Cellist Yo-Yo Ma, the initiator of the Silk Road Ensemble, launches a project to bring solace and hope through music to people amid the COVID-19 pandemic. XINHUA

"In these days of anxiety, I wanted to find a way to continue to share some of the music that gives me comfort," says Yo-Yo Ma, the renowned cellist, who has been trying to provide succor during the coronavirus pandemic.

Since March 14, Ma has been posting videos of himself performing short music pieces on his social media platforms.

The first video he posted was his rendition of Antonin Dvorak's Going Home from 1893's Symphony No 9 and then on March 17, he posted: "This is for the healthcare workers on the front lines－the Sarabande from Bach's Cello Suite No 3. Your ability to balance human connection and scientific truth in service of us all gives me hope."

All his videos are posted using the hashtag #SongsOfComfort, which is an idea he came up with spontaneously.