Habemus Pianist: The Pope on Music

New York Times ^ | May 1, 2005 | DANIEL J. WAKIN

[ELS]

There is only one requirement: the willingness to assist at TTGC gatherings (should there ever be one) for the purpose of conducting an auto-da-fe.

Since we are on a music-related thread, is there a plan for musical accompaniment?

[ninenot]

Actually, no.

Now that you brought it up, snares rolling to a tympani or orchestral bass drum every 8 beats (m.m. about 60) and a tolling bell would be sufficient, I think. You know, about the same as is used in military funeral marches...

If you think more elaborate stuff would be better, please let us know.

[Desdemona]

If you think more elaborate stuff would be better, please let us know.

I'd say the Imperial Stormtrooper march from Star Wars, but we're the good guys.

[ninenot]

No good auto da fe can be run without a Prosecutor General, to assist the Grand Inquisitor you know, who of course must be an attorney. If the heretic is a Roman I'll question him in Greek, if Orthodox in Latin.... That should solve the nasty possibility of the wrong verdict!

I'll start signing up Orthodoxers tomorrow. We have a convert from those dreaded heretics in ECUSA who actually, personally, ran an auto da fe of his own "bishopess". He and his lady wife left for Orthodoxy soon thereafter. It seemed the politic thing to do. I tried to explain to him that he forgot to arrange for the last, most satisfying part of the whole process, but, having been a Prot at the time of the auto da fe, he was not well versed in the culminating high point of the proceeding.

BTW, I like the part about the hats! As for TT's elevation, fine with me; a word from the East might be of some small assistance.

TTGC and Auxiliary Members N.B.: we have another applicant.

Please submit your vote on his petition.

[ArrogantBustard]

May I humbly suggest that we accompany the auto-da-fe with a performance of "Danny Deever" on the Bagpipes?

[Desdemona]

Yea.

We can use all the help we can get.

[BlackElk]

Aye! Our differences with the Orthodox are not on disciplinary tactics.

[ELS]

From another thread:

Pope Benedict Without His Beloved Piano
April 29, 2005

Pope Benedict XVI, a fan of Mozart and Bach, is still without his piano because movers haven't been able to fit it through the windows of his papal apartment. The Italian news agency ANSA reports that the piano should have been moved in a couple of days ago, but attempts to carry it up the stairs and through the windows of his new quarters failed. They're thinking about dismantling the piano and reassembling it inside its new location. The Pope, who plays the piano to relax, reportedly used to irk his neighbors in Rome by playing Mozart, Bach and Palestrina a little too loudly. ANSA reports that the pontiff made a surprise visit to his old flat a day after his election especially to play his favorite music.

--Betsy O'Connor, KDFC News