Bach in the Subways

Many people are unwilling to step into the world of classical music. This might be due to the stereotype of getting formally dressed and seated at the concert hall for two hours. However, no matter if you are a classical music fan or not, you might have heard of the great maestro JS Bach. And I can never forget the moment I saw Bach being played in the New York subway.

Ten years ago, when I was studying at Columbia, I bought rush tickets at the Met Opera or student tickets at Carnegie Hall every week. As a classical music fan since childhood, the operas and concerts on Saturday nights were my greatest enjoyment. Especially when I saw those opera stars and pianists whom I have been admiring for years perform on stage in front of me, I felt like my childhood dream was finally realized. And after the concerts, their beautiful and moving music was still lingering in my mind until I went to bed.

One night around midnight, when I stepped out of the Columbia library, New York City was freezing and the wind was blowing so heavily that the only thing I wanted was to go back home as soon as possible. When I went into the subway station, there was a sound of rising melody coming out from the station. I thought I was so tired that I heard it wrong, but I stopped for seconds and there was cello music playing continuously. I followed the music and walked down to the platform, and saw a man playing cello.

He was sitting on a folding chair, wearing a black shirt and black pants.

There was no stand and stage light, he held his cello with eyes closed. His shoulders moved forward and backward following the melodies. His left hand fingers were playing the strings up and down like ocean waves, and the fiddlestick in his right hand was moving on the strings like the wind blowing on the ocean. The wind blew, moved the strings, and created the most intriguing music in the New York Subway.

There were not many people on the subway at that time. Some people passing by gave a glance to the cellist and then quickly walked away, while some stopped and listened. And some people took out their cell phones to record this rare scene.

The cellist didn’t pay any attention to the surroundings. His music was classic and touching. There was no emotional showing off and no superfluous sadness. He kept playing. He brought the audience back to 17th century Italy. His music was like a noble man dressed in a silk white shirt and a red velvet cloak, with golden embroidery and pearl decorations on his cuffs. The noble man walked out from the grand palace in his heels. With a great attitude and elegant temperament, He was steady and friendly, lively and charismatic.

This is the magic of Bach’s.

Even after hundreds of years, Bach is still able to make people obsessive, and attract people with his beautiful music. No matter if it is men or women, young or elderly, noble or humble, and no matter if it is at the palace or a subway station, when there is Bach, there is music playing around.

After some light melodies, the music slowed down, it seemed something came across the noble man’s mind. After all, everyone would be brought back to their memories when hearing this beautiful music.

Indeed, no matter where you are, Bach always brings you back to the most glorious moment of history, and also, to your most valuable memory. Just like the noble man and his unforgettable romance. The romance lit up the entire palace as the music was played, and your dream was awakened from the bottom of your memory.

Then the music became swift again. The noble man seemed to find something. He walked quickly, and passed the huge mural decorations of the hall. He walked through the marble floor and the luxury rooms. The music was brisk and delightful like the sound of pearls on his clothes collided with each other. The sounds resonated in the palace, and became the most captivating melodies.

The noble man then came to the palace gate. He opened the gate, letting the sunlight in. It was bright and dazzling. The whole palace looked even more magnificent in the shining golden rays. He saw the sunlight lit up the whole palace and the land. He knew: there will always be a whole new day.

The music ended gracefully after ten minutes. The listeners applauded. The cellist put down the fiddlestick, and packed the cello quietly.

I glanced at the small sign on the floor: Bach in the Subways.

Maybe Bach was still alive. At that moment, he was still recruiting musicians from this century to play for him, and attracting people to become his admirers. With his music, Bach still made people obsessed with Baroque music after three hundred years.

And this is the magic of Bach in the subways.

To this day, I still believe the cellist playing in the subway was the court musician of Bach in the 21st century. And us, these passengers stopping for music, are the most modern fans of Bach.