By far the most contentious item at this week's PCC meeting was the potential acquisition of a baby-grand piano which is being offered to the church, free of charge, by another local body. It was contentious I think because the two poles of opinion were both based around perfectly true propositions: first, 'this is a nice bit of kit we aren't having to pay for', and second 'this is something we don't strictly need'. Only personal taste could bring one down on one side or the other.
Ironically Saturday's music exams began with a terrible keyboard-related crisis. Being an Associated Board of Royal School of Music exam centre is beneficial to us in several ways - it's a service to the community, it gets people into the church who might otherwise never come near it, and we earn some helpful cash. The great majority of examinees are pianists, though on Saturday we had a real-life bassoonist with a real-life bassoon, and that doesn't happen very often. There is an elderly upright piano available for them to practice on, but yesterday it became clear very quickly that middle G wasn't working. A brief examination revealed that the hammer had come loose, and we need to investigate how this happened. It was a serendipitous stroke that Doug, the husband of Jean the sacristan, was stewarding at the exams and had an electric keyboard at home, which he collected and installed in the church. We can keep it as long as we need, he said. How lucky we are to have such lovely people to hand. It meant the candidates didn't have to sing G whenever they wanted to use it.
That was contentious? I am constantly surprised at the capacity of human beings to get very worked up about things that don't matter at all. There's nothing like space travel for giving you a sense of perspective. Now, moving your sung eucharist from 10.00am to 9.00am like they're doing up the road, that's a different matter entirely…
ReplyDeleteI love the piano above all instruments and would happily upgrade to the best model available. Years ago I had to be restrained from splashing out £17k on a Bösendorfer Grand at Andrews in Godalming. It wasn't the money, we just didn't have the space. Anyone who has ever played on a grand will tell you that the texture and sound are incomparable.
I wouldn't let on that you play the piano if I were you, it might get you into all sorts of trouble.
ReplyDeleteI presume Hornington Minster is shifting the time of the Mass to make it easier for people to receive the Blessed Sacrament fasting.
I used to play the piano, but I was never all that good at it, and I don't play any more. My general philosophy is that I can be most effective in the world by concentrating on things I do well. I always like to see an expert at work.
ReplyDeleteI do like your tongue-in-cheek approach. The issue at Hornington Minster is of course nothing to do with the practice of spiritual disciplines by members of the congregation. Instead it's about change: the imperative to change in order to survive, and the resistance to change from people who are afraid of the future. This clash of worldviews has precipitated a crisis, and unless it's resolved quickly, something very sad will happen this coming Sunday.