Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Music for Gaza

Anything that happens at the Gaza strip is always under scrutiny for various reasons. 

So when the renowned Jewish conductor Daniel Barenboim decided to perform an orchestra of European musicians in the Gaza strip eyebrows were raised. Many  doubted whether that would ever  happen. But Daniel pulled it off by secretly coordinating with the United Nations and the announcement was made only when the invitations were distributed.
Barenboim, an Argentine-born Jew who was raised in Israel, and has Israel citizenship, took Palestinian citizenship in 2008.He believed his rare new status could serve a model for peace between the two peoples, who have  for years lived under the shadow of  war and mistrust.

In Daniel’s words "We are very happy to come to Gaza. We are playing this concert as a sign of our solidarity and friendship with the civil society of Gaza"
A part of his speech can be heard at the end of this article where you can see a 2.5 minute short film. You can see him praising the children of Gaza, “What I do is make music, but I am also very happy to see these wonderful children play”


He knew that his visit to the Gaza Strip would violate an Israeli law which bans its citizens from entering the coastal enclave.
For the occasion Egypt agreed to open not just the Rafah border to let the orchestra into Gaza but also the airport in El Arish,  long shut to commercial traffic. Under a bright, cloudless blue sky, a convoy of white United Nations vehicles, some armoured, their blue flags flapping, picked up the players at the crossing and drove them past waving teenagers on rubble-strewn sidewalks and old men riding donkey carts over shattered streets.
Older Gazans, several fighting back tears, said they could not remember anything like this: a group of world-famous musicians coming to give a concert. Just getting by was a daily struggle for the people of Gaza.
Daniel had enlisted about two dozen elite . . .  . .  to continue reading click here









21 comments:

Tomz said...

That must be historic..

Teresa Evangeline said...

Joe, This is wonderful. I'm so glad you brought it to our attention. What a beautiful event and I love his statement about not living back to back. Nice post.

hamaarethoughts.com said...

its wonderful ..thanks for sharing!

Christine H. said...

Music as a vehicle of peace is a great idea.

Ram Gopal said...

Definition of music "art of combining sounds with a view for beauty of form and expression of emotion". Who will not love it ???.

Bikram said...

i think music is a good way to heal , broken barriers


Bikram's

Ginnie said...

Thanks for this wonderful post. It feels like a ray of sunshine finally. Mr. Barenboim is much more than a conductor of music...he is a hero.
Thank you for commenting on my post.

Haddock said...

Yes Tomz, this looks to be a landmark (and a good one)

Haddock said...

Very true Teresa. All were impressed by that statement of not living back to back.

Haddock said...

Thanks Harman and most welcome :-)

Haddock said...

Yes Christine, music has no boundaries. I think all likes the idea of forging friendship.

Haddock said...

Like your definition of music Ram Gopal.
By the way I am not able to read your blog posts.

Haddock said...

Agree with you Bikramjit, and these barriers are man made.

Haddock said...

Yes Ginnie, it IS a ray of sunshine, and that is why I wrote in the end "are the world leaders listening?"

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

This is such a heartening post. It's wonderful seeing people take a risk for the sake of peace, freedom, and healing.

Haddock said...

Yes Lynda, taking a risk to unite two nations. (and who knows one day it may happen)

Jennie Bennett said...

What a neat story. Amazing what a risk he took to share culture with the world. Love it!

Haddock said...

Thanks Bennett. A risk worth it.

Joseph Pulikotil said...

Daniel has done a wonderful thing in conducting music in Gaze. But I believe the basic problem is not between the Palestinians and the Jews but the Arab nations surrounding Israel.They want to destroy Israel and the Jews.This is the crux of the problem.

Best wishes,
Joseph

Haddock said...

Agree with you Joseph on the issue, but again its not the common man of any country who has this bitterness or hatred. It is always the leaders who instigate in the name of religion. I applaud Daniel in taking that risky first step to make people see sense.

Cezar and Léia said...

You prepared a fabulous article here, congratulations and thanks for sharing!
Léia