health
February 7, 2026
My cultural awakening: Bach helped me survive sexual abuse as a child
For pianist James Rhodes, the composer’s music expressed feelings that he could not put into words – and kept helping him as his mental health suffered in adulthood
TL;DR
- James Rhodes discovered Bach's music at age seven, finding it a source of light amidst childhood trauma from sexual abuse.
- Bach's Chaconne and Marcello Concerto became crucial lifelines, offering emotional expression and hope during difficult times.
- Despite a decade away from the piano, Rhodes returned in his late 20s with renewed determination, fueled by his deep connection to music.
- At 31, while in a psychiatric ward after a suicide attempt, a recording of Bach-Marcello Concerto reinforced the idea that 'if something this pure exists, then I don’t have to die.'
- Rhodes's music career blossomed, with his albums reaching stages his heroes once played on.
- He acknowledges that the effects of child sexual abuse are lasting, but music provided the tools to survive and transform suffering into something beautiful and hopeful.
- The Chaconne helped him hear suffering turned into beauty, and Marcello offered hope at a critical moment, teaching him to find good in the world.
Continue reading the original article