To commemorate the tenth anniversary of 9/11, a recital of John Lennon’s famous anti war song ”˜Imagine’ will be performed on the bells of Exeter Cathedral and broadcast online. The recital will be preceded by a peace walk from Exeter Mosque to Exeter Cathedral.
Everyone is welcome to join the peace walk, which starts at Exeter Mosque York Road, at 8pm, and finishes at the Cathedral in time to hear the bells peal ”˜Imagine’.
Rehearsals are progressing well according to the man tasked with arranging and ”˜conducting’ the performance. Ian Avery is a member of the Exeter Cathedral Society of Bellringers, and has been change ringing for fifty years. He says the team of six volunteer bell ringers has now graduated from playing the melody on hand-bells to the Cathedral’s church bells.
Odd, having an anti-religious song played on the cathedral bells.
That was my first thought, too, evan. But that particular song always seems to fly under the critical radar, despite the questionable lyrics (no heaven, religion, countries, nothing to believe in, really). I guess it’s because it’s Lennon’s, there’s the mystique, and he’s dead.
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It’s just sad that a song with such a bleak message should be seen as somehow offering a positive vision. Nice enough little tune though.
I remember a comment by Andrew Klaven, I believe, who, when asked it he can imagine what John Lennon imagined, replied, sure, it was portrayed in the Invasion of the Body Snatchers.
Just sayin’…
Yeah, it really is bleak. It preaches a false unity for the good of the “group.” Hmm, maybe it is the 21st Century theme song after all, sadly enough.