Attempting to find a ‘light’ subject to write about, I found that Bisazza Street residents have successfully objected to a street piano and have got it locked up. Can you blame them?

I was doubtful about the gimmick (to keep the masses happy) when I first read about it. I thought having a competent musician playing the piano in a non-residential square for a couple of hours would be really nice.

However, having all and sundry “banging on piano keys”, as The Times aptly put it, at any time between 8am and 11pm is hardly something anyone in their right mind would appreciate next to their home.

Reading the comments online provided an insight into not only how affected we are by noise, but also how intolerance bounces from the for and anti brigade on what qualifies as noise, and the north and south antagonisms on the environment generally, not to mention the ageist factor.

“If it’s too loud ... you’re too old!” said an obvious youngster.

“To think that people from Sliema and thereabouts called us people from the southern part of the island Nimbys! All this because we often complain about the black dust, the power stations’ (both of them) emissions and hundreds of other things that are dangerous to our health,” said a disgruntled Southerner.

Others also have not shown sympathy with the poor, beleaguered Bisazza Street residents who have had to put up with more than their fair share of noise, which is this country’s curse.

We all have to put up with dreadful noise pollution, but the Bisazza Street residents were right to complain. I am fed up with the ignorance of people who always bring up the “Maltese gemgem” when anyone complains.

I wonder whether those people are aware that the British were colonising expatriates when that phrase was coined. We were meant to accept all that our then rulers decided. It seems some still want us to do that despite independence.

Some find people who complain about noise not only intolerant but spoilsports and are told that they have to put up with all kinds of noise because they live in a central location.

“Bisazza Street residents, you have reached a new low. Thank you for showing the rest of Malta what absolute spoilsports you are! If you hate noise, get out of Sliema! You live in an area that has been incredibly noisy for at least my lifetime (I’m 32), I think it’s time to realise it’s not going to change.

“This is the same as Paceville residents complaining about noise,” said one.

Now I found “it’s time to realise it’s not going to change” rather telling and worrying. Others have valid arguments. “It might cause some inconvenience for a few days with cases of tuneless banging and playing, but really we put up with an entire summer of colourless no joy firework bangs just for the heck of it! And that is just the tip of the daily 24/7/365 days a year noise pollution we put up with!” opined one commentator.

Actually, we are forced to put up with the fireworks bangs. If only the Tourism and Environment Ministry, which responded so promptly to the Bisazza Street resident’s complaints, would also listen to the many residents all over the island that find the fireworks murtali explosions much more than just a nuisance.

Many others brought up the murtali argument “Isn’t it much better to wake up to the sound of a piano rather then the senseless ‘bombi’ of the feasts,” said one.

Well, it would be great if we were not woken by any noise at all, be it a virtual blitz; a piano played badly; loud radios, barking or yapping dogs; loud, persistent church bell ringing; construction; DIY fanatics; or crowing cocks at 3am.

One person wished “someone would come and lock up all the roosters crowing at 3am and dogs barking all night long in Zebbug. Isn’t there a law for this noise?” he queried.

“Its damn right selfishness, especially when these roosters are right under your bedroom window, you cant even open your window in summer time without being woken up in the very early hours of the morning.

“No consideration for the people that need a good nights rest cause they have to go to work in the morning or even the fact that one has a baby. Not to mention dogs barking and howling, obviously in distress,” said the Zebbug resident.

Apparently, this is not only happening in Zebbug. “Totally understand you. I would love to have a piano banging through the day with the hope that some musician in a good mood comes along and plays some nice music rather than the roosters doing their best to wake up everyone at 3am,or sometimes earlier,” complained a Rabat resident.

Which brings us back to the piano. The same commentator who opined, “we put up with an entire summer of colourless no joy firework bangs just for the heck of it! And that is just the tip of the daily 24/7/365 days a year noise pollution we put up with!” also had this to say: “The point of this exercise is not to have qualified pianists playing but to instil curiosity about music in people who otherwise might never have the opportunity to touch a piano or appreciate its beauty... children need to be allowed to explore and this is a fun way to do it.”

Fair enough and I agree as far as children are concerned. It is sweet to see children playing on a piano if you are just passing through a street, but it loses its charm somewhat if you live above it.

It is, nevertheless, well placed in St George’s Square (Main Guard) in Valletta. I watched three children taking turns at fiddling on that piano late on Friday evening.

They were not banging and there was no loud cacophony. I chatted with them and tried to show them how to play “Chopsticks”. The only thing I can still manage on a piano and I could only remember the first few notes.

It sent a wave of nostalgia through me because a similar upright piano (not so prettily coloured) stood in the hallway of our home in London as our son grew up.

The children I met in Valletta were aged from about five to eight and were well behaved. It proved to me, from what they told me, that it does arouse interest in children.

However, as pleasant as the experience was for me on Friday, it does depend on whoever takes up the challenge of “Play Me I’m Yours” on whether it causes a nuisance or joy.

Also, the Valletta square, which had a peaceful, lovely atmosphere despite arrangements going on for the morrow (yesterday), is not overlooked by residential apartments as in Bisazza Street.

Now it seems clear to me that the whole idea was to instil a bit of fun to the daily humdrum routine and it has worked in some areas. The lesson to be learnt is that it only takes a bit more thought and consideration at the planning stage for such initiatives to be embraced by all.

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