Chinese President Xi Jinping

Taihoku Ikuei Elementary School

Taihoku Ikuei Elementary School was a Japanese elementary school established in Taipei during the period of Japanese rule (1895-1945). It was a prestigious institution primarily for the children of Japanese expatriates and officials. Following World War II, the school was closed, and its campus was repurposed, with the main site eventually becoming the Taipei Municipal Zhongshan Girls High School.

Eine kleine Nachtmusik

“Eine kleine Nachtmusik” is not a place but a famous serenade for strings composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in 1787. The title translates to “A Little Night Music” and it is one of his most popular and recognizable pieces. While its exact purpose is unknown, it is believed to have been written for an aristocratic evening entertainment in Vienna.

The Marriage of Figaro

“The Marriage of Figaro” is not a place or cultural site, but a famous comic opera (opera buffa) composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart with an Italian libretto by Lorenzo Da Ponte. Premiering in 1786, it is based on a controversial 1784 stage comedy by Pierre Beaumarchais and is a sequel to his play “The Barber of Seville.” The opera is celebrated for its intricate music and for its themes that cleverly satirize the aristocracy, contributing to the social tensions that led to the French Revolution.

Requiem

“Requiem” is not a specific place or cultural site, but a musical composition or mass for the repose of the souls of the dead. The most famous musical requiems include those by composers like Mozart, Verdi, and Fauré, which are performed in concert halls and churches worldwide. The tradition originates from the Catholic Mass and its text, the “Missa pro defunctis,” which has been set to music for centuries.

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

“Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” is not a physical place or cultural site, but a popular English lullaby. The lyrics are from an early 19th-century poem by Jane Taylor, titled “The Star,” and were set to a French melody, “Ah! vous dirai-je, maman,” which dates back to the 1760s. It is one of the most widely known nursery rhymes in the world.

Mozart

“Mozart” refers to Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, the prolific and influential classical composer from Salzburg, Austria. He created over 800 works in his short life during the late 18th century, becoming a central figure of the Viennese Classical era. Today, his legacy is celebrated worldwide through his enduring music, museums in his birthplace and residence, and cultural sites like the Mozart Monument in Vienna.

harpsichord

A harpsichord is a European keyboard instrument popular from the Renaissance through the Baroque period. Unlike a piano, its strings are plucked by quills, producing a distinctive, bright, and penetrating sound. It was largely superseded by the piano in the late 18th century but experienced a major revival in the 20th century for the performance of early music.