"When you are accompanying someone, you are listening to them the way you listen to a Bach Chorale, where four parts are going on at the same time, all of which are gorgeous melodies, all being played simultaneously"

This quote by David Amram is a metaphor for how we should listen to others when we are accompanying them. He is recommending that we ought to listen to them with the exact same level of attention and appreciation that we would provide to a Bach Chorale. A Bach Chorale is an intricate piece of music with four parts that are all playing at the same time. Each part is a gorgeous melody that is linked with the other parts to produce an unified whole. In the same method, when we are accompanying someone, we must listen to them with the same level of attention and appreciation, comprehending that each part of their story is very important and contributes to the general image. By listening to them in this method, we can get a much better understanding of their experiences and feelings.