The Importance of Music and Arts

The HCA community, our country, and the world at large could not possibly have anticipated or predicted the unprecedented situation we find ourselves in, at this moment in history. We have all been deeply impacted by the global coronavirus pandemic in one way or another. We pray that your families are safe and as healthy as can be during these current circumstances.

This pandemic can cause a myriad of emotions, from fear and uncertainty, to anxiety and sense of hopelessness. The disruption to our daily routines, the unpredictable future and the many questions that remain unanswered can put undue stress on our sense of normalcy, shake us to the core, and leave us wondering what the future may hold.

Therefore it is in times like these, that it is even more crucial to turn to the arts for healing, comfort, and inspiration. The arts transcend cultural boundaries, gender, age, ethnicity, faith, socio-economic status and even pre-existing health-related concerns. The arts can calm our fears, soothe our bodies and minds, and elevate our spirits and souls. They can transform us from the inside out. We only have to allow ourselves to be open to the possibility.

I encourage you to carve time each day, amid the chaos and confusion, to create a crucial space where you can detach from the turmoil, even momentarily. Allow yourself to connect with something beyond your normal obligations and responsibilities. Experience something new, whether it be a beautiful piece of art, or a piece of music you have never heard before. Allow your body to be still, your mind to be at ease and your spirit to be uplifted. Embrace the unfamiliar with a new sense of curiosity.

Below you will find a link to a piece of music by Enno Morricone used in a film entitled the Mission. It is intended to encourage you to find a few moments for reflection and meditation. It is performed here as a duet by me performing both the piano and violin parts. While you listen, I hope you will take the time to read some of my favorite quotes about the importance of the arts in our lives.

We are blessed in so many ways by the gifts we have been given by God. Artists and musicians create with their hands, brains, hearts and souls. They share their talents and provide us with an outlet to enable us to reach inside our own thoughts and hearts to experience life at a deeper, more spiritual level. May you immerse yourself every day in the gifts that musicians and artists share so freely.

Gratefully,
Patricia Brown