Saturday, October 16, 2010
Bum Notes
Keats had begun to notice Chapman's absence on successive occasions from their regular Tuesday evening's libations and challenged him on the reason at their next sitting (Wednesday). "I am", Chapman confessed shyly, "engaged with a musical society for the purposes of a performance of the Bach B Minor Mass, at Westland Row, this coming Easter Sunday". Keats was duly impressed, and was eager for more details.
It transpired that Chapman had been drafted in by a friend of the brother's, as a favour to the choir master, to supplement a flagging bass section. "Oh the in-fighting and egos are something shocking", opined Chapman, conspiratorially. "I wouldn't mind, but as a choir, they're alright, but they aren't that good". Keats requested an example of the in-bitchery ongoings. "At the other night's practice", replied Chapman, "the conductor and first fiddle became incensed at each other over a major difference in the interpretation of the Ave. Neither would back down in the standoff, and it descended into a regular ould slagging match. It was", he offered, "most undignified".
Keats, as he supped gently from his porter was heard to murmur, "Sounds like a real bun fight at the ok chorale". Chapman wrinkled his nose, muttered something about the stout being off, and left to seek some scampi fries.
# posted by Flann O'Brien @ 5:28 AM 
