Kurt Bestor - Prayer of the Children

From 1977 to 1979, Kurt Bestor lived in the former country of Yugoslavia. Living and traveling extensively throughout this beautiful land, Bestor learned to love the people of Croatia, Serbia, and Bosnia & Herzegovina. When the devastating civil war broke out there; he struggled with just what to do. There was no financial contribution to be made or opportunity to fight alongside his friends. Besides - which side could he choose to be allied with? He loves them all equally. In a moment of frustration, Bestor sat at his keyboard and started humming a simple plaintive melody and with it penned the words, "Can you hear the prayer of the children?" In a matter of a few hours, he had written the entire song. After singing it for a few friends and family members, Bestor put it aside, never intending to sing it again.

Then, on a whim, he sang it in a concert. The response was overwhelming. At the end of the performance, the deafening silence followed by thunderous applause, convinced the composer/perfomer that he would never perform again without including this special anthem. Usually sung with the vocalist vocal synthesizer, Bestor has performed the piece thousands of times for a myriad of causes.

Prayer of the Children is unique in its universal message, sacred - yet simple melody, and haunting words. Today - it's message is as pertinent as it was at its conception when Bestor dedicated it to the children of the former country of Yugoslavia.

The music can be found on the CD titled "Innovators".

Innovators CD
Prayer of the Children SATB
Prayer of the Children TTBB
Prayer of the Children SSAA