We find ourselves in the middle of an unprecedented global pandemic. Even a few short months ago we wouldnāt have been able to imagine what we are going through today. Our lives have been thrown into unchartered territory and for each and every one of us, trying to find our way through this is difficult at best and near impossible for many.
The loss of life is staggering and hard to get our heads around and in the deepest sense, the only way for us to get through this, is together. Almost every country on earth is facing the same fate as if there are no boundaries or borders. What we need now is a universal language of some sort. Fortunately, the most natural and beautiful way we can express our pain and anxiety is with the language of music. Weāve discovered some of the most uplifting, hope-inspiring videos we could find to show how music is bringing people together during this difficult time, all over the world.
Music is giving a true sense of unity in neighborhoods
In Italy, thereās a country-wide attempt at a concert to lift the spirits on a daily bases! People are going to their doors and balconies and joining in with whatever āinstrumentā they can lay their hands on. Of course, pianists and guitarists are out in full force accompanying, but others are grabbing saucepans and spoons. In Lithuania, two saxophonists play together from distant balconies to the delight of their neighbors. The trend continued in Germany where they sang a song of solidarity with Italy while Italy was suffering so much as well as in Spain, Mexico and Israel, where they sang for Passover.Ā
We are witnessing a true wave of online collaborative music
The Swan Project has brought 24 student cellists together online from around the world to play Saint-Seanās Carnival of the animals. The beautiful masterpiece is calming and comforting.Ā
Festival Napa Valleyās Remote Ensemble brought together 126 musicians remotely to perform āVa, pensiero ā (also known as āThe Chorus of the Hebrew Slavesā from the opera Nabucco by Verdi. Itās impressive how well it works considering how far apart all the musicians and singers are.Ā
Talents are taking over the internet with touching videos
These sad and yet strangely triumphant days are also encouraging creativity in many forms. This seven year old Greek boy, Stellios Kerasidis, has written a heart-felt piece called āIsolation Waltzā which evokes the sadness, hope and beauty of our times all at once.
In a deserted St Pancras Station in London a solo singer and piano player, Stephen Ridley, gives a profound performance of āImagineā to the empty concourse.Ā
Sally Gilmore is 86 and has dementia. She and her husband Ken (83) are self-isolating in Penzance, England. Here Sally plays āI Got Rhythmā by George Gershwin to the delight of her husband.
An entire family from Kent, UK, did a wonderful rendition of Les Miserables with hilarious lyrics about lockdown which has had over five and a half million views so far.
Stars are doing home concerts for their fans
If youāre a musician and youāre used to travelling around the world performing to live audiences, what on earth do you do when you find yourself under stay-home orders for months? You make music of course! Even better, have online meetups with other musicians and get your band or orchestra together virtually.
Missing their fans, many celebrities have been putting on casual āmini-concertsā from their homes. Itās wonderful to see them in their natural habitat, sometimes in a bathrobe, sometimes interrupted by their dog. It makes you feel far more connected with them, especially if they read your chat message live.
John Legend promises not to be wearing any pants in this at home concert. He sings Stevie Wonderās poignant song āLoveās In Needā accompanying himself on the piano.Ā
Norah Jones does a lovely rendition of āTurn me onā from her living room.Ā
Here is Neil Diamond singing āSweetĀ “Sweet Carolineā with the lyrics āhands washing hands, donāt touch me, I wonāt touch youā in his very recognizable famous voice.Ā
Pianists are also launching positive initiatives
Pianists are not in short supply doing online concerts.Ā
The worldās greatest concert pianist, Lang Lang is doing āTiny Desk Home Concertsā here he plays the exquisite Nocturne number 20 in C# minor by Chopin.Ā
Here is German concert pianist Aaron Pilsan playing some delightful dances by Schubert from his home.
Lockdown is not affecting creativity for musicians
So, we are all stuck at home for the foreseeable future. Live concerts and theater productions have been cancelled around the globe. Yet, if we keep our ears on alert, we can find music just outside our windows or else go online to lift our spirits and feel connected. Here are a few more videos to make you smile!
Author of this blog post
Georgina St George has been playing piano most of her life. She has a thriving piano school on the south coast of England. She loves to infuse her students with her passion for music, composing and performing. Her music has been featured on over 100 TV shows and her musicals have been performed in New York and Londonās West End.
