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:
As a composer, I was feeling helpless at home during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. Then, I realized I could at least provide my musical friends with new compositions while they were spending time in self-isolation. So in the Spring of 2020, I composed 31 new short pieces of music for an unaccompanied solo instrument or voice, or for a duo of musicians self-isolating together.
With the cancellation of all performances, COVID-19 has adversely impacted the world’s music community. This project is my attempt to raise the spirits of fellow musicians, and the community at large, as we continue to traverse through uncertain times. We might be self-isolating but we are never alone…we have music.
– Frank Horvat
Video Performance Playlists
Participate by posting your own video. Find out more and download the sheet music.
If you are enjoying this project, please consider making a donation to the Unison Benevolent Fund.
