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Bath Abbey choristers break silence over busker row Bath abbey choristers break silence over busker row
(about 2 hours later)
The extraordinary dispute between buskers and Bath Abbey shows no sign of quietening down after choristers came forward to describe how their lives were being made miserable by street musicians using amplifiers. The extraordinary dispute between buskers and Bath abbey shows no sign of quietening down after choristers came forward to describe how their lives were being made miserable by street musicians using amplifiers.
One chorister claimed a “tiny handful” of buskers was causing “stress and frustration” to hundreds of people. The man, who asked not to be named, said the busking was ruining services, spoiling the enjoyment of visitors and wrecking educational opportunities for the many Bath schoolchildren who received free musical tuition through their involvement in the choirs. One chorister claimed a “tiny handful” of buskers was causing “stress and frustration” to hundreds of people. The man, who asked not to be named, said the busking was ruining services, spoiling the enjoyment of visitors and wrecking educational opportunities for the many local schoolchildren who received free musical tuition through their involvement in the choirs.
Meanwhile the battle between the abbey’s rector, Edward Mason, and some of the street musicians gathered pace after clips from one of his sermons in which he described wanting to “pull out their cables and break their microphones” was published on YouTube. Meanwhile, the battle between the abbey’s rector, Edward Mason, and some of the street musicians gathered pace after clips from one of his sermons in which he described wanting to “pull out their cables and break their microphones” was published on YouTube.
The abbey responded by passing on a full copy of the sermon to the Bath Chronicle, claiming Mason’s words had been taken out of context, and uploading an audio file of the sermon on its website.The abbey responded by passing on a full copy of the sermon to the Bath Chronicle, claiming Mason’s words had been taken out of context, and uploading an audio file of the sermon on its website.
Meanwhile, some residents who live nearby have claimed that their lives are being blighted by the sound of the abbey’s bells.Meanwhile, some residents who live nearby have claimed that their lives are being blighted by the sound of the abbey’s bells.
Though the row between the abbey and the buskers has rumbled on for some months, it exploded on Sunday when the rector decided to halt evensong because he believed it was being ruined by the sound of a singer-songwriter in front of the church and a flamenco guitarist at the side. Though the row between the abbey and the buskers has rumbled on for months, it exploded on Sunday when the rector decided to halt evensong because he believed it was being ruined by the sound of a singer in front of the church and a flamenco guitarist at the side.
Bath and North East Somerset council has said it may use a law that comes into force next month designed to tackle antisocial behaviour to clamp down on the musicians.Bath and North East Somerset council has said it may use a law that comes into force next month designed to tackle antisocial behaviour to clamp down on the musicians.
The choristers had remained silent in the row, but two decided to contact the Guardian to express their concerns.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.”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.”
He said he had written a string of letters to the council asking it to intervene. In his latest he wrote: “Members of the abbey’s music department, including myself, as well as the congregation have written to you many times in the interim, but all I have heard from the council is excuse after excuse. He said he had written a string of letters to the council asking it to intervene. In his latest, he wrote: “Members of the abbey’s music department, including myself, as well as the congregation, have written to you many times in the interim, but all I have heard from the council is excuse after excuse.
“It is simply not good enough. We all work full-time and give up a lot of our spare time to contribute to the musical culture of the city and worship at the abbey. It really is a very good choir, up there with the best cathedrals in the country, but with nothing like their resources. l am at the point where l am thinking of giving it all up due to the frustration and stress this is causing.”“It is simply not good enough. We all work full-time and give up a lot of our spare time to contribute to the musical culture of the city and worship at the abbey. It really is a very good choir, up there with the best cathedrals in the country, but with nothing like their resources. l am at the point where l am thinking of giving it all up due to the frustration and stress this is causing.”
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.”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.”
The buskers argue that they have a right to free expression and insist they do not set out to disrupt services. Things are likely to come to a head again on Sunday when the musicians are considering holding some form of protest. The buskers argue that they have a right to free expression and insist they do not set out to disrupt services. The situation is likely to come to a head again on Sunday when the musicians are considering holding some form of protest.