Homeless Man Sits Down At Broken Piano On Sidewalk— Bystanders Draw Near To Listen

Jun 26, 2020 by apost team

In 2017, a homeless man sat down at a derelict piano in the city of Kiev to play a lovely, lilting piece of music for the passersby who stopped to enjoy it. It's obvious that he had little in the way of material goods but is rich in artistry.

The piece that he played began with a ringing series of chords; a call to attention that something remarkable was about to happen. The first playing of the theme of the piece was simple and a bit sad, as it's in a minor key.

If you look around the scene, you notice other themes and other variations. The leaves on the tree behind the piano are small and new. His audience is dressed for cool weather. They wear jackets, hats, jeans and heavy shoes. Many of the people in the audience are children. The music, played without any sheet music in front of the pianist, repeated many times. Each variation was ear-catchingly different.

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The piano, though not terribly out of tune, had obviously seen better days. The wooden frame looked as though it had splintered along the side and the strings and hammers were uncovered. Without a lot of care, the piano would not survive the elements.

The player, also, had the appearance of someone who'd been damaged and left derelict. The condition of his hair and clothing leaves little doubt that life has not been easy for him. At his feet is a white plastic shopping bag, full of items. His? 

The street on which he played has a very ordinary appearance. It may be a market space as there appear to be small kiosks or tent shops in the background and chairs can be seen in the distance, the type walkers in an outdoor mall might use to rest and study their purchases.

We know nothing more about the player. His name and story are not provided, nor is the origin of the piano on the street. This fleeting moment of music simply pops up in the crowd with neither introductions nor applause. Though we don't know his story, please take a moment to share his expertise and the crowd's enjoyment.