UK youth orchestra plays ‘Ode to Joy’ alone but together

A nationwide lockdown isn’t stopping Britain’s National Youth Orchestra from making music — alone but toger.

With country in its fourth week of isolation to slow spre of new coronavirus, collection of teen musicians from across U.K. can’t meet in person way y usually do during school holidays.

Inste, orchestra’s 164 musicians will open ir windows or stand on ir doorsteps and play 40 seconds of Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy” at 5 p.m. (1600GMT) on Friday. performances will be posted online using hashtag #NYOdetoJoy.

Members of public are invited to join in with instruments or voices, and are being encourd to post foot of ir performances using same hashtag.

performance is being dedicated to health care staff, or essential workers and anyone who feels isolated in ir home.

Violinist Kynan Walker, 18-year-old orchestra leer, said “we want it to be a nationwide gesture of gratitude.”

“Beethoven wanted this music to be a completely new invation for classical music, but also a mess to society in terms of uniting, and this overwhelming sense of joy,” he said. “So it’s been great for us to prepare something that seems so relevant to today -- especially in circumstances that we’re in right w.”