Music for Self-Isolation began as a project for musicians to support each other and their fans through the beginning of the pandemic. It has evolved, over a year, into a worldwide collaboration to share music and musicians’ stories to a wider audience. Created by filmmaker, Adam Crosby, this documentary is a thought-provoking and reflective look into the lives, hopes and fears of musicians who are driven to keep creating through a global pandemic.
The majority of the film was shot at Roy Thomson Hall in Toronto from January 11-13, 2021 during the recording of the Music for Self-Isolation album. Other interviews were shot in isolation from the interviewees’ personal spaces.
This film, capturing the recording process and chronicling more of musicians’ stories from the pandemic, distilled from 48 performer interviews, was released on May 21, 2021 exclusively on Gramophone, one of the world’s most preeminent classical music publications. The documentary was also featured on The Strad.
Thank you to the following for their gracious support of this project:
“…these are distinct, lonesome miniatures, capturing the thoughts, hopes, and exhaustions of a difficult time. Contrary to the title, this is music against social isolation. Now that the recording has arrived, we can give them the ovation they deserve.”
Music for Self-Isolation - CelloAmahl Arulanandam (cello)01:46
Music for Self-Isolation - Piano 2Lisa Tahara (piano)02:13
Music for Self-Isolation - FluteChristopher Lee (flute)03:26
Music for Self-Isolation - MarimbaRichard Moore (marimba)02:19
Music for Self-Isolation - Voice 2Tara Baxendale (voice)01:39
Music for Self-Isolation - String Duo (violin-viola)Tanya Charles Iveniuk (violin), Anthony Rapoport (viola)02:09
Music for Self-Isolation - Classical GuitarBrent Crawford (classical guitar)02:02
Music for Self-Isolation - SaxophoneJennifer Tran (alto saxophone)01:35
Music for Self-Isolation - ViolinTanya Charles Iveniuk (violin)01:36
Music for Self-Isolation - Piano 3 (duet)Frank Horvat (piano), Lisa Tahara (piano)01:58
Music for Self-Isolation - VoiceIris Rodrigues (voice)01:26
Music for Self-Isolation - BassoonKristin Day (bassoon)02:18
Music for Self-Isolation - HornAudrey Good (horn)02:42
Music for Self-Isolation - Double BassTheodore Chan (double bass)01:41
Music for Self-Isolation - Electric GuitarAndrew Noseworthy (electric guitar)02:45
Music for Self-Isolation - Voice 3 (with guitar)John Campbell (voice), Brent Crawford (guitar)02:22
Music for Self-Isolation - HarpSharlene Wallace (harp)01:53
Music for Self-Isolation - TromboneVanessa Fralick (trombone)01:48
Music for Self-Isolation - OboeAleh Remezau (oboe)02:16
Music for Self-Isolation - String Duo 2 (violin-cello)Tanya Charles Iveniuk (violin), Amahl Arulanandam (cello)02:07
Music for Self-Isolation - PianoLisa Tahara (piano)02:02
Music for Self-Isolation - TubaJennifer Stephen (tuba)02:13
Music for Self-Isolation - Voice 5 (duet)Iris Rodrigues (voice), Tara Baxendale (voice)00:43
Music for Self-Isolation - VibraphoneRichard Moore (vibraphone)02:22
Music for Self-Isolation - AccordionJoseph Petric (accordion)02:54
Music for Self-Isolation - TrumpetMichael Fedyshyn (trumpet)01:52
Music for Self-Isolation - Bass ClarinetKathryn Ladano (bass clarinet)02:31
Music for Self-Isolation - ClarinetPeter Stoll (clarinet)01:45
Music for Self-Isolation - ViolaAnthony Rapoport (viola)01:58
Music for Self-Isolation - Violin 2Tanya Charles Iveniuk (violin)02:45
Music for Self-Isolation - Voice 4 (with piano)Meredith Hall (voice), Lisa Tahara (piano)03:01
Music for Self-Isolation - Together in SpiritVarious Artists03:56
Music for Self-Isolation - Pandemic Stories - Jeanne CôtéJeanne Côté (violin)04:46
Music for Self-Isolation - Pandemic Stories - Scott MacInnesScott MacInnes (trombone)07:09
Music for Self-Isolation - Pandemic Stories - A. Lish LindseyA. Lish Lindsey (piccolo)06:13
Music for Self-Isolation - Pandemic Stories - William McLeishWilliam McLeish (cello)07:16
Music for Self-Isolation - Pandemic Stories - Katherine CarletonKatherine Carleton (clarinets)10:02
Music for Self-Isolation - Pandemic Stories - Larry WilliamsLarry Williams (horn)10:11
Music for Self-Isolation - Pandemic Stories - Karen WierzbaKaren Wierzba (voice), Lise Mariana Harnay (voice)08:18
Music for Self-Isolation - Pandemic Stories - Nicola MogaveroNicola Mogavero (tenor saxophone)04:25
“Truly a record of our times. There is a sense of loss and shared spirit in this music. It is saying, we might not be able to be together but let’s BE together. So much emotion packed into that short little piece.”
