Symphony for All

Amman, Jordan 2008

The project Symphony for All was more than just a concert by an orchestra with players from different cultures. It was a way to bridge also the gaps between high and low art and between rich and poor. It was a process in which young people discovered unknown ways of creating music, it was a journey for all makers in unexplored territory.
Not all plans were realized. The working process appeared to be more tough then expected. But there were also unpredicted positive results that give us the motivation to continue with this kind of work.

On March 26 2008, an orchestra consisting of musicians from Jordan, Palestine, Holland, Sweden, Italy, Egypt and Germany aged ten till fifty performed in the King Hussein Cultural Centre in Amman. The music was composed by Merlijn Twaalfhoven, but in this symphony also existing Arab songs and melodies found their way. The process of composition included intensive collaborations between the composer and Arab musicians and singers. Children from refugee camps who had never played in a concert before were prepared with workshops and played a substantial part. The audience was moved and reacted very enthousiastically. After the show we received many positive reactions from both musicians, children and audience. The experience of this project is incorporated in new plans and projects. We intend to continue the creation of music projects that bring contrasting cultures together.

Youtube film