Choral Evensong service halted by buskers mid-way at Bath Abbey

[Serial_Apologist]

Choral evensong is a living historic practice which developed in the institutional church, centuries after Jesus's life. "Matter" to whom, and in what sense? As GongGong muses, the "disruption" probably principally exists in the obsessively attuned minds of the Abbey insiders. How does the Abbey react to gulls "disrupting" its activities?

Seagulls don't have agendas.

But this whole issue as encapsulated epitomises many others around today, along with the way this and other forums deal with the consideration thereof.

[Bryn]

Choral evensong is a living historic practice which developed in the institutional church, centuries after Jesus's life. "Matter" to whom, and in what sense? As GongGong muses, the "disruption" probably principally exists in the obsessively attuned minds of the Abbey insiders. How does the Abbey react to gulls "disrupting" its activities?

Not to mention the open top buses which pick up and drop off outside the Abbey. Still, their commentaries are all delivered via earphones these days, I think. Lots of traffic noise round he Abbey, though. I suppose the Abbey luminaries could shut the doors and keep their god bothering to themselves, and the buskers' amplified serenading at bay. Come to think of it, the readings/sermons could be delivered via earphones too.

[Serial_Apologist]

Didn't that Jesus bloke say something about being like children ?

Child-like, as opposed to child-ish, which refers to immaturity.

[MrGongGong]

Chuild-like, as opposed to child-ish, which refers to immaturity.

I know, I know

You mean like the difference between "Sexy" and "Sexist" ? (Nigel Tufnel)

I don't think the church is immune from the latter (Childish & Sexist)

[jean]

...the "disruption" probably principally exists in the obsessively attuned minds of the Abbey insiders...

Like these people, you mean?

The choristers had remained silent in the row, but two decided to contact the Guardian to express their concerns.

One said: “It really is just a tiny handful of buskers who refuse to respect the abbey for just a couple of hours a week, but it causes stress and frustration to hundreds of people. A tiny minority deliberately set out to disturb the work of the abbey. I don’t know what motivates them, I really don’t.”

...A second chorister, who also asked not to be named, said he was considering stepping down. “It just doesn’t seem worth the hassle. We are trying to do something joyful but it is becoming just miserable.”...

[vinteuil]

... I don't think MrGongGong's #75 is really an answer.

Why do the buskers need to be there and at that time? Bath is a place with many good potential pitches.

[jean]

I was listening to a performance of Berg's Lyric Suite the other evening when someone's phone rang in the hall.

The players just stopped and waited until he'd silenced it, and then started again at the beginning of the movement they'd been playing.

But why shouldn't the man have been at liberty to have his phone ring? And how intolerable that he should have felt obliged to silence it, rather than converse freely with the caller!

[jean]

But this whole issue as encapsulated epitomises many others around today, along with the way this and other forums deal with the consideration thereof.

Could you expand on that, I wonder?

[MrGongGong]

York Minster used to suffer from "guerilla" choirs.
I was once in there rehearsing a piece while it was open to the public and all of a sudden up they sprang singing Mozart
apparently it used to be a regular problem with folks simply turning up and launching in.

I don't think its simply a case of one group of people thinking that they have the automatic right to disrupt at all.
That seems to be what the Abbey would have us believe, that somehow there are extreme noise anarchists banging on the doors.

SO (again) any chance of actually HEARING how loud the sound from outside is inside ?

(of course ANYONE singing music by McCartney or ALW should have a mediaeval style execution IMV )

[Sir Velo]

Could you expand on that, I wonder?

Or even elucidate?

[jean]

York Minster used to suffer from "guerilla" choirs.
I was once in there rehearsing a piece while it was open to the public and all of a sudden up they sprang singing Mozart
apparently it used to be a regular problem with folks simply turning up and launching in.

I imagine we've all done that - but not in competition with the resident choir during a service.

[Serial_Apologist]

Could you expand on that, I wonder?

In that horrible politian's expression "We are where we are", and examples of the kind illustrated here will presumably find their way to compromise via the various laws, forums and institutions that are the current coping mechanisms and placebos for societies based on self-interest and division.

[jean]

Do you mean to suggest that the need for compromise could only arise in a society based on self-interest and division?

[Serial_Apologist]

Do you mean to suggest that the need for compromise could only arise in a society based on self-interest and division?

Not at all jean - a non sequitur if ever there was one! <yikes>

[french frank]

Do you mean to suggest that the need for compromise could only arise in a society based on self-interest and division?

Or that "We are where we are" and our society IS based on "self-interest and division", and anyway 'There's no such thing as society' ??