In editing the September Overtones, I asked a few fellow organists their thoughts to this question….
“How has Covid-19 affected you personally?”
Here are some of their replies.
“I think it is important to be sensible about the pandemic, but not panicky about it. Wear your mask in public places, wash and sanitize hands, don’t be hugging everybody. But I think some people are overly afraid at this time. We need to remember that “He’s got the whole world in His hands.” Also, we human beings have a responsibility to take care of our general health so that we are less likely to be victims of a virus, and if we do become such, we have a better chance of surviving it. I find the excessive amount of time alone to be difficult and sometimes depressing. I bet the psychiatrists have been running a booming business right now. I think it is important to open up more things, places, concerts, just sit 6 feet apart for awhile yet. Businesses and populations should not suffer overly much due to party clusters (especially of young people) who “break the rules.”
It is interesting: I have a nephew who flies (pilots) planes for American Airlines. He says, “I am piloting these planes, but people should not be riding in them.”
I am grateful that I have been playing live-streamed services in my church.
Kirstin Synnestvedt
When the plague first started with closing health clubs, the mall, restaurants, etc., I thought that I could live with it for a few weeks, but when it morphed into what it is today, my view changed a great deal. I live alone, so I do not have someone to chat with daily, although neighbors, friends by text and online helped some. The realization that my career, as a choral director, has virtually ended with no end in sight. I suffer from mild depression, and there were times when it became more serious on a daily basis.
At the beginning of this crisis, I was faced with gallbladder surgery, which then turned into a diagnosis of low grade Non Hodgkins Lymphoma, resulting in several weeks of strong chemo. Hopelessness was on the horizon. Thankfully I am now in remission. Then a family tragedy just several weeks ago hit us when my stepson died from an OD, totally taking us all by surprise because it seemed he had finally gotten his life together. We are still trying to put those pieces together.
I continue daily to live out my faith as I can, meditating, practicing piano, reading the scriptures, and depending so much on my church family for strength. I am blessed to not only have my present congregation for support, but two previous congregations I have served which have been a tremendous blessing to me. I am lucky and blessed that I am retired and my income hasn’t been affected, like so many. If it weren’t for my strong faith in God, I’m not sure where I would be today. Thanking God for his endless love, grace and mercy!
Lee Nelson
I am usually gone a good part of the summer. This year I have greatly enjoyed planting and tending my garden and sitting in my backyard. On the other hand, it’s been quite a journey into the tech world, learning how to videotape our services.
Jill Hunt
Great question! Mostly I am just staying close to home, and doing more yard work than usual. We have reopened worship services with masks, social distancing, and limited numbers of folks being able to attend. Our present maximum is 75 per service. (We are back to two services per week.). Folks need to register ahead of time to attend.
My big project is a weekly YouTube video I have done for the past 15 weeks called “Music of Hope and Comfort.” It was originally intended as a way to keep in-contact with my Choir Members and the Seniors at church. It seems to have worked. We have a different topic—based on hymns—each week. This week’s topic was “Children’s Hymns.” Last week we did “Communion Hymns.” The week before we did “Hymns by Martin Luther.” etc. The program lasts about 35 minutes, and (sadly) is not note perfect, but seems to have a good following. About 300 folks per week have been watching lately. It is on my church’s web site (stjohnslombard.org) and on YouTube. I write the script—something about the hymn text writer, something about the hymn tune writer, and then something about the choral prelude that I will be playing—based on that hymn tune. We do about eight hymns per week.
Karl Bruhn
Daily reminders of fragility have sharpened my focus on the heritage of goodness that has sustained me and my family for nine decades. The text and tune of the accompanying hymn feeds me daily.
The lone wild bird in lofty flight:
Is still with thee, nor leaves thy sight!
And I am thine, I rest in thee,
Great spirit come and rest in me.The ends of earth are in thy hand,
Morgan Simmons
The earth dark seas and far off land.
And I am thine, I rest in thee,
Great spirit come and rest in me.
COVID-19 has actually made me more ready to accept changes. My husband retired this summer, and I took on a permanent position as Organist where I’ve been assisting. The need for these changes became clear as the future of our careers became less certain – especially mine as a Collaborative Pianist. I am grateful to be able to make & share music safely from the organ bench, either prerecording or live-streaming (without Congregation.) I hope to provide music that will comfort, reassure, and provide hope for those struggling through this strange, tough time. We must remain receptive to what God is telling us, especially now.
Sharon Peterson
Covid-19 has caused me to change the way I do pretty much everything. It’s changed the way I shop, the way I interact with people I don’t know, and people I do know. It’s made me more aware of personal hygiene (between hand washing and hand sanitizer, I don’t think my hands will ever feel the same again!). It’s changed the way I have to make music, going from being a live musician to a music producer of sorts. But most of all, it’s made me even more thankful for what I have in my life and that’s something I’ll never lose sight of again.
Rich Spantikow
And John Hopkins answered how he was keeping busy this very unusual summer….
Here at St. Joseph Church in Wilmette, we have a 10:30 am Sunday “Parking Lot Mass”. I’m up at the front with the priest and my soloist, and the service is broadcast to the members who stay in their cars and tune in to an FM station. We direct broadcast to that station.
We are up to 90 cars attending… Here’s a picture, but hard to see details.