By Jeff Brummel
You may have noticed a different sound in worship starting last Sunday, as Wilshire was recently gifted a mint-condition Bösendorfer grand piano from member Marilyn Bick.
Imported from Vienna, Austria, the Bösendorfer boasts the so-called “Viennese sound” in which the music of the late Romantics such as Brahms, Liszt, and Rachmaninoff would sound at home. Upon playing the instrument, which is on par with Bechstein and Steinway, I immediately noticed the well-designed action and the upper register that sublimely soars with richness and depth in tone.
Wilshire already has two very fine Bechstein pianos imported from Hamburg, Germany, that have been helping us in worship since 1984. The larger of the two Bechsteins was in the Sanctuary, and the smaller one was in McIver Chapel. Both of these pianos, gifted by Wilshire members Oscar and Jimmie Pool and Frank Wilson, have served us well for generations, but after years of beautiful music, the larger Bechstein needs a factory rebuild.
After receiving the generous gift of the Bösendorfer, we decided to move many of our grand pianos around the building, allowing us to postpone the rebuilds a little while longer. Another piano in need of a rebuild is the Yamaha grand gifted by Wilshire member Bert Heed in 1966 when the Sanctuary was built.
The Wilshire music ministry is deeply grateful for these cherished gifts that help us to experience beauty in worship. May our worship and lives be beautifully and musically blessed.