Music From The Inside Out

A music doc for the ages recently came out on DVD -- one I can’t recommend highly enough. Music From The Inside Out by filmmaker Daniel Anker grew out of a series of conversations Anker had with members of the Philadelphia Orchestra when they were on strike in the late 1990s. He wound up spending the better part of five years with the orchestra, at home and on the road. But the film is not about the orchestra specifically. Rather it’s billed as an “essay” about music, and indeed it’s an abstract, beautifully crafted sojourn through some of the most important elements of music with members of the orchestra as guides. Never didactic, the film unfolds like a good piece of music, introducing layered themes and engaging characters who speak about their art from many angles and with remarkable insight and originality. Anker individualizes key orchestra members, penetrating the phalanx of tuxedos we usually see when we attend a concert, and he manages to connect the life histories and outside pursuits of the musicians (marathon running, painting) to their music in ways that transcend the usual clichés. I’m going to be giving this as a Christmas present a lot over the years I have a feeling, and no doubt Music From The Inside Out will influence how I film and talk to musicians for years to come.