Musical memories

In September 2018 I found a flyer in my pigeon-hole at work that was advertising for upcoming performances of J.S. Bach's Christmas Oratorio and called for new singers for the choir. Well, not only had I been wanting to join a choir, but I also knew the choir director and saw that the church was not too far from my house! Like many musical families, we listen to the Oratorio at Christmas every year - usually on CD but also sometimes live. In preparation for the first rehearsal, I downloaded the music and played it on the piano. Wow! I was supposed to be able to sing those fast coloratura passages and trills and octave jumps? I considered backing out, but thought that my years of choir experience and voice lessons would just be put to a test now. How glad I am that I went! Singing with 15 other basses, my voice seemed to be carried along from one measure to the next. The choir director, Irene Ziegler, stood behind the piano, looked at the score, played the piano blind and condu