The Spirit of Music – Uniting the world

Classical music is a pleasure to listen to - it can be peaceful and relaxing like Mozart Clarinet concertos, or uplifting like Beethoven 9th symphony. Some classical orchestras around the world are multicultural. What are the global implications of this multicultural spirit of music?

One orchestra conducted by Daniel Barenboim, notably married to British cellist Jacqueline du Pre, has both Palestinians and Israelis playing musical instruments side by side, Barenboim also unites Arabs and Jews in his concerts.  Daniel Barenboim is an Argentinian born pianist and conductor and is often considered to be one of the greatest pianists in both the 20th and 21st centuries. Barenboim has been instrumental in bringing classical music to a worldwide audience and bringing together people of different races and religious beliefs.

Barenboim cares about human rights and is an outspoken critic of the Israeli settlements and of Israel's government and supports the rights of the Palestinian people. In 2001, he sparked controversy in Israel by conducting a concert of Wagner’s music. Such a performance had not been staged in Israel since 1938 and was informally taboo. Since then classical music has helped to unite Israelis and Palestinians by helping them to understand one another and for the Palestinians to understand the suffering of the Jewish people. As a conductor, Barenboim is something of a star and in August 1950, when he was only seven years old, he gave his first formal concert in Buenos Aires. Years later in 1999 he co-founded the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, a Sevilla-based orchestra of young Arab and Jewish musicians with the late Palestinian-American scholar and activist Edward Said.

By founding the West-Eastern Divan orchestra Barenboim and Said brought a group of talented young classical musicians from Israel and Arab countries together every summer. By uniting different religious groups through music he has helped to generate friendships, develop understanding and heal wounds. Barenboim and Said were among the recipients of the 2002 Prince of Asturias Awards for their work in "improving understanding between nations". It hasn’t all been easy sailing in December 2007, Barenboim and a group of some 20 musicians from England, the United States, France and Germany, and one Palestinian were scheduled to play a baroque music concert in Gaza. Although they had received authorization from Israeli authorities, the Palestinian was stopped at the Israel-Gaza border and told that he needed individual permission to enter. The group waited seven hours at the border, and then canceled the concert in solidarity. Barenboim commented: "A baroque music concert in a Roman Catholic church in Gaza - as we all know - has nothing to do with security and would bring so much joy to people who live there in great difficulty."

On January 12, 2008, after a concert in Ramallah, he declared that he had accepted honorary Palestinian citizenship, in what he hopes will serve as a public gesture of peace. ‘I hope that my new status will be an example of Israeli-Palestinian co-existence, I believe that the destinies of the Israeli people and the Palestinian people are inextricably linked’, he said. In January 2008, the UFO religion Raëlian Movement nominated Barenboim an "Honorary Guide" "for his actions towards more peace in the Middle East and for championing Palestinian's rights while being a citizen of Israel."

There are other orchestras around the world that are multicultural and this unites people of different religions and societies helping them to form friendships and understanding of others. The Proms is an example of using classical and modern music, to unite people across the globe in both the developed and the developing world. This the114th year of the Proms still remains true to its original aim to present the widest possible range of music, performed to the highest standards, to large audiences. The audiences are global as the music is transmitted live across radio stations throughout the world. The musicians are also multicultural coming from all parts of the globe to play in harmony together. The Proms is a multicultural global achievement that links people of different races, different religions and different ideals. It is a unifying and pleasurable experience for all.

Music is important for people’s leisure, spirituality, health and wellbeing and classical music can heal rifts and even illnesses making people feel more, positive and relaxed. As well as uniting people of different religions, classical music is beneficial for treating and helping people who are ill with exhaustion, cancer and mental health problems. Classical music can be soothing, gentle and empowering, helping people to take control of their own lives gain.  In different countries around the world classical musicians learn to love their neighbours as people of different religions play side by side in fabulous concerts such as Beethoven’s First Piano Concerto and Mozart’s piano sonatos in concert tours of Europe, the United States, South America, Australia and the Far East.

So, as well as being enjoyable, classical music can also unite different countries around the world and may help to soothe conflicts. By playing different musical instruments side by side people of different religions and backgrounds can unite by forming friendships and understanding of others and working together to perform in classical concerts. What are your views?  Add your comment below. We welcome your thoughts and proposals. Not a Planetary Citizen? Sign up

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