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How is the coronavirus pandemic affecting your life right now? Tell us about your experiences, feelings, and thoughts.

I am part of a large choral ensemble that will be performing Bach's Mass in b Minor. It is difficult music and I love the challenge. Up to this point choristers have been required to wear N95's or KN95's. But with the new CDC recommendations, and our county being in the moderate zone for infections, masks are now optional. There's no telling right now about whether we will wear them for the concert which is at the end of April. I've decided to keep wearing a mask, though, it muffles my voice. I don't know how long I'll continue wearing a mask. The picture that accompanies this entry is a snippet of what we are singing and shows one of the many melismatic sections. Melismas are long "chains" of notes usually sung very, very fast fast. It's usually just one syllable that is sung. So, if the word is "gloria," the first syllable, "glo", can be sung over 10 or more measures on just the "O" sound. Imagine 8 vocal parts (soprano 1, soprano 2, alto 1, alto 2, tenor 1, tenor 2, baritone, and bass) all singing different notes. Really fast. It's dramatically beautiful. Bach melismas in a pandemic. Here we go.