- Title: DENMARK: Popular music rings out from Copenhagen church tower
- Date: 19th December 2012
- Summary: COPENHAGEN, DENMARK (DECEMBER 19, 2012) (REUTERS) WIDE SHOT WITH OUR SAVIOURS CHURCH TOWER AT RIGHT OF FRAME OUR SAVIOURS CHURCH TOWER CLOSE-UP OF CHURCH TOWER CARILLON PLAYER LARS SOEMOD WALKING UP STAIRS CARILLON PLAYER LARS SOEMOD ENTERING CARILLON ROOF CARILLON PLAYER LARS SOEMOD WALKING THROUGH DOOR CARILLON PLAYER LARS SOEMOD SITTING DOWN MUSIC SHEET CARILLON PLAYER LARS SOEMOD SEEN THROUGH STRINGS CLOSE-UP OF HANDS PLAYING CARILLON (SOUNDBITE) (Danish) CARILLON PLAYER LARS SOEMOD PLAYS TO END OF MUSIC AND SAYS: "So we have begun." STRINGS CARILLON PLAYER LARS SOEMOD PLAYING FEET ON PEDALS (SOUNDBITE) (English) CARILLON PLAYER LARS SOEMOD SAYING: "It is an instrument that belongs to everybody and therefore I think you should join with everybody and play popular things as well. It is both an instrument that is turned inwards to the church, but it is as well an instrument that is turned outwards from the church. So it is both a church instrument and not a church instrument." CHURCH EXTERIOR WITH SOUND OF BELLS PLAYING CHURCH TOWER CLOCK ON TOWER PAN DOWN FROM TOWER TO STREET BELLS WITH SOUND OF RINGING BELLS RINGING CLOSE-UP OF HANDS PLAYING CARILLON (SOUNDBITE) (English) CARILLON PLAYER LARS SOEMOD SAYING: "We don't play church music from the carillon, it's on a church tower, that's right, and it is the church of Denmark that owns the carillon and pays my salary. But there is nowhere in the world where you only play sacred music from the carillon, not that I know of anyway, so it is a bit out of tune, that criticism." MUSIC SHEET FOR 'CHESTNUTS ROASTING ON AN OPEN FIRE' CARILLON PLAYER LARS SOEMOD PLAYING 'CHESTNUTS ROASTING ON AN OPEN FIRE' CARILLON PLAYER LARS SOEMOD HANDS PLAYING (SOUNDBITE) (English) CARILLON PLAYER LARS SOEMOD SAYING: "I would not play music that has content that goes against the message of the church. I would not play communist songs on the first of May, because in my opinion that goes against the message from the church." FEET PLAYING PEDALS CARILLON PLAYER LARS SOEMOD PLAYING CLOSE UP OF STRINGS WITH TINY KOALA TEDDY BEAR BELLS RING OUT
- Embargoed: 3rd January 2013 12:00
- Keywords:
- Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment / Showbiz,Religion
- Reuters ID: LVABUNHFFAK2JFRFGPLQXH68QTRU
- Story Text: A Copenhagen church musician who plays popular music on the bells of his church has vowed to continue, despite criticism from some quarters.
Carillon player Lars Soemod has been criticised by some in Copenhagen for playing secular music from the bell tower of Our Saviours church in the Danish capital.
But Soemod has said that he never plays music that goes against the message of the church, and that the bells are "an instrument that belongs to everybody."
"Therefore I think you should join with everybody and play popular music as well," he said. " It is both an instrument that is turned inwards to the church, but it is as well an instrument that is turned outwards from the church. So it is both a church instrument and not a church instrument."
The carillon consists of a series of bells that are played using a keyboard-like series of levers and foot pedals.
Soemod says he is within his rights to use the bells to play popular music, despite the fact that it is the Danish church that owns the instrument and pays his wages.
"There is nowhere in the world where you only play sacred music from the carillon, not that I know of anyway, so it is a bit out of tune, that criticism."
But Soemod says there are limits to what he will play on the church bells.
"I would not play communist songs on the first of May, because in my opinion that goes against the message of the church", he said.
During the month of December, Soemod has played seasonal secular music alongside the more traditional religious Christmas carols. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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