1975 – 77  First Station & Music

In August 1975 we moved to Winsford in Cheshire, Harvey’s first Circuit appointment as a Probationer minister.  We stayed for 3 years.

During these days, too often my bow and I were left inside our violin case, so it was largely from within the darkness I picked up and ‘heard’ the musical overtones and undertones resonating from Harvey’s body.

One powerful emotion was FRUSTRATION, when Harvey was met with petty squabbles originating in old Methodist divisions – ex-Primitive, ex-Wesleyan, ex-United Methodists.  I couldn’t help recalling those days in Norfolk in the mid 1800s when Harvey’s great-grandfather John and great-great-uncle Isaac had travelled with me around the North Walsham Wesleyan Circuit.  We never mixed with the larger Primitive Methodist groups!

(The Cross at The Queens College, Birmingham, symbolising unity & diversity)

For Harvey, coming from a thoroughly modern ecumenical theological college, for both Anglicans and Methodists equally, this backward-looking mentality among his church members brought considerable tension to his body.  This was confirmed on those rare occasions when we played to entertain Women’s Meetings and Church parties – never in worship.

(Detail – Wrestling Jabob – by Rembrant)

Another emotion I detected was an INNER STRUGGLE, as if Harvey was wrestling with something unattainable. We shall notice that this struggle becomes a constant ‘leitmotiv’ throughout our life together.

Harvey’s assigned Probation Tutor, the Revd Dr Cyril Eastwood (who Harvey greatly admired and loved) detected this inner conflict. He was one of a very small number of people who, over the years, have recognised the inextricable dissonance with consonance in theology with music, in Church with Art.  Music is not an illustration of theology, neither is it a metaphor.

In his struggles, Harvey was reading a great deal about Hermeneutics and Biblical Studies.  He was introduced to the writings of Hans-Georg Gadamer and Anthony Thistleton, and others, and at one point, with Dr Eastwood’s support, was interviewed by Professor Ulrich Simon for a possible Master’s Degree at London University.  All this was ‘beyond him’ academically, yet it held an enduring and inescapable fascination.

This constant struggle occasionally revealed itself as Harvey prepared and ‘performed’ his written sermons, Sunday by Sunday, but I feared that it was solely ‘brain’ activity, rather than the use of the whole body.  I was never taken out for his fingers and frame to ‘practice’ with me.

In my body I was shaken to the core with Harvey’s passion for hermeneutics and the interpretation of Scripture.  I could sense a real connection with the Fenby episode, and Harvey’s close ties to it (mentioned in my post “1964-5 My first year at the RAM with Harvey (2) -meeting Eric Fenby OBE”), which wrestled with the origins and creativity of musical texts.  There was surely a kind of Form Criticism here, full of mystery and wonder, which opened up new horizons for Harvey’s vocation as a preacher and interpreter of the Bible.  From now on, whenever Harvey prepared his sermons, his body and mind seemed to be struggling with the biblical text as if it was a musical manuscript waiting to be performed.

One more emotion! THANKFULNESS for the power of POETRY.

Harvey was clearly grateful to Dr Eastwood for something more.  This was an introduction to the life and poems of Rabindranath Tagore – Gitanjali.  Here Music and Poetry are incarnated, and their sounds began to penetrate Harvey’s body and soul.  Food for contemplation and silence was now freely available.

Here is one of the Poems from Gitanjali:

When thou commandest me to sing it seems that my heart would break with pride; and I look to thy face, and tears come to my eyes.

All that is harsh and dissonant in my life melts into one sweet harmony – and my adoration spreads wings like a glad bird on its flight across the sea.

I know thou takest pleasure in my singing. I know that only as a singer I come before thy presence.

I touch by the edge of the far-spreading wing of my song thy feet which I could never aspire to reach.

Drunk with the joy of singing I forget myself and call thee friend who art my lord.

(from ‘Gitanjali‘ no. 2)

Next time, I hope to trace the sounds of Harvey’s Ordination into the Church of God