On Monday I posted how people are producing music online to help lift their spirits and those around them. As difficult and scary as this crisis is, there’s beauty too. In so many ways, people are rising to their best selves. Music is one way. It gives me hope, both here in the moment and later after the situation eases.
“When I hear music, I fear no danger. I am invulnerable. I see no foe. I am related to the earliest of times, and to the latest.” – Henry David Thoreau
I began my first post on Monday with John Lennon’s ‘Imagine’ performed by Dr. Elvis Francois of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. CBS News aired this report about Dr. Francois.
Chris Mann wrote ‘Thank U Frontline’ for the frontline doctors, nurses and workers of all kinds out there.
Six13 performed ‘Vehi She’amda: A Passover Anthem for Our Times’
Carolyn Winfrey Gillette wrote ‘This Easter Celebration’ which is presented here with her permission. This version was recorded by Dr. Reginald Houze and Dr. Robert Ridgell at Weddington United Methodist Church in North Carolina on April 7, 2020.
“Where words leave off, music begins.” – Heinrich Heine
Several groups have assembled impressive virtual performances while socially distanced in their homes. They make my work meetings in WebEx seem really drab!
First up, students from the Chino Valley Unified School District in Arizona.
High school and university students in Rome, who haven’t previously sung together, organized in a virtual choir to perform ‘Helplessly Hoping’ by Crosby, Stills & Nash.
This piece was produced, arranged and edited by Shelbie Rassler of the Boston Conservatory at Berklee.
The Pub Choir assembled this rendition of ‘Close to You’ using 1000 submissions received from 18 countries.
The Phantom London Orchestra performs ‘All I Ask of You.’
The National Orchestra of France performs ‘Boléro.’
The Virtual Choir sings ‘Hallelujah’ (Leonard Cohen).
Camden Voices sings ‘True Colors.’
“Music is the divine way to tell beautiful, poetic things to the heart.” – Pablo Casals
Stéphane Sénéchal, a professional lyric singer, has been performing concerts from his apartment window in Paris. Here he sings from ‘Caruso.’
Lukas Nelson performs Paul Simons’ ‘Sound of Silence.’
Meanwhile, Paul Simon and friends perform ‘All I Have to Do is Dream’ from the Everly Brothers.
John Fogerty performs Creedence Clearwater Revival classics.
“Everything in the universe has a rhythm, everything dances.” – Maya Angelou
And, last but not least, a few of the latest parodies. It’s good to laugh!
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