A Favorable
Combination for Them
A Multicultural
Orchestra
I.S.F.D. 41
Misa Ulises
Written and Language Expression IV
A Favorable Combination
for Them
The Multicultural Orchestra
Israel, located east to the Mediterranean Sea, is the
world’s only Jewish state. Jews wanted to establish a national homeland in what
was then Arab territory. The Arabs, known today as the Palestinian terrain,
looked for the creation of their own country and government on all or part of
the same land as well. Moreover, Jewish’s increasing immigration after WWII’s
Holocaust, intensified hostility even more between the two parties. Early attempts by the United Nations to grant
each group part of the disputed land have failed and remained equivocal as to
the respective claims of the Palestinians and Israelis. Eventually both
territories engaged in several wars, leaving Israel in 1967 in control of the
West Bank and Gaza Strip. Decades of uncertainty and violence have resulted
from the incapability of either side to acknowledge each other’s allege about
the disputation of the land. However, beneath this international conflict,
Classical Music tries to find its own way to ameliorate the incompatibility
between these two ethnic Middle East groups. Despite the sparking controversy caused by his performance
in Ramallah, the enthusiastic Orchestra conducted by Daniel Barenboim would
foster, through the language of music, a spirit of understanding and humanity,
and thus enhance peace amongst a territory that has been under friction for
several decades.
The
West-Eastern Divan Orchestra conducted from 1999 by the Argentinian-Israeli Daniel
Barenboim along with the Palestinian Edward Said has grown to become Daniel’s
most powerful device to enhance respect and understanding within the Israeli
and Palestinian people.
His artistic and revolutionary ideas have been wisely organized in order to
provide a space for young multicultural students to share their knowledge,
skills and backgrounds, and thus bridge the gap between their own different
origins. “In front of a Symphony, we are all equals” said Barenboim in one
interview program some years ago. These students that take part of this
constructive workshop may enhance their musical techniques while they learn to
“live together” with other members that may come from a state or country
opposite to their own one. Therefore, their music plays a key role supporting
intercultural dialogue through musical education encouraging mutual acceptance
and soothing antagonism within the whole Orchestra.
The
Divan project, however, has not always generated compassion and sympathy along
all its audience. Actually,
several groups have reacted in the past against some of the Orchestra’s choice
of songs which had anti-Semitic roots. One of the reasons for Barenboim’s works
to be interpreted as creative as controversial, laid on his decision of
conducting Wagner’s song Tristan und
Isolde in an Opera festival thirteen years ago. Although the artist has
already explained in various interviews, and some may or may not agree with
him, that it would have been a victory for the Nazis for Wagner’s music not to
be performed in Israel, others complained that Wagner’s representation heart
the feelings of thousands of citizenships of the Israeli State who
automatically linked the song with atrocities that had taken place during
Hitler’s period. Additionally, some Orchestra Directors would even consider his
attitude towards his own culture, unethical and unfair for the audience.
Nevertheless, all his work along with his group of musicians seems to have continued
inspiring many youngsters across the discordant terrains which still nowadays
remain in conflict, despite particular failing boycotts or negative reactions
against the conductor’s “peculiar” choices for his concerts.
Admired and
criticized at the same time, Barenboim’s musical project has not only
encouraged people from antagonistic territories to gather in a multicultural
Orchestra and be given an opportunity to make their way through the Classical Music
experience. The Divan devise has offered
as well, the creation of a forum to talk and reflect upon the conflicts that
insists on corrupting the peace of thousands of people who still remain without
their own homelands. Furthermore, this Orchestra brings together musicians
from Israel, Palestine, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, and Egypt to work on the
self-improvement of their Socio-Cultural and Political differences, and thus
generate a sense of humanism across the Middle East and upon the increasing
audience that identifies with their songs and encouraging spirit. These
talented students with the help of such an experienced conductor like Daniel
Barenboim, have worked hard to convey with their instruments a message of freedom,
peace and civilization, through which is fair enough to believe that like in an
orchestra, it takes time and effort to arrive at a point where everybody can
think alike and complement with your partner or homeland neighbor, but is not
impossible to achieve.
From its
very beginning, the Divan project has proved how music could work as an
effective device to enhance acceptance and understanding throughout two nations
that have been under struggle for more than half a century. Moreover, it
suggests that it is possible to coexist and preserve unity and humanity between
Israelis and Palestinians if everybody works together towards equalization and
mutual understanding. Although The West-Eastern Divan Orchestra may not provide
a final solution to the persistent problem within these ethnic groups, at least
their songs and constructive workshop could encourage more people to meet each
other and find out that despite obvious difference amongst their believes, we
are all humans with the same rights.
References
Barenboim, D. (2011, ). Wagner, Israel and the
Palestinians. Daniel Barenboim.
Retrieved September 23, 2014, from http://www.danielbarenboim.com/journal/wagner-israel-and-the-palestinians.html
Barenboim, D. (2011, ). Daniel Barenboim on the
Cancellation of Performances of Idomeneo in Berlin. Daniel Barenboim. Retrieved September 23, 2014, from http://www.danielbarenboim.com/journal/daniel-barenboim-on-the-cancellation-of-performances-of-idomeneo-in-berlin.html
Keneş, B. (2013, February 27). East-Western Divan
orchestra remains a source of controversy. Todays Zaman. Retrieved September 25, 2014, from http://www.todayszaman.com/news-308268-east-western-divan-orchestra-remains-a-source-of-controversy.html
Quince, A. (2014, July 22). Rear Vision. Israel,
Palestine and the problem with the two-
state solution. Retrieved September 17, 2014, from http:// www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/rearvision/the-problem-with-the-two-state-solution/5614534
(2001,
July 10). Pagina 12 web. Wagner, un tema tabú en Israel. Retrieved September 18, 2014, from http://www.pagina12.com.ar/2001/01-07/01-07-10/pag24.htm
2013, February 05). Playing With the Enemy: Orchestra
Brings Together Israelis and Arabs. PBS NewsHour. Retrieved September 22, 2014, from http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/entertainment-jan-june13-music_02-05/
(2008, December 15). Daniel Barenboim as UN Messenger
of Peace. UN web TV. Retrieved September
22, 2014, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4kc3jhHRKo
