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My father gave me my love of music. He played violin and piano for pleasure, he sang in choirs, his father and other family members were musical throughout their lives. He used to say to me of my grandfather, “He could get a tune out of most instruments.” Armonico Consort Programme and two scores for Bach's St Matthew Passion, with yellow flowers. (photo credit SC Skillman) For many years Dad sang in a local mixed-voice adult choir in Orpington, Kent, where I was born and brought up. When I was nine he encouraged me to join the children’s choir led by the same chorus director. Throughout my life since then I’ve always joined a choir wherever I’ve lived (including Australia). Dad and I have shared many funny stories of colourful characters in the music world, especially chorus directors and conductors we've worked under. Dad had a great sense of humour, and he favoured dry wit and irony. We both loved The Bluffers' Guides  series of books and our favourite was Bluff your Way...