So much has changed in the world in just a few short weeks. As a performing artist and a Certified Clinical Musician working in hospice, 2/3rds of my work came to a screeching halt starting on February 24th. Here in Seattle, we were sort of a canary in the coal mine for rest of North America, but that still didn’t prepare me for the severity of the situation we are now in. With restrictions to large gatherings and health care organizations looking to be in solid place for the foreseeable future, I’m being honest with myself. I’m not expecting much harp related work for the rest of the year, perhaps into next year. In the meantime, in addition being with my children, I’m also looking to drum up work through digital media streams, virtual teaching, and new collaborations.
Like many people during this COVID quarantine, I am contemplating my life, my career, and broader still, humanity. Voices of inspiring writers, musicians, poets, philosophers, and scientists throughout history are giving me comfort. The world has seen hard times before, and troubled people look to artists during rough days for entertainment, distraction, and wisdom.
Allen Ginsberg wrote, “The weight of the world is love under the burden of solitude.”
Is our solitude a burden to us now? Or is a comfort? Or both? I have gone through waves of feeling both extremes.
Under weight of solitude and a view of the Olympic Mountains – April 2020
(Discovery Park, Seattle WA)
Side projects that I had been working on or just thinking about are actually now front and center for me, so that is interesting. Harp Escape is one of my projects that is now a main focus.
Harp Escape is an audio/video series that I started last year in response to what I found to be an ever mounting stress. As a working mother of two, as an urban dweller, as a musician commuting to gigs, teaching, and therapy sessions, I found that my city of Seattle was getting more and more congested, loud, and exhausting to drive in and be in. Scheduling was almost just as tight and restrictive. So, as an artist and sound healer, I created an online place for a get away. I wanted to create more breathing space. Harp Escape now seems more relevant than ever, as millions of people lose their jobs, feel anxiety about the virus, and waver in their general trust of each other. Within our lifetimes, we have never lived in a more uncertain age.
Harp Escape presents feel-good relaxing music ideal for quarantine time. It is a love salve. I encourage you to put on some good headphones and escape the world of troubles and take care of your inner world. Here is a Harp Escape Playlist.
Erik Satie – First Gymnopedie
To take the Harp Escape idea yet further, in response to the pandemic and our global quarantine, I have begun a weekly virtual Harp Escape Concert Series on Facebook. You can find me live streaming @harpescape at 6:30pm Pacific Standard Time every Saturday.
My husband, Stephen Schildbach, illustrated a contemplative piece for the times using me (and some of our house plants) and as model. You can find more of Stephen’s work on Instagram at Schildbach Illustration
We as a family of four are trying the best way that we can to see through the darkness of this time. There are so many unknowns, but it is in trusting my inner knowledge that is getting me through this, and probably priming me for the uncertain future that is to come.
Contemplating Coronavirus by Stephen Schidbach
The COVID19 epidemic is helping us find out who we really are, and what we are truly made of.