Why does music bring us together?

By James Chater 

Directors of ensembles such as the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra or the World Orchestra for Peace often make the claim that music has the power to “bring people together”, both in the literal and metaphorical sense of the word. The name ‘World Orchestra for Peace’ is a fortunate one in that it appears, at first glance, to make total sense; much more sense than say, a ‘World Bird Watching Group for Peace’. Music’s ability to draw people together is of course, not limited to the world of classical music. You could easily ask why 200,000 people annually descend on Worthy Farm in Somerset, for Glastonbury Festival. If you did ask them, I bet they wouldn’t say it is due to the high standard of hygiene and accommodation. Why is it then that music can make living in a field for five days with 200,000 other people worthwhile? Is it naïve to think that music really can “bring people together”? Or could a ‘World Knitting Group for Peace’ be equally as effective?

So how do these orchestras purport to do it? It is a rather large claim after all, that music can bring about world peace. It seems each orchestra has their own unique manner in which they go about it. In the ‘ World Vision’ on the website of the World Orchestra for Peace, director Charles Kaye states, “[The players] must also accept that positions will be rotated after every work, and therefore there is no room for even one player to say, “But I am concertmaster of my orchestra at home – so I must sit first desk.” In this way we ensure there is no hierarchy.” An admirable sentiment, but I would question this message’s ability to translate to people outside of a musical culture. Would someone with no knowledge of classical music be compelled to act after finding out the person sitting half way back normally sits at the front?

I am a huge fan of Daniel Barenboim as performer, conductor and writer so I may be a little biased. However, his and the late Edward Said’s West-Eastern Divan Orchestra seems to hit upon a concept that is much more easily perceived by a majority. This orchestra brings young musicians