This article is really inspiring. It is great to see cultural revival in communities that have been through extreme hardship. I think the standing ovation that the crowd gave before the orchestra even played shows the importance of music, and the significance of that specific orchestra to its community.
This gives me so much hope! We so often accuse Muslim countries of looking down on many things that Western countries consider cultural staples, especially in music. And yet this article not only proves that music is alive in these countries, but that it is wanted and is thriving. I particularly commend the musicians, especially the women, because it is clear that they are fighting against traditionalists and possibly putting themselves in danger. But it is clear that music is having an effect there. One of my teachers used to say that "deprivation causes appreciation," and this is a beautiful example of that. Perhaps if Western countries lost all access to classical music, they would remember all that is beautiful about it. Side note: Particularly interesting that they performed Beethoven 9. In the midst of all the suffering in that part of the world, what could be better than an "ode to joy?" It also might have brought them closer to the composer himself, who wrote the great ode to joy in the midst of terrible suffering.
This article is really inspiring. It is great to see cultural revival in communities that have been through extreme hardship. I think the standing ovation that the crowd gave before the orchestra even played shows the importance of music, and the significance of that specific orchestra to its community.
ReplyDeleteThis gives me so much hope! We so often accuse Muslim countries of looking down on many things that Western countries consider cultural staples, especially in music. And yet this article not only proves that music is alive in these countries, but that it is wanted and is thriving. I particularly commend the musicians, especially the women, because it is clear that they are fighting against traditionalists and possibly putting themselves in danger. But it is clear that music is having an effect there. One of my teachers used to say that "deprivation causes appreciation," and this is a beautiful example of that. Perhaps if Western countries lost all access to classical music, they would remember all that is beautiful about it. Side note: Particularly interesting that they performed Beethoven 9. In the midst of all the suffering in that part of the world, what could be better than an "ode to joy?" It also might have brought them closer to the composer himself, who wrote the great ode to joy in the midst of terrible suffering.
ReplyDelete