Art in Community among the Poor

Bach and At Risk Youth



A few days ago we had a little show for the children at risk at the drop in center. From kids trying to survive school on top of life itself to street youth who have recently seen another friend get killed, this time being hit by a car, we had a diverse group. The high light was John Koon playing for us a couple Bach pieces on his cello. The main sound on this clip is him playing Bach's 3rd Suite for Cello in C Major, Movement #6, "Gigue" and of course our group screaming at the end.

I heard an essay titled, Music as Healer, Music as Teacher, written by William Harvey a freshman Julliard violin student who played at a 9-11 Armory shelter in New York city just after the tragedy. He describes how there is something important about music which expresses the inexpressible experiences we all share together.

Though there is horror and even death, beauty gives us the taste of the new heavens and new earth where God overcomes the mess.