Carried by the Wind
In April 2008, composer Merlijn Twaalfhoven created two unusual music performances with about 100 musicians, singers and children in the towns of Ramallah and Bethlehem on the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
Contrasting music styles, professionals and children from refugee camps, local and European musicians came together in a performance on rooftops and balconies, surrounding the audience. The music created a symbol of connectedness and freedom, connecting people from diverse communities in Ramallah and crossing the segregation walls in Bethlehem freely.
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17 April 2008, we placed a number of musicians on rooftops near the separation wall at Rachel’s Tomb, Bethlehem. In this way, the music reaches out over the divide to connect the recently separated people who were once neighbours. Music crosses boundaries, and this day the music bridged not only the differences between different styles and cultures, but literally traverse the walls that separate inhabitants of Bethlehem from each other.
The place we choose is a neighbourhood that once was lively and full of economic and social activity, but after the building of the separation wall became a dead and empty area of the town. We wanted to bring back some live and joy to this place and to encourage the local inhabitants not to give up their hope for a change. “Carried by the Wind” symbolised the freedom of the creative mind that cannot be obstructed by a fence or wall.
Links:
Diary of Merlijn (in Dutch)
Website of Arabica project
Director of the video Adam Sèbire