Tonight was the third choral rehearsal for the Bach Mass in B Minor, and Carl says that the choir now has gone through every piece at least once. Even though there were a number of people missing, Carl still had to remind people not to oversing. “We only have continuo accompaniment in many sections, and we can’t drown out the instruments.”

I would say, though, that finally the choir is “coming together” and is feeling more comfortable with the high tessitura. “Keep it light,” Carl kept saying tonight, especially to the first sopranos who have many high Bs and As to float. We did have to do a little “woodshedding” with parts played on the piano.

We have just received word that a few of our Honolulu Symphony players who left Hawaii last fall in search of work will be returning to  play in our Bach Mass in B minor performances. What a joy and a relief this news is!