The Great Piano Move

The Great Piano Move
May 25, 2006

Father Carman tells the story of his love of music and his personal enjoyment of listening to the music of a concert pianist.

While assigned to his first parish Father was able to acquire a baby grand piano while visiting relatives in New Orleans. Father's brother was able to get it shipped to New Jersey. How fitting Father would say that a piano that was used in a lounge in some bar on Bourban street is now helping to sing the praises of Our Lord.

Father was not so lucky in his second Parish. His second Parish did not have a piano. Wanting the Church to have a piano so desperately Father purchased one for the Church.

When Father was transferred to St. Joseph Church he noticed that the Church had an organ and an Upright Spinet Piano. While only in residence for over a month Father was commenting on how he likes the sound of a grand piano and how he misses not having one here. One of the Maintenance Workers told Father, "you have a very big piano in the basement of the hall". To Father's amazement he found a concert grand piano in the basement of Parish Hall. His excitement soon turned to bewilderment as he was trying to figure out how "they" managed to get it down here. There were no apparent doors large enough to accommodate this very large piano. It was if the Hall was built around it.

Father called Sal Capelli, as it turns out, who was responsible for moving the piano to the basement several years prior. Sal told father that they had a very difficult time moving the piano to the basement. They had the laws of gravity working with them when they moved the piano down the steep stairs from the Orchard Street side entrance. In order to get it out, they decided to use the inside stair case which had less steps than the outside staircase.

Father called a moving company specializing in pianos. They removed the legs, the cover and proceeded to move the piano to the staircase where they came to an abrupt halt. When they realized how heavy the piano was and how far they had to lift it they told Father it could not be done.

Father proceeded to call a second moving company that had specialized equipment for moving heavy objects. They told Father that it would not fit through the opening of the door and the top of the first step.

No problem, Sal Capelli removes the first three steps. The company came back and after much discussion they too gave up on the job.

Sal Capelli now takes the responsibility of moving the piano. He tells Father Carman that we will get it out and not to worry. After Sal makes some phone calls, a very large whole in the wall, and lines up some heavy lifters, the piano is hoisted out of the basement onto a flatbed truck.

The piano is moved into Church within an hour after emerging from the basement. It is reassembled, cleaned and polished. After a phone call is made to John Agresta, our concert pianist, John gives us all in attendance a mini concert.

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