The world's
only pan-Arab youth orchestra met in Berlin to make music together. But the
young musicians also discussed the situation in their home countries -
politics, hopes and fears.
Around 60
musicians from seven different Arab nations followed Bremen-based conductor
Heiner Buhlmann as he led them through Dvorak's Symphony No. 8. It was the
orchestra's first major performance at the Young Euro Classic Festival in
Berlin's Konzerthaus at the beginning of August.
With
support from Germany's Federal Foreign Office, the Arab Youth Philharmonic
Orchestra - made up of musicians from Egypt, Algeria, Bahrain, Lebanon, Syria,
Tunisia and the Palestinian territories - met for the first time in Berlin to
rehearse for their performance.
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Harpist Toaa Salah El-Deen can't help
but show her pride and joy |
Their
repertory includes classical European works and traditional pieces from the
Arab world. "We play Claude Debussy's 'Dances for Harp' since the harp was
originally an Egyptian instrument," said 22-year-old harpist Toaa Salah
El-Deen of Cairo. "I'm so proud to be able to perform as a soloist for the
first time with an orchestra. The experience is priceless."
A vision of
peace
"The
Arab Youth Philharmonic Orchestra symbolizes a vision for harmony and peaceful
cooperation in the Arab world - something that's become uncertain there,"
said orchestra founder Fawzy El-Shamy, former director of the Cairo Music
Conservatory. "That makes this vision even more important."
"Of
course the musicians talk a lot about politics during rehearsal breaks because
they all want to live in peace," the conductor noted.
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Fostering intercultural understanding
through music
|
"They
talk about the history and background of conflicts in the Arab world and things
they've seen on television but don't completely understand. This exchange helps
to cultivate peace within our own little group. And then we bring that positive
energy to the stage," the optimistic El-Shamy told DW.
Escape to
music
"Really
bad news." That's how cellist Somar Ashkar of Damascus described the
current situation in his home country. He's perplexed. "Life is becoming
incredibly difficult for us. Nothing is like it used to be. But nobody knows
what we can do. We just wait. But for whom? Something has to happen…the misery
has to be brought to a halt. The fighting and conflicts and everything. We
truly want that - peace!"
The cellist
traveled with fellow Syrian musicians to Berlin via Lebanon. Once in the German
capital, they plunged into music. "We used to always be happy during
rehearsals, but that attitude has disappeared due to the war. Still, we're not
giving up. Music helps me through it all."
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| Conductor Heiner Buhlmann |
"My
friends and I always try to make people happy with music and let them forget
what's happening in Syria for a while," he added.
Unanswered
questions
"Around
30 percent of the musicians in our orchestra come from Syria," explained
violinist Jasmin Assom de Meledin El-Serafi, of Alexandria, Egypt. "I
asked them: 'Who among you supports Bashar al-Assad, and who's against him? And
what's happening there?'"
"They
explained that many Syrians are in the army and have acted against countless
civilians. None of them understand it," the pensive violinist said.
Music
should have the power to change not only the lives of the musicians, believes
22-year-old Egyptian concertmaster Kalim Samie Salé, who has been studying in
Berlin with violinist Kolja Blacher for the past four years. "There's no
right or wrong in music," he told DW. "Even if we Arabs sometimes
want to add a different touch to classical music, we always strike a healthy
balance with our conductor Heiner Buhlmann." Salé noted that he and his
colleagues often want to play more slowly, but Buhlmann spurs them on.
Music
instead of politics
"I
don't talk about politics much. People always have different opinions, and
everyone thinks he's right," the orchestra leader said. "That makes
for bad karma, so I think it's better in times like these to just concentrate
on the music."
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Gathering for the first time in Berli:
the Arab Youth Philharmonic Orchestra |
To that
end, the ambitious young musicians presented a work from their own cultural
context: Attia Sharara's "Arab Suite" from 1978, a medley of melodies
from Egypt, Morocco, Jordan, Libya, Syria and Lebanon. After thunderous
applause, the musicians came down from the stage refreshed and rejuvenated.
"We're
concerned," said musicicologist El-Shamy. "At home, I was always with
my students at Tahir Square. When we return, we'll go straight to
Tahir."
Concertmaster
Salé, for his part, said that being young, he still has hope for the future,
but "I think we need more time, much more time."
Related Article:
“… You Can See It In Your News
The final item is this: All around you, dear ones, is proof of what I'm telling you. You have two countries currently in turmoil at the moment, and a third one about to go. All three have been stable for a very long time. Who would have thought that Egypt would be part of this? Egypt seemed to be in balance for decades - or was it? Syria ruled itself with an iron hand and created a stability of power that was absolute. What would then cause these to erupt the way they did and at this time? If you take a look at why, and why now, you'll see the timing is all around 2013 and 2012. And it's around Human consciousness that is starting to be more transparent and saying, "We don't want what we now understand and see is continuing unbalance in our country. We see it never getting better, and now we want finality and we want resolution." That is what you're looking at.
It's ugly to look at this, for there is death, suffering, sorrow and turmoil. There is frustration, and the resolution of it all may take longer than you want it to. But someday you will look back and see the results clearly. Mass Human consciousness is starting to change and demand what it expects in the way of integrity. Governments often want the old ways of power, but their people want schools, hospitals, safe streets and parks, and peace with their neighbors.
So expect more of this, especially this year. The more turmoil you see, the more the puzzle is being worked with. So we close this message the way we started it. I know who you are, magnificent one. I sit at your feet in awe. Do not miss this point! Old souls have been here through all of the transitions of humanity. Do you understand that? Four times you came close to this shift you are today experiencing and four times you missed it. Four times you died in the process of trying. This time you didn't.
Do not miss this: There is something within your Akash, a "remembrance button", that is being pushed and plays an emotion that says, "We've felt this before and it didn't turn out well." Don't let this energy define you. It's the button of duality and fear that says things are always the way they are and they will repeat themselves because that's just the way life works. No it isn't! You are magnificent and you have the ability at this point to finally begin to see it, and to cast all the fears and the voices in the back seat of life and tell them you are in charge now and you are the one driving the car of your reality. That's the message of the day. ….”
