BIOS Reporter – Volume 35, No.2 – April 2011

The cover picture is of an organ that no longer exists. Furthermore the loss of this organ in Durham Street Methodist Church during the earthquake that struck Christchurch New Zealand recently was accompanied by a tragic loss of life. Two employees of the South Island Organ Company along with a helper from the church were killed when the building collapsed while they were dismantling the organ. The publication of this image on the front cover is but a small memorial to those three people. However tragic the loss of life in New Zealand it was soon to be dwarfed by the powerful earthquake and tsunami that struck the north-east coast of Japan a few weeks later. It might seem trivial, even unfeeling, to be concerned about such things as organs in the face of the fearful loss of life and subsequent disruption of normality that accompany such natural disasters. And yet, there is perhaps room to contemplate the importance of things that are so much a part of life as music, poetry and literature, to name but a few. In the aftermath of the collapse of the spire of the Anglican Cathedral in Christchurch I am sure that much thought will be given to making sure that any rebuilding will include measures to improve resistance to collapse. I wonder where the balance will be struck between safety and the desire to rebuild a striking piece of public and religious architecture. Lest we think that we in the UK might be immune to similar disasters, it is worthwhile remembering that in 1810 the spire and tower of St Nicholas’ Church in Liverpool collapsed at ’23 minutes past 10 in the forenoon’ crushing to death 22 people, the majority of whom were charity children processing under the tower. The collapse was not due to an earthquake but probably because of poor construction. Major natural, or even man-made, disasters serve to remind us that our bodies are frail. Nonetheless, the inspiration that great buildings, great music, great literature give to our minds does lift the soul, even in the face of great adversity…