On Friday in Portland and Saturday here, we sang Bach's b-minor Mass. It's a test of singing endurance. It's about 2 hours of melismas. That's when you sing about 20 notes quickly on one syllable or, as Steve likes to say, singing like an "unmanned fire hose."
This festival is wonderful. The 75-year-old German conductor who co-founded the event in 1970 still conducts us. He is a fount of knowledge about Bach, and always conducts from memory. He is also very funny. Always has jokes and funny faces ready for the choir.
He is the heart and soul of the Festival and-luckily-is in good health. I don't know what will happen here without him.
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