Monday, March 16, 2020, I woke up feeling anxious.
All my gigs were being canceled.
Our state senator strongly urged 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.
9. This is my Father’s World / Simple Gifts / His Eye is on the Sparrow / And Can it Be? / Sheep May Safely Graze - Terra Beata (tune) / Joseph Brackett (American Shaker Melody) / Civilla D. Martin / Thomas Campbell (tune) / Johann Sebastian Bach (tune)
Aspen, Brian, Cheryl and Iris for providing extra ears as I was laying down piano ideas and “mixing birds”.
Tom Drost who suggested going “live” from my studio while we had to “stay home”. It was just the advice I needed to revitalize Hit Pause.
Executive Producer: Frances Drost
Producer: Eric Copeland, Creative Soul Records
Nature sound coordination: Brian Gayman, Proclaim Media
Nature sounds: God ;-)
Front cover: Diane Nadolny
Inside cover illustration: Rick Boersma
Flute (Doug Cook) recorded by Jonathan Cook
All piano arrangements: Frances Drost
Synthogy Ivory
Thanks to Michael P. Smith CFP® Wealth Advisor 717-502-1100, with Thrivent for underwriting this project.
Frances Drost is a singer/songwriter who gives voice to our innermost thoughts and feelings through lyrics and melodies. She lives life and then writes about it so others can join in the journey.
supported by 5 fans who also own “Sunrise Meditations”
I love these arrangements and have been listening to it every day. I'm not normally a person that listens to Christmas music (especially before December!), but I find this calming and relaxing and I can't stop listening. It may end up in my year round rotation. Thanks for sharing this with the world. ❤️💚❤️ sch_wen
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