‘Music’ engages players

Members of the Philadelphia Orchestra, who often back world-famous solo virtuosos and subvert their individual artistic expression to create something larger, get their time in the limelight as stars of the thoughtful documentary “Music From the Inside Out.” Director Daniel Anker, an Academy Award nominee for “Scottsboro: An American Tragedy,” spent five years on the project following the orchestra across three continents.

Anker poses a question -- what is music? -- and proceeds through interviews with the musicians and performances to illuminate the art form as well as the passion that drives its practitioners. Whether analyzing the intricacies of music or explaining how it fills their lives, the musicians are charming, intelligent and articulate ambassadors for their field.

The players pursue alternatives such as jazz and salsa, painting and marathon running, but it all ties into the music. Anker evocatively captures the joys (and sometime frustrations) experienced by high-level artists working within an institution. The ardor they bring to their music is both enviable and inspiring.

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‘Music From the Inside Out’

MPAA rating: Unrated

An Emerging Pictures release. Producer-director Daniel Anker. Director of photography Tom Hurwitz. Editors Bob Eisenhardt, Jean Tsien, Stan Warnow. Running time: 1 hour, 29 minutes.

At Laemmle’s Music Hall, 9036 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, (310) 274-6869.