Joshua Jacobson is a music professor at the Northeastern University, who is not just interested in American music but is also fascinated by other cultures such as Arab and Israeli cultures. He recently brought together these cultures’ music, conducting a concert in Cambridge, at the Sanders Theatre. The concert saw the group as well as solo performances from Zamir. It is a Boston-based organisation, who strives to erase the ignorance people have about Jewish culture with the mediums of music and other art forms.
This group was just found by Professor Jacobson in the year 1969 – not only that, but he is also its artistic director. This concert organised by him was by the name ‘Middle East Harmonies’, where Zamir sang out choral selections in Arabic and Hebrew languages. Joining them were Bustan Abraham, an Israeli musical group, and Boston City Singers Youth Choir. During the event, all of the participating performers formed a circle and chanted prayers. Jacobson was very happy with it and said, “The level of spirituality was just extraordinary”.
Other speakers, in addition to Professor Jacobson, such as Lori Lefkovitz had participated before in a symposium at Northeastern’s Fenway Center. This symposium implored the question of how music can be used to eliminate the differences between the cultures so that mutual empathy and understanding can be established. “This program made audible the capacity of music to negotiate borders in a medium that speaks through our shared humanity,” Lefkovitz said. “The metaphor of ‘harmony’ illustrates how people in conflict can also be in a conversation, and that’s where there is a reason to hope.”
Middle East Harmonies – that took place successfully – was financially supported by the Zamir Choir, based in Boston, along with the music department of the University, the Middle East Center for Peace Culture and Development and the Consulate General of Israel. I feel many people are still into darkness when it comes to the effect music has on our psyche. It is a wonderous thing that the University is such taking efforts to bring that to the light.
Pranjali Wakde
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