Day 2 - Bergen, Norway to Oslo, Norway

First, I have to apologize about the formatting on my last two posts. Those look a mess. I was using my cell phone to post those and had no idea the formatting would look like that! I'm not going to fix it but will try to do some things to make it better the next time I am doing it from my phone.

Today was an early start needing to leave Bergen, Norway at 7:30 am. We got away very close to schedule and began what is a beautiful drive across Norway going from west to east, coast to coast. The scenery really was incredible and a tribute to the majesty of God especially for us flatlanders from the Midwest of the USA. Snow capped mountains, streams, fjords and water falls were absolutely gorgeous.

To start and end the journey you must go through tunnels to get through the mountains. Some of these are quite long... one took about 20 minutes to drive through.

By the way, I don't think that I've mentioned we have a fantastic coach driver named Bo who is from Sweden. He couldn't be better. Some of you who have been over with other groups have undoubtedly met him. I know he was talking about having had the Southern Territorial Songsters last year.

About half way through the day we stopped to do a mini concert for some school children and adults from the Tuv/Hemsedal area. The children in the school in Tuv raise funds annually to help support the Salvation Army in St Petersburg, Russia. So, since we were passing through we played a concert for them and were provided lunch at the Fossheim Hotel. For most of us it was the first time having "rump roast of local moose". It was a very fancy meal and for those of us, myself included, that could get past the thought of eating Bullwinkle meat it was very tasty. The dessert was a fantastic assortment of berries and some kind of dairy dessert. Very nice.

We continued on our trip across the country and arrived at Oslo Temple about 30 minutes later than we were expected. We hastily unloaded our gear, grabbed a quick bite to eat (light meal before a concert), set up the platform and prepared for the concert.

The Oslo Temple Band marched us into the hall while playing Temple 119, a new composition by their bandmaster to commemorate their 119th anniversary. Once we were in, they played "The Star Spangled Banner" followed by the Norwegian national anthem. We then resumed the concert and the rest is history. The hall was full once again and it was a very receptive crowd. I think we played better than last night but will leave it to others to tell you how well we actually did.

Following the concert we met our hosts for the night that were mostly from the Oslo Temple Corps. I am writing from my hosts home and have seen several others connecting with home via the Internet tonight.

There's been some confusion about our departure time in the morning. Hopefully, that will work out OK. I'm sure there will be some there at our announced time of 6:30 and others won't get there until our hosts were told which is 7:30.

It has been too short of a time in Norway and we will leave tomorrow. Lovely place to visit... maybe the next time we'll have more time.

Good night.

Day 1 - Chicago to Bergen, Norway

I've gotten to the end of one of those days that never seems to end.
I'll try to finish this post but may fall asleep mid sentence.

We left Chicago last night at about 10 Chicago time. Actually we left
quite a bit later than 10 but it was scheduled for 10. As I wrote
before the flight was uneventful. We did arrive late into Copenhagen.
In Copenhagen we had to clear security again but they don't make you
take off your shoes. No water allowed through though. One of our
members chose to chug her water rather than surrender her bottle.
You'll have to guess her identity.

Then, we cleared immigration into the EU. No problems there.

Once on the plane we could see them loading our suitcases. Notice I
said suitcases. When we arrived in Bergen, Norway (no immigration even
though we're not in the EU) all but six of our suitcases were there
but almost none of our instruments made it. Our Travel Coordinator was
able to determine that the missing should arrive on a flight at 5:38
PM. We had a 7:30 concert.

The band went on to the corps for a really delicious meal and those
who had bags changed into uniform for the night. Major Doliber and
Major Hagen (from Norway) waited at the airport for the missing items.

They finally arrived at the corps around 6:45. Everyone quickly
changed while the Bandmaster and percussionists went on ahead to set
up. Once there they discovered no arrangements had been made here for
music stands. But, our Norwegian hosts went to work and found some
from somewhere. By 7:55 we were playing... only 25 minutes late.

Under the circumstances I think the band played pretty well. The
lighting at the church made seeing the music a little difficult. But,
there were several hundred present to hear the concert and I think
they were satisfied. I think after a good sleep, showers and less
stress from the schedule we'll do better than we did tonight.

At the conclusion of the night Bergen Salvation Army presented us with
a plate for the band room wall.

About a third of the band are in private homes tonight. The rest are
at two different hostels - one Army owned, one not.

I have to leave at 6:30 am to get to our 7:30 am departure for our
drive across Norway. So, I think I'll sign off for now. Band geeks
will have to wait for me to post our repertoire another day.

Approaching Copenhagen, Denmark

As I write this it is 5:40 am Chicago time which makes it 12:40 pm in
Copenhagen. We have a very short connection to make in Copenhagen to
get to our first concert venue of Bergen, Norway.

We were late leaving Chicago so that SAS could get the last of the
connection bags loaded. That will put us into Copenhagen a little bit
late and I hope they'll delay our departure for our connection bags as
well.

The night flight was pretty uneventful and it appeared most of us got
at least some sleep. Personally I think I got about 4 hours thanks to
my eye shades, ear plugs, Tylenol PM and Benjamin Button. The coach
entertainment system was pretty cool - touch screen and all. Food was
good (dinner - beef; lunch - ham sandwich). Snacks were available in
the galley all night long but I didn't get there.

If you are reading this we must have landed and I must have found a
signal for my Blackberry. Stay tuned for more. I won't detail every
meal over the next 10 days! Promise.

Waiting to Board

The entire band has checked in and cleared security at O'Hare airport.
Most if not all of us are at the gate waiting to board SK944 to
Copenhagen. Apparently the flight is over sold by 50 seats. No
stretching out tonight.

We're all hoping for sleep. Shouldn't be a problem for me.

See you from Copenhagen if I have time to write. We only have 50
minutes scheduled to make our connection to Bergen, Norway.

I'm at the office today trying to finish up things before being gone for 7 business days. But, I just got a note from someone in Europe that would indicate that tickets for our concert in Dresden, Germany are being sold on E-bay. My German is very rusty (over 30 years of non-use) but I'm pretty sure that is what you will find on this link.

http://cgi.ebay.de/Chicago-Staff-Band-5-6-09-19-30-Annenkirche-Dresden_W0QQitemZ180362107446QQcmdZViewItemQQptZFestivals_Konzerte_1?hash=item29fe6b5a36&_trksid=p3911.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2%7C65%3A1%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318%7C301%3A1%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50

Tour Itinerary

As some of you know, the next thing up for the CSB is a tour of Scandinavia & Germany. We'll be in Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Germany. I've finally been able to post the public appearance schedule for the tour ( http://tinyurl.com/d6c8a6 )on our web site.

Pekin, IL - Part 2 (Sunday)

The CSB is on the bus heading back to THQ and from there home after a great visit to Pekin, IL. Captains Mount seem to be on top of things and it appears that the Salvation Army is wll supported in Pekin, a town of about 35,000 people. As stated last night, the concert on Saturday was well attended at the 1^st Church of the Nazarene with about 450 in attendance.

This morning, we were on duty at the first (i.e. 8:15 am) service at the United Methodist Church. That too was well attended. (Prior to the service the church provided the members of the band with a hot breakfast at 7:15.)

Due to space limitations only an ensemble from the band actually played but the full chorus was able to sing. The children's message “The Instruments of the Band” didn't go exactly to plan since no brave child could be found to learn to play a horn in one easy lesson. However, the point was well made anyway.

Following that service we loaded up and headed to the Salvation Army, arriving just at the tail end of their Sunday School opening. Following that opening some members of the band attended Sunday School classes and others set up the ensemble which was again on duty given the size of the platform. The Mounts gave the worship service over to us and our Executive Officer spoke on the “Stones of Israel” reminding us significant incidents in the New Testament. At the end, each in attendance were given the opportunity to receive a white stone signifying our innocence obtained by the blood of Jesus Christ.

It's always good to report that the Salvation Army hall was full. While there were a few visitors from DHQ in nearby Peoria, for the most part the hall was full of people from Pekin. That bodes well for the future of the Salvation Army in Pekin.

All in all it was a good weekend but given the hour of rising this morning it's a very quiet bus at the moment as people catch up on their Sunday afternoon nap. Once this is posted I will try uploading some photographs on our Chicago Staff Band Facebook page. If you're not a fan of that page, why not become one?

OK... Band Geeks... here's the line up from the program last evening that I promised. If you're not a band geek I'll see you next time.

• Dance Like David

• Jubilance (soloist, Peggy Thomas)

• Good Old Way

• Soon & Very Soon (vocal item)

• He Leadeth Me (vocal item)

• Testimoy (Sang Kim)

• Glorious Ventures (soloist, Jeremy Rowland)

• Memory (soloist, Kory Strand)

• Symphonette

• Intermission

• Southmount (Heartland Divisional Band, Captain Peter Mount conducting)

• Concert Piece (soloist, Brett Tolcher)

• You Raise Me Up (soloist, Heidi Strand)

• Devotional Thought (Lt. Colonel Mickey McLaren)

• Vitae Aeternum

• Nicaea (combined/massed bands)

• Cairo Red Shield (combined/massed bands)

• Choral Benediction