Short Fiction · Chapter
Old Andrey's Experience as a Musician explained
A former choirboy recounts how old Andrew, unable to play music, tried to pass as a bandsman during a Christmas performance at the manor house.
What happens
A former choirboy recounts how old Andrew, unable to play music, tried to pass as a bandsman during a Christmas performance at the manor house. His deception was discovered when the archdeacon noticed he held his fiddle upside down, leading to his expulsion from the hall. However, the squire's wife allowed him to join the servants' supper, and he avoided eviction. The story prompts a reflection on the old choir's replacement by a young organist, partly due to a scandal that tarnished the musicians' reputation.
Themes in this chapter
Deception and Secrecy
Andrew's attempt to pass as a musician despite his ignorance of music, and the elaborate pretence to hide his inability.
Time and Change
The replacement of the old choir by a young organist, and the fading of traditional musical practices.
Characters to notice
- Mr. Barnet
The narrator of the tale, a former choirboy who recalls the events.
- Christopher Swetman
The master-thatcher who comments on the old choir's replacement and the scandal.
Key passages
“Lord, how I should like to join in that meal of beef, and turkey, and plum-pudding, and ale, that you happy ones be going to just now!”
Andrew expressed a strong desire to partake in the festive meal of beef, turkey, plum-pudding, and ale that the choir was about to enjoy.
Andrew's motivation for joining the musicians was primarily to share in the Christmas feast.
“I am too old to pass as a singing boy, and too bearded to pass as a singing girl; can ye lend me a fiddle, neighbours, that I may come with ye as a bandsman?”
Andrew noted that he could not disguise himself as a young singer, so he asked the choir to lend him a fiddle so he could join as a musician.
Andrew's request highlights his attempt to circumvent his age and appearance to gain entry.
“Andrew knew no more of music than the Cerne Giant”
Andrew was completely ignorant of music, likened to the mythical Cerne Giant.
A humorous comparison emphasizing Andrew's lack of musical skill.
“They lost their character as officers of the church as complete as if they'd never had any character at all.”
The old musicians' reputation as church officials was entirely destroyed, as if they had never possessed any standing.
Christopher Twink refers to a scandal that ruined the choir's standing, leading to their replacement.