For the next five weeks there will be a hole in my life.  It is true that a trip to Europe for family and other reasons will keep me well occupied, but I will miss the Choir’s weekly get-together on Thursday evenings.

But A German Requiem will be amongst the music on my iPod, to keep me amused during some long flights and rail journeys.  Should I take the score?  It’s rather bulky and heavy.  Maybe I should just take a copy of the words.  They bear some close examination.  Even singing pieces 1 and 2 last Thursday and glancing at the English words as other voices were singing, it is clear that Brahms wrote this from his heart.  We know that his Mother had died recently, and some commentators say that another death was preying on his mind, that of an unidentified close friend.  Was this perhaps a lady friend?  It it too much of a stretch to wonder if perhaps it was someone he was so close to that he had hoped that they might have married eventually?  After all, he never did marry……..

Whatever the suppositions and imaginings, the choice of words is very powerful.  Once I return Carlos will be in full command, and I think I would benefit from understanding them fully before coming under his eagle eye and ear again.

In the meantime, happy rehearsing!