Music to soothe the soul in times of despair

What started out to be a family Easter project for a retired Hayfield couple has turned into being something of a hit on social media as it soothes of soul in times of despair.
 
Doug and Nancy Matti joined in with other family members to share something a little extra with each other when they couldn’t get together for Easter because of the coronavirus epidemic. Not to be outdone by their children and grandchildren who shared banjo performances and dancing kids, Doug and Nancy made their own video showcasing their musical talents.
 
They wrote a song about COVID-19 and sang it to the tune of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah.” In the song, titled “The Ballad of the Virus,” the Mattis share various aspects of life that have come to a screeching halt since the crisis began around March 13. The song features Nancy, a retired music teacher and current church choir director, on piano and vocals with Doug in the background on vocals as well.
 
Nancy said they went down to their basement and recorded it on the first attempt. They shared it with their family. “It was an Easter challenge for the Matti family,” Nancy said. “That was supposed to be the end of it, but it wasn’t.”
 
Little did Nancy know that it would become a popular hit on social media thanks to her granddaughter, Olivia Matti, who shared it on Facebook and Twitter.
 
Asked about composing a song, Nancy said, “It just kind of came. It wasn’t a masterpiece.”
 
Nancy, 79, can’t believe the reaction they have received regarding the song from friends and neighbors. “It was fun to do it, but we never anticipated for anybody else to hear it,” she said. “Oh dear, never can tell what will happen.”
 
At the end of the song, Doug jokingly closed out the video by saying, “You can get copies of this by sending $1.98 to Box 198, Hayfield, Minn., thank you.” Nancy said Monday afternoon that a few donations have trickled in since the song
was shared on social media. “It’s going to the toilet paper fund,” she said.
 
“A lot of people liked the song,” Nancy said. “They like to be reminded of things we can’t do,” she added.
 
She is enjoying retirement after “many, many years” as music teacher at Triton Schools in Dodge Center. Doug is a retired English teacher from Hayfield Public Schools. They have lived in Hayfield for 56 years.
 
Music continues to be a big part of Nancy’s life as she serves as choir director and organist at Trinity Lutheran Church in Hayfield. Despite the services moving online in recent weeks to comply with state social distancing guidelines, Nancy still played
organ music for Trinity’s Easter service.
 
While Nancy misses seeing kids all the time in school, she still finds time to accompany on the piano for them with their various musical activities. The Mattis also perform in some musicals in the area from time to time. Doug also continues to produce corn and soybeans on a family farm north of Mantorville. Nancy said the farm has been in the family for about 100 years.
 
Nancy is confident that America will conquer the coronavirus. “We will defeat it,” she says. “I’m hoping sooner rather than later,” she said, adding that she hopes the Mayo Clinic will come up with a vaccine soon.
 
As for the COVID-19 song, Nancy blushes at the notoriety they have gained in such a short time. “I’m just amazed that something spreads so quickly,” she said.