I'm Yours

For those who aren't already in the know, this month 41 beautifully decorated (and perfectly tuned) pianos were rolled out across the city of Toronto. The installation, which cost something in the neighbourhood of $250,000.00, coincides with Toronto's countdown to the 2015 Pan-Am Games.

After a week living beside these black and white beauties, surprise surprise, I'm sold. Hook, line, and sinker. Bought. Won over. Taken. 

My commute to work, normally accompanied by honks from cars and the pounding pulse of construction, is now punctuated by glorious renditions of Chopin, Beethoven, and Chopsticks. People of all stripes, myself included, are slipping their masks to sit down at the old 88 and pour their hearts out.

These pianos are humanizing this city.

This music is connecting people.

These street-side instruments should, of course, find a permanent home in Hogtown. This, sadly, is unlikely to happen in a city that seems more content to sleep next to a budget crisis and a third rate transit system than the sounds of Schubert or Stravinsky.

At least we have today. 

Here's a great track from Piano-monster Ben Folds. A lament for what could have been.

Gettin played at Bloor and Avenue