Kevin’s #REQUIEMSTORY

KEVIN WALSH, BASS

Only a pandemic could have kept me away from singing the Damien’s African American Requiem. All of Resonance’s performances are experiences in reaching out and touching people through the power of text and music. We will do this in January, so all is not lost.

I find myself reflecting about lots of things as we shelter in place to save lives. Perhaps this is a “reset” button for all of us: Mother Nature’s reset button; a political reset button; an inequality reset button; a racial reset button; a kindness reset button; a financial reset button. This is an opportunity for all of us and what we make of it individually, as a city, a state, a nation and the world does really matter. We start with ourselves. We stay home, we wear masks, we remember to give one another 6 feet of distance, we remember to be kind to one another. We do this because we care about others and the planet. 

As a 63 year old asthmatic, I must admit I was relieved to have it postponed. I didn’t relish being on stage with 99 other super-spreaders. I feel safer now. Each week brings changes in our knowledge about this virus and our choices to remain safe and keep others safe.

That is what this text is all about isn’t it? Kindness and how we treat one another really does matter. I am an optimist and I live in hope. My hope is that this Requiem really might be a Requiem to the old ways. That we can acknowledge the past, admit to it, and move forward to a new way of living.

Dona eis Requiem.