“Music happens to be an art form that transcends language.”

“Creativity and artistic endeavors have a mission that goes far beyond just making music for the sake of music.”  — Herbie Hancock

Beyond just looking or sounding beautiful, great art speaks to us in a way that transcends verbal communication. And as such, it holds the capacity to stir the hearts of all people, no matter what languages they speak. In an instant, those hearts become united in a shared, singular awareness characterized by openness, acceptance without condition, and an absence of conflict and division between one another.

Such is the power of music and other arts to generate instantaneous and profound peace.

It is no surprise, then, that even in our darker times, humanity will seek out the deeper comforts of connecting with the beauty to be found in the arts, particularly in the artform of music.

A video that has suddenly appeared all over social media presents more than 93 violinists in 29 nations performing a brief and stirring melody centered on a young man, Illia Bondarenko, who seemingly initiates the work from the basement shelter of his home in wartorn Kyiv, Ukraine.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQSIeD-x6dQ&t=3s

It is an elegant, heart-rending cry for peace that does indeed transcend languages and cultures, and seems to shout to the world: “We are all essentially one. We are hearts united in our shared humanity.”

When we come face to face with a work of art that has depth and beauty, we the observer or listener become present with that work of art. And when we are present in the moment, there are no thoughts of past or future – our experience is that of timeless peace. We might say, therefore, that people seek out encounters with the beauty of the arts in order to be reconnected with their inherent peace and joy, which can always be found in the present moment.

The renowned UK pottery artist and philosopher, Rupert Spira, says, “We have art because it is a necessity, not a luxury, and this has always been the case. All so-called primitive societies were highly developed artistically, and people have been creative even in concentration camps. Art is fundamental to us as human beings.”

At the conclusion of the video, there is a URL that will point those so inclined to various worthy organizations offering direct relief and support, which can easily be found online.