The current global health crisis may have pulled billions of people physically apart, but humanity’s universal language of music draws them together, united during these dark times when there’s nothing but a faint glimmer of hope.
In some way, music provides an antidote for stress and fear of what future holds when victory over a war against an unseen enemy is not yet in sight.
On Friday last week, 96 musicians comprising the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra (QPO) stepped onto their balconies to perform Ode to Joy, which is famous as part of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. The piece is known as the anthem of the European Union, and a tune about peace and a celebration of music inspiring impromptu performances at public spaces by musicians in many countries around the world.
Students and teachers from Qatar Music Academy along with other people from their homes joined in the performance aimed at bringing people together amid the gargantuan challenges the COVID-19 pandemic pose.
In this one of its most important performances, the orchestra intended to lift people’s spirits while sending a message to them that they are all together while they are in their own homes, waiting for the situation to improve.
Days before the performance, QPO uploaded a couple of videos in its social media accounts of the musicians playing the second movement from Antonin Dvorak’s Symphony No.9 (From The New World) in their homes.
With four movements, this composition by Dvorak is considered one of the most popular of all symphonies. Neil Armstrong took a tape recording of this symphony along during the Apollo 11 mission in 1969, the first time man landed on the Moon.
The videos which garnered praise from netizens many of whom liked and shared them via Facebook, Twitter and Instagram was a rehearsal for their upcoming show. The virtual concert emphasized the importance of people following health guidance and encouraged staying at home during the coronavirus crisis. The orchestra also plans to release more videos of its musicians’ virtual rehearsals.
On March 20, the UN Chamber Music Society presented a virtual “Performance to Provide Solace During the Coronavirus Pandemic” in support of solidarity sessions initiative launched by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and Global Citizen.
During the 20-minute streaming, the participating musicians performed excerpts from famous compositions from their own homes encouraging physical distancing to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The repertoire was encompassing, consisting of compositions from six regions in the world including Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Americas, Africa, Asia and the Middle East.
“In this unprecedented time, it is more important than ever for people to remain in contact. Although we have to be physically apart for awhile, we can come together in new ways to enjoy the beauty and power of great music,” said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of WHO, in his message before the online concert, adding he hoped other musicians would emulate the performance.
Launched about two weeks ago, WHO and Global Citizen’s “Together At Home” campaign has witnessed strong support from some of the most well-known performers and celebrities in the world today through virtual concerts, among them are John Legend, Charlie Puth, OneRepublic, Jennifer Hudson, Train, Niall Horan, Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello.
After raising $35m in seven days for the World Health Organisation’s COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund, Lady Gaga is partnering with WHO and Global Citizen to launch a virtual musical festival on April 18 dubbed “One World Together at Home” aimed to unite people worldwide in the fight against COVID-19 featuring. This virtual concert will see the participation of dozens of stars.
Around the world, artistes have been performing concerts online to inspire people during these anxious times. Other artistes take the opportunity to raise funds to help those in need, specially the frontliners and those who either can’t work because of strict quarantines imposed in some countries or have lost jobs because of closure of companies.
In the Philippines, for example, composer and National Artist for Music Ryan Cayabyab has spearheaded a series of Facebook Live concerts to raise funds for the frontliners. Recently, internationally renowned Filipina singer and actress Lea Salonga raised Php2m after an hour-long concert from her home as part of the musical fundraiser.
Some artists are performing online concerts not only to lift people out of the gloom but also encourage them to stay home as well as recognise the efforts of those who put their lives on the line every day to keep people safe and healthy.
A group of artistes in Qatar has started to organise the “We Love Qatar Online Sofa Party” encouraging DJs and musicians to support the country that has allowed them to perform in various venues.
Organisers of this weekly online concert said they wanted to show appreciation to the doctors and nurses and the Qatari authorities working round the clock during this time through the musical sessions and by staying home.
A number of health experts have spoken of the impact music can have in dealing with crises such as the coronavirus pandemic.
“The directed use of music and music therapy is highly effective in developing coping strategies, including understanding and expressing feelings of anxiety and helplessness, supporting feelings of self-confidence and security, and providing a safe or neutral environment for relaxation,” a report by the American Music Therapy Association has said.
Anghami, the first legal music streaming platform and digital distribution company in the Arab world, recently published an analysis on the shift in music consumption in COVID-19 times in the Middle East in which they found a significant drop in people listening to music while driving and walking while there was drop in use of mobile networks and increase in number of people listening music on their computers as people stay home.
It has also found, among others, an increase in the number of people sharing music whose common themes indicate they miss each other as well as those with religious content and prayers. This is indicative of how people cope with the crisis and the significance of music in life during a pivotal moment in history.
The important role music plays during these times as people adjust to the new norm has been observed in many countries across the globe who share the same coronavirus experience.
In Spain, people including singers and even police have been filmed singing and performing in their balconies and across apartment buildings.
People in Italy had been playing instruments and singing from their balconies overlooking empty streets during their lockdown.
At the height of Wuhan’s lockdown, citizens were seen chanting “Keep it up, Wuhan!” and singing patriotic songs from their windows to encourage themselves in their efforts to save their city.
Music brings people together, providing comfort, inspiration and hope at this time when the world is plunged into enormous anxiety and uncertainty.
When people are far away from each other, music brings them closer.
Music helps people reflect on simpler but more important things in life that they can focus on when this pandemic is over which will surely change the world forever.
