| 'Just
another manic music room' THE REDECORATION OF THE MUSIC ROOM |
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One of the assets of the cathedral is the fine and spacious music room,
which has few equals in other cathedrals. An illustration of the room from the time of
Street shows an open room with little furniture beyond an organ and a square piano and is
possibly largely imaginary; the proportions are certainly distorted. A photograph,
probably dating from the 1960s (accurate information gratefully received), shows the room
in use as a classroom, with Tom Salmon (later Dean Tom) teaching the boys. The use of the
room varied over the decades, extending to use for services at the time of the restoration
work in the 1980s. The room was overdue for redecoration, the delights of peeling paint and cracked floorboards adding to a collection of carpets which had succumbed to years of muddy feet and were impossible to clean. |
| With the arrival of Christopher Shiell as administrator, castles in the air were given focus and reality and a redecoration scheme was brought to the fabric committee, approved and commenced. As the cathedral choirs were in recess, access to the room was available-at some inconvenience to the visiting choirs, who took it all in good part. Work was started on the 18th of August and progress is best described in the accompanying series of pictures (3-10). Unfortunately, the cathedral choir was back at work before the room was ready, but the girls' choir was able to begin the new term in a clean, bright environment. The room is awaiting the completion of its lighting scheme at the time of writing and further improvements are envisaged, such as the provision of moveable rehearsal stalls, and the building of a 'minstrels' gallery' at the east end with storage facilities for music and robes below. |  |
| However, during a visit to the cathedral, the clergy of Bangor
diocese were entertained there by Tom Gordon and his helpers from the Theological College
and were suitably envious. It is hoped that the room will be an increasingly attractive
and available venue for such events. Thanks are due to all involved: those who helped by
moving furniture and boxes of music, and those who good-naturedly stepped around and over
the choral impedimenta which occupied the hall and chapter room for two weeks. (Those who
are interested may wish to look up the webpage to see the photographs in colour [i.e. this
page ... and you obviously have!]). Sue Hemmens, Music Librarian |
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