Helping communities heal with conversation, concerts and kai
This Saturday, the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra will present Beyond Words in Wellington, a collaboration with Islamic organisations to mark the fifth anniversary of the Christchurch terror attacks.
Kirsten Mason, one of the orchestra’s directors, has been instrumental in developing Beyond Words. The idea was sparked by conversations she had with composer John Psathas but the pair soon realised this was no standard orchestral project.
“We couldn’t take a step further without engaging with the Muslim community,” she says. “Our very first question to them was: ‘do you even want us to do this?’”
After receiving a broadly positive consensus, Mason and Psathas were able to set about pulling the diverse threads of the project together.
In collaboration with Moroccan vocalist OUM and Greek musician Kyriakos Tapakis, Psathas has written a new piece for the orchestra drawing on a range of global musical traditions.
Ahlan wa Sahlan – a title based on an Arabic greeting – will receive its premiere in Christchurch Town Hall tomorrow, with both OUM and Tapakis performing with the orchestra for the first time.
American conductor Fawzi Haimor, who was educated in the Middle East, will lead the orchestra through a concert programme of seven works, including a section of traditional songs from the region. These will be performed by a trio from Simurgh Music School, a Christchurch organisation which promotes Middle Eastern musical traditions and instruments.
Liam Oliver will play the saz, a Turkish stringed instrument, while Iranian musician Esmail Fathi will play the daf, a Middle Eastern drum. Moroccan Abdelilah Rharrabti – himself a survivor of the attack – will sing in Arabic. Oliver has reflected on the significance of this performance for the trio, given Rharrabti’s connection to the tragedy. “To have his culture come out of that day even stronger and even more embedded in New Zealand – that’s a powerful story. And as he’d say, playing music is definitely a part of his healing process. “As for me, just as a musician, to have this special meaning to some people is a real bonus.”
Before the concert, the trio will give an informal performance in Christchurch Arts Centre, after which they will host a hands-on workshop for anyone curious about Middle Eastern instruments. In Wellington, a pre-concert talk titled The Sounds Of Unity will include Psathas, OUM and others from the show, alongside members of the local Islamic community. Regarding the wider aims of Beyond Words, Mason hopes its centrepiece concert and outreach events will create a stronger sense of community. “And a sense that everyone’s there, not just because they want to hear some beautiful music but because it matters to be there.”
Details and tickets for Saturday night’s performance at the Michael Fowler Centre are available from the NZSO’s website.