Recorded at Toronto’s iconic Roy Thomson Hall, in the three days before another COVID-19 lockdown, the Music for Self-Isolation album is a culmination of a project that has been evolving over a year in collaboration with musicians around the world.
This album features 25 musicians, all alone in an empty concert hall, reliving the emotions of each of the 31 solos and duos from the Music for Self-Isolation suite by Canadian composer, Frank Horvat. Through the grace of technology, they also all come together for the world premiere of Together in Spirit.
Connecting with so many musicians, Frank wanted to tell their stories of what their lives have been like during this pandemic. He interviewed eight of them, composing an audio documentary composition for each. You can hear these Pandemic Stories on the digital release of this album.
Produced by Frank and engineered by Juno-nominated Dennis Patterson, the album captures the pristine acoustics of Roy Thomson Hall while reflecting on the poignancy of some of Canada’s best musicians performing in a cavernous empty hall.
The album was released April 9, 2021 on the Centrediscs label. A documentary film, by Adam Crosby, capturing the recording process and chronicling more of musicians’ stories from the pandemic, was released on May 21, 2021 exclusively on Gramophone, one of the world’s most preeminent classical music publications. Watch and find out more about the film.
During the pandemic, musicians from around the world embraced the #IsolationMusic and #StayAtHomeChallenge, sharing videos of their Music for Self-Isolation performances online. These powerful, intimate expressions of creativity, posted from the quiet corners of their sanctuaries, resonated deeply with me. But beyond the music, what moved me even more were the personal stories many musicians shared—stories of their lives during this unprecedented time, their hopes, and their fears for the future.
I felt it was important for these voices to be heard more widely, to foster healing and solidarity as we moved through the pandemic together. And so, Music for Self-Isolation – Pandemic Stories was born.
In the second phase of the Music for Self-Isolation project, I spoke with eight musicians about how COVID-19 had impacted their lives. What were their hopes, dreams, and fears for themselves, their loved ones, for the arts and culture sector, and for the world at large? These candid conversations were as inspiring as the music they performed.
I interviewed each of these artists, and you can listen to our full conversations through the recorded chats linked below (click on their names). Then, drawing inspiration from their experiences, I created new audio documentary compositions dedicated to each musician. These pieces weave together excerpts from our interviews with their original Music for Self-Isolation performances, creating a unique musical reflection of their COVID journey.
“The results are mournful, thoughtful, joyful – expressing the range of emotions the pandemic has evoked.”May 21, 2021: Music for Self-Isolation Documentary premiere on Gramophone. “…thought-provoking and moving documentary…in which artists open up about and share their experiences, hopes and fears of life during the global pandemic.” The film was also featured on The Strad. Find out more about the film.
CBC In Concert’s Record of the Week: “Truly a record of our times. There is a sense of loss and shared spirit in this music. It is saying, we might not be able to be together but let’s BE together.” – Paolo Pietropaolo
“…these are distinct, lonesome miniatures, capturing the thoughts, hopes, and exhaustions of a difficult time. Contrary to the title, this is music against social isolation. Now that the recording has arrived, we can give them the ovation they deserve.”
“It takes a special skill to be able to create a whole atmosphere in a work that is just 2 minutes long. I really liked that.” – Suzy Klein, Essential Classics
WholeNote: Album Recording Gets in Under the Wire at Roy Thomson Hall (Feb 2021, pages 8-9)
Radio-Canada May 20, 2021: Report about music creation in pandemics including an interview with Professor Louis Brouillette about the Music for Self-Isolation project
Radio-Canada May 26, 2021: Performance of three tracks off the Music for Self-Isolation album
https://youtu.be/ldkH0PjFS2o
January 30, 2021: Post-concert Opera Revue interview with Danie Friesen and Claire Harris
Etienne Plante interviews Frank Horvat on Quid Novi about Music for Self-IsolationInterview Part 128:11
Etienne Plante interviews Frank Horvat on Quid Novi about Music for Self-IsolationInterview Part 228:27
Etienne Plante interviews Frank Horvat on Quid Novi about Music for Self-IsolationInterview Part 329:47
The Summer 2020 Lockdown issue of the UK’s The Horn Player Magazine featured the sheet music for the Music for Self-Isolation – French Horn piece.
