Finding Solace in Music in a Time of Crisis
via House Concerts in Hove
Much of my childhood was spent in economic and political turmoil amid the Soviet Union’s collapse. There was a collective sense of despair and little to hope for, but somehow people found ways to bring joy to their lives. I had a happy childhood, mostly insulated from the anxiety my parents’ generation felt for our future, surrounded by a big extended family, friends, and neighbors. Tbilisi’s vibrant cultural life never stopped, no matter how bad the economy became or how many people were out of a job. Most children my age took music lessons, and while lessons were free for the students and the teachers earned next to nothing, there was an incredible level of dedication and pursuit of the arts. I am reminded now, as we live through extraordinary times, of the important role that music played in my life. I was happiest when playing the piano, losing myself in the music and making something beautiful that brought joy to listeners.
My March 14th recital at the Kosciuszko Foundation in Washington DC was the first of many pandemic cancellations. It came right after another challenging period due to a bad fall in early February. Then, I refused to cancel anything due to my injury. All my scheduled concerts happened, even though that meant traveling and performing on crutches. I brought the same “the show must go on” spirit to the cancellations outside my control, so I resolved to find a way to bring live music to audiences I could not see in person.
I performed the concert meant for Kosciuszko in my living room, my first live-stream on Facebook. I was so nervous because I had never done this before, but it was so exhilarating to hopefully brighten someone’s day by bringing music to the community despite the lockdown. My weekly live-stream performances have revived the sense of purpose and community that I remember from my childhood.
Composers who created their greatest works during the most challenging times proved a source of renewed inspiration. Beethoven struggled with hearing loss for most of his life, and he was completely deaf while composing his late-period masterpieces, Robert Schumann produced the most imaginative musical characters while struggling with mental illness, and Clara had to take care of him and their eight children while producing her own great works. Chopin gifted the world with the most beautiful melodies while under medical care most of his life. Every composer and artist I know created their greatest, most meaningful works in spite of, if not because of their struggles with tough challenges.
I am hopeful that we will come out of this difficult period, and we will once again make music together with a renewed sense of purpose and community.
