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Bells of Nagasaki — Anli Lin Tong on Faith, Lineage, and the Artist’s Callin
Season 6 Episode 8
What does a piano recital have to do with war, faith, and forgiveness?
In this episode of The Piano Pod, pianist and educator Anli Lin Tong shares the story behind Bells of Nagasaki: Music for Contemplation—a profoundly moving concert created for the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki.
What began as a single song her father used to sing—The Bells of Nagasaki—became a powerful act of remembrance, shaped by the legacy of Dr. Takashi Nagai, a survivor who transformed unimaginable loss into a life devoted to peace.
This conversation moves beyond repertoire and performance into questions rarely asked in classical music:
• What responsibility does an artist carry when history is still unresolved? • How does sound hold memory when words fail?
From the history of Urakami Cathedral’s bells, silenced for decades, to Anli’s own journey—moving to the U.S. alone as a child, studying with legendary teachers, and carrying artistic lineage forward—this episode reveals how music can become a moral witness.
It’s a conversation about remembrance, responsibility, and the quiet power of sound to hold history—and humanity—together.
Learn More About Anli Lin Tong
- 📝 Read my blog exploring Anli’s artistry and work
- 📰 Press Coverage: Bells of Nagasaki: Music for Contemplation
- 🎓 Juilliard Feature The Juilliard School highlights Anli’s writing on her teacher Mieczysław Munz:
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Published on 2 weeks ago