New York City musicians to play across city at same time for ‘symphonic fanfare’

Event will last 11 minutes

People in New York City have been clapping at 7pm to thank their healthcare workers (stock image). (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Musicians in New York City are inviting others to join in a “symphonic fanfare” to be played collectively and remotely.

Tenth Intervention, an artist collective, has relayed information online explaining how and when people can participate.

The symphonic fanfare, titled For Our Couragous Workers, has been composed for the occasion by artists Frank London, Hajnal Pivnick and Dorian Wallace.

It will be played on Wednesday (29 April) starting at 7pm ET, which is the time at which New Yorkers clap every day to thank their healthcare workers during the coronavirus pandemic.

“The score has been arranged so that everyone in the five boroughs can take part from the safety of their windows, rooftops, and doorways, be they professional musicians or amateur pot-bangers,” said Tenth Intervention in a release.

“There are parts for all: musicians of any and every level — beginners, young musicians, amateurs, professionals on voices, strings, brass, winds, keyboards, drums — as well as for all the people of the city who can sing, bang on pots and pans, or just make a general racket.”

The symphony lasts for 11 minutes, with four different movements requiring musicians to take specific actions.

Detailed instructions have been published for “everyone”, “wind players”, “string players”, “low instruments”, “keyboard players”, and “percussions and drums”.

The first movement of the symphony, “Cheering”, will last from 7pm to 7:03pm. At that time, members of the public who don’t play any instruments are invited to clap and cheer as usual.

“Reflecting”, the second movement, will take part between 7:03pm and 7:06pm. Non-musician participants should use that time to “breathe, listen, and reflect”.

The third movement, from 7:06pm to 7:09pm is titled “Catharsis” and invites everyone, musicians and non-musicians alike, to make any sound they’d like.

Between 7:09pm and 7:11pm, the symphony will end with a fourth movement called “Gratitude”. Participants can sing “ah” on any note of their choice and/or play the Bb note on their instrument.