Page 91 of Sisters Under The Rising Sun

When Margaret takes her seat the applause becomes ecstatic. Norah lets it wash over her and her girls. She holds up her hands for quiet and mouths, ‘Thank you, let’s give the captain something to remember.’

Suppressed smiles from the audience disappear as Norah turns towards her orchestra and raises her right arm. With the flick of her hand, the jaunty notes escape and float over the audience, building and receding as the voices bring the music to life.

A standing ovation greets the final notes. Waiting for quiet, wanting everyone to hear every note sung, Norah leads the singers into one of Beethoven’s minuets. She doesn’t need to turn around to know the women are swaying. In their heads, they are on the dance floor, in full-length dresses, in the arms of their loved ones. Norah closes her eyes and lets herself drift back into John’s arms, dancing on the lush green grass outside their home in Malaya. Surrounding her, the jungle, from which she hears a tiger calling its mate. She sees Sally looking down on them from her bedroom window when she should be asleep.

The music ends all too soon, the applause this time not instantaneous. Norah turns around and sees so many other women like her, their eyes closed, in another place and time. It is Seki who begins the applause and soon everyone has joined in.

Ena steps up to Norah. ‘That was unbelievable, you should have seen them, they were swaying, moving – it was so beautiful.’

‘I thought they would. It was a good choice. Remind me to thank Audrey for suggesting it. Now, let’s give them the largo.’

The stirring opening notes send the women back to the first time they heard the orchestra. They are no less affected this time. For many, this music is better sung than played by instruments; they can hear the passion in the singers’ voices, the vibrating energy of their emotions.

The applause when it concludes is strong but brief; the audience is keen to hear what’s next.

On cue, Rita makes the quiet thrum of a drumbeat; gasps from the audience drown out the flutes, but not for long. This they want to hear. The clarinets follow, the harps, then the oboes. At the first step up in intensity, Norah clutches both hands to her chest; her girls don’t need her to conduct them as their voices merge and meld together. Rising, rising, the tempo thuds inside Norah’s chest, and all she can do is gaze in wonder at the women in front of her. She sees the joy the singing brings to each of them as she looks from face to face, each one smiling with their eyes athank you for making me do this.

As the orchestra reach for the final pounding notes, Norah raises her arm again, and the music stops.

This is the first time the orchestra whoop, holler and stamp their feet, along with the audience.

Once again, they have heard something so magical, it takes their breath away.

When Norah turns around, she sees Captain Seki and Ah Fat are also on their feet, clapping loudly.

It seems to take forever before Margaret kicks off the national anthem, and while the women remain standing, Seki and Ah Fat sit.

When ‘Land of Hope and Glory’ has been sung, the women know to remain where they are until Seki has left. Finally, he stands and looks around, before saying something to Ah Fat, and nods to Margaret.

‘Is that all?’ Ah Fat asks.

‘Yes, the concert is over, for tonight.’

Ah Fat has a further exchange with Seki.

‘Captain Seki says he would like you to sing a Japanese song – any song, but it must be Japanese.’

Margaret beckons Norah over and tells her what has been requested. They exchange a few words before Margaret turns back to Seki. She says, smiling sweetly, that they do not know any Japanese music.

The message is conveyed to Seki, and a further conversation takes place between him and Ah Fat. Once again, Ah Fat translates.

‘Captain Seki would like you to learn Japanese music and perform tomorrow night.’

‘No!’ gasps Norah. ‘How?’

Hearing the vehemence in Norah’s voice, Seki begins yelling. Ah Fat translates as he rants.

‘You will learn Japanese song, or he will punish you,’ he says, pointing at Norah.

‘Please tell the captain that even if I did know any Japanese music, I will not have my orchestra or the choir perform it. On that I am clear.’

Ah Fat translates to Seki, who yells something further before turning and striding away. The Japanese soldiers quickly follow him.

‘What did he say?’ Margaret asks.

Pointing at Norah, Ah Fat says, ‘She is to come back here tomorrow morning. Just her.’

As Ah Fat walks away, Norah is immediately surrounded by her girls. They offer to try to find some Japanese music.