 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Alphie
Date: 2006-05-30 13:48
Coming back from a tour of the former republic of Yugoslavia I feel a hope that music can make a change even in very difficult conflicts.
The tour was a part of a project called “Musical links” and is a three year project that includes an exchange of culture between the five ex-Yugoslavian countries and Sweden. During a dinner in Belgrade a spokes person from the embassy told me that during the planning stage of this project, it was the very first time that ministers from all of the ex-Yugoslavian countries sat down at the same table and talked to each other. Without exaggerating the power of music I think this is a great project that may open up doors for further negotiations on other levels too. At least they started talking to each other at a minister level.
Alphie
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Author: Markael
Date: 2006-05-30 14:14
Music can be so effective in conflict resolution because it is an indirect way to provide an escape, or a way out, for parties that are entrenched. Areas of disagreement do not become unimportant, but they become less important.
To put it another way, problems usually need to be talked out. However, sometimes people become so angry or so entrenched in their positions that talking does not seem to help.
Early jazz musicians in America helped pave the way for the civil rights struggle. Their musical interest provided common ground and an opportunity for genuine rapport.
When musicians can work together well and obviously enjoy playing together, it has a contagious effect on the audience, and it forces the people in the audience to reevaluate their own thinking.
Post Edited (2006-05-30 14:15)
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2006-05-30 15:40
Reportedly peace did not occur at the premiere of Stravinsky's Sacre du Printemps (1911?).
When people use music as a badge or a weapon or an affirmation of their particular culture (e.g. people playing rap music extremely loudly in their SUVs), then it creates friction and hostility in those people within earshot.
I believe the US military has used amplified country & western music as a propaganda weapon against some of its foreign enemies.
Music can bring peace if the various parties involved have the same or similar tastes in music, and the music is used with discretion. Otherwise, no.
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Author: Mike Clarinet
Date: 2006-05-30 16:14
What about Daniel Barenboim's East-West Divan Orchestra (Or is it West-East? I can never remember). This orchestra is made up of young musicians from Israel and it's Arab neighbours. These kids can sit down together and produce a world-class orchestra. Why can't the political leaders? I don't seriously expect an answer to that question. But is is further proof that if not "Music can make peace", then "playing music together can make peace".
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2006-05-30 18:45
I read a book co-authored by Barenboim (with Edward Said, I think was the other fellow) about the Arab-Israeli joint orchestra. Noble project, no doubt! But musicians are only fighting for first chair in the band, while their politicians back home (and the people who put them in power) are fighting for things that are far less easily shared than music -- such as land, wealth, power, and the supremacy of one's religious convictions over another. I wish that world peace were as simple as playing in an orchestra!
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Author: Gregory Smith ★2017
Date: 2006-05-30 19:30
Available at this link -
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/reith2006/lectures.shtml
are Barenboim's Reith lectures of this past year.
The Lectures:
Lecture 1: In the Beginning was Sound
Lecture 2: The Neglected Sense
Lecture 3: The Magic of Music
Lecture 4: Meeting in Music
Lecture 5: The Power of Music
In particular, the first lecture (which you can watch via the link provided - the first lecture link is near the top/middle of the page), especially near the end of the program, delves into Barenboim's philosophy about how music can be a facilitator for peace - how it can show a new generation to carry on conversations that include listening while at the same time talking - how each can learn from playing music about the give and take it requires to achieve harmony, etc, a beautiful metaphor for general life.
It's truly fascinating and well worth the 60 minutes or so of time invested. Be sure to stay tuned through the Q & A section nearer the end of the program.
I'm looking forward to watching the remaining lectures in which he speaks about this philosophy, amongst many other things, in more depth.
Best,
Gregory Smith
Post Edited (2006-05-30 19:32)
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Author: Alphie
Date: 2006-05-31 07:15
As an addition to my experience in ex-Yugoslavia it seems appropriate to quote diz, or Robert Lynd: "If everybody remembered the past, nobody would ever forgive anybody" - Robert Lynd.
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Author: hans
Date: 2006-05-31 14:27
Alphie,
While I applaud your optimism, unfortunately, there seems to be too much evidence that "everybody remembers the past", although few seem to learn much from it.
How else can conflicts that last for so many generations be explained? Who benefits from it, besides those who provide the weapons?
Hans
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