Monday, March 16, 2020, I woke up feeling anxious.
All my gigs were being cancelled.
Our state senator ordered everyone to “stay home” due to the growing COVID-19 pandemic.
Oblivious to the situation, the birds sang happily outside my bedroom window. I lay there soaking in their songs.
Peace began to wash over me.
I thought to myself, “what if I’d offer to play my grand piano for the world, online? I’ll select some of the old hymns that mention birds, such as His Eye is on the Sparrow. We can “sing” each other through the global storm.”
I started daily sessions of “Hit Pause” from my studio. Thanks Facebook LIVE! My online community responded with joy and support.
Soon we were into Holy Week so we transitioned to Easter hymns. “Hey—why not do an online Easter sunrise concert and tell the Easter story “on the ivories”, I thought.”
So with the iPhone propped in my open window, a robin singing along with my piano music and the sun rising, we celebrated Easter on our devices at 6:00 am! A listener posted a comment that day…”you should do an Easter album!” An inspiration that caught my attention. And so it came to be…. Sunrise Meditations.
Nature sounds came in from the Hit Pause community around the world (and our homes), rallying around the idea of hymns, piano and nature joining together.
Necessity (a pandemic) is the mother of (invention) inspiration. Sunrise Meditations is proof.
We are planning for a June 7, 2020 release!
Click HERE to watch "Hit Pause" and hear from the artist who was commissioned to paint the cover of the new album.
Artist, Diane Nadolny's painting of the new album cover. |
Hi Frances. I loved your newsletter! I have to say that my own pathway through this Covid 19 has let me create "Into The Quiet", piano originals and old timey hymns. I added cello on the second CD. What a terrific story … necessity is indeed the mother of creativity.
ReplyDeleteMuch love and joy and peace and endurance to you.
Rachel