Jesus, Savior, Pilot Me - Paris Tribute 13. November, 2015

Please note this is NOT an attempt to proselytize nor impose a political polemic, but rather simply an explanation for the uploaded piece.

Even in the wake of tragedy, I remain convinced that the only way to bring and end to violence is to seek the ways of peace. For me, peace is epitomized in the teachings of Christ. For others, the ways of peace may be found in other forms or teachings. What remains, I believe, is that violence is never a solution to violence. We must instead endeavor to break the endless of cycle of hatred and retribution. This improvised piece is my humble tribute to the victims and survivors of the recent Paris attacks. The accompanying video comes from my personal place of peace, the place where I both find great peace as well as where I frequently work out and put to rest my own "demons of anger."

In the improvisation, a variation on the hymn tune, in minor is first heard - this perhaps signifies the universal longing for peace. There is then a rather still section with momentary fragments of the tune, perhaps indicative of a place where some little peace is temporarily achieved. We next here elements of the tune again, but repeatedly interrupted or otherwise overshadowed by violent musical "outbursts" - this I think represents numerous attempts to end war and all forms of violence, always somehow interrupted. Finally, even as the "outbursts" threaten to take over, the tune returns triumphantly and in familiar form, my attempt to indicate not only the ultimate victory or peace, but also that even the violent elements must ultimately be "gathered in" and transformed for their to be real and complete peace.