Stumbling Seer

Breathe.

Musicians know a lot about breathing. Like athletes, they work at awareness of their breath, but like singers, all musicians use the breath to enhance the music. It is called phrasing.

I have been touched this week by the musicians who, like the comedians, offered us online gifts for our comfort during this time of anxiety during physical distancing and social isolation. 

Chris Thile offered “Live From Home” and challenged many of his friends to sing and play for us. Yo Yo Ma posted several deeply beautiful pieces and James Taylor posted old footage of songs like “Secret of Life” at  #comfortsongs.

Ellen posted video of talking on her phone from her sofa with John Legend who later offered a full concert from his home #TogetherAtHome. Jimmy Fallon and Stephen Colbert did bits from their homes too - really funny bits. It’s not easy to serve up good jokes like that to just your wife’s smart phone and no other audience. No big laughs.

From their homes! 

The sound was blotchy, they forgot lyrics, they played wrong notes, kids and pets and spouses were distracting, glare and sirens in the background were annoying. But this was the best medicine these celebrities could have sent to a worried and anxious world. It was even better than amateur footage of Italians and Spaniards singing from their balconies - well, almost.

They didn’t complain about losing all the gigs that were canceled. They didn’t complain about getting grounded. They went home. They sang and played for us, they laughed and cut up, they played games. And they raised money. Lot’s of money for the cause.

The world got a little closer this week.

We’ll get through this. Just breathe.

And thanks for all the comfort posts!