I attended a service the other day at which the organ was played by a first-class performer. He played a superb Voluntary which was accompanied by loud congregational chatter, the scraping of chairs and the general clatter of people leaving church. I found this highly distasteful and insulting. The first thing that needs to be accepted is that the Voluntary is part of the service. However tempted people might be, they don't talk during the sermon. They listen to what the minister has to say. The Voluntary is just as much part of the service as the sermon. One of the problems of modern living is that music is relegated to the position of background noise. I find it extremely annoying when you hear great art reduced to the level of wallpaper. It's an insult to one of God's greatest gifts. Music should always be treated with respect.
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