Yes, I understand ... it is so sad and yet so real ... when you see my music choices when I write here, you largely see musicians and composers whom I have literally vetted. Bach and Bruckner appear a lot because they backed up what they wrote with their lives ... my favorite bass is my favorite because ... same thing, as lovely a person as the voice. When one can choose one's company in music it is a good thing ... but in working with choirs and big organizations, this is not always possible.

Justice came very harshly here. I still have a church, and a choir -- a children's choir, with whom I am able to teach everything from George Frederic Handel through Negro Spirituals through gospel right down to my own songs in blends of all that. Everyone else on the foolishness lost everything: what time and consequences alone did not take, Covid-19 utterly destroyed. It does not please me to write that. It was all so unnecessary. The grace of God means there is enough room for everyone to be supported and to achieve their best ... but some people are still listening to the devil talking about "All this I'll give you if you will bow down and worship me." He always lies, and destruction of much good always results. Sometimes, getting out of the way is the best course of action -- being collateral damage when the judgment comes is not always necessary.

Finally, my favorite piece by Bruckner, the Benedictus of his F minor Mass ... I bless you in the name of the Lord, my friend, and return your hug.