The Library of Congress commissioned 10 COVID-inspired musical compositions

Earlier this week, the Library of Congress announced the Boccaccio Project, a commissioned series of ten classic and depressingly morbid musical compositions from various artists inspired by the current COVID-19 pandemic and quarantine.

For the less cultured among us, the project’s name is a nod to mid-14th century author, Giovanni Boccaccio, who wrote the Decameron, a collection of 100 stories as told by 10 Florentine narrators after they fled the bubonic plague. Per a piece over at Atlas Obscura, the idea was actually concocted over 20 years ago by the LoC’s Senior Concerts Producer, David Plylar, who for some reason was reminded of his potential endeavor after certain recent current events.