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William Booth the founder of the
Salvation Army once said, ‘Music is for the soul what
wind is for the ship.’ For General Booth, music enabled
his Salvation Army to go out into nearly every corner of the
world with the great message of salvation. Where would we be
without the Salvation Army brass band and songsters who have
enthused so many generations?
This week we had a mixture of
sound at Fakenham Parish Church at the annual Schools’ Music
Festival. With a packed church we heard songs from Fakenham
Infant School, listened to the Fakenham Junior School Choir
and Orchestra, and finally swung along to the Fakenham High
School Jazz Band. It was an excellent evening with children
and parents enjoying this annual occasion.
In a church with a strong
musical tradition, an excellent organist, and choir, we have
a very high quality of music. Each Sunday the choir will
sing an Introit and Anthem which is quite unusual in these
days.
What music does is that it
breaks down barriers. Most people if they make the effort
can sing, many given the opportunity can play an instrument,
and everyone can listen to music.
Some Schools have stopped
singing hymns because of religious and cultural problems or
simply because none of the teachers can play a piano, and
that is a great shame, because it is a well known fact that
people who sing regularly have less stress, and it is
something that we can do together and enjoy.
Irish and Welsh families have a
great tradition of singing at home, and in church, which is
seen in the large number of people from those backgrounds
who sing or play an instrument and have gone on to become
international stars.
So as parish priest I encourage
the church to be used for all types of concert and for
anyone to use the organ. If you want to attend any of our
concerts look at the Parish Diary on this website. Many are
free.
I think that I agree with Samuel
Pepys the diarist, who wrote,
‘Music is the thing of the
world that I love most.’
As I worship each day in our
church I look up at the ceiling in the Nave and see the
carved wooden angels, and I am reminded that as we worship
and as we sing we are being joined by the angels and the
archangels. So as you read this, ‘Thought for the Week’,
start singing. It will do you no end of good. If you have a
good voice then join our choir or a choir near you. Did you
know that people who sing are actually healthier than those
who don’t? We were born to sing! I know our webmaster has a
good voice! Well he is Welsh............ but don’t tell Ms.
Robinson of ‘The Weakest Link’
Adrian Bell
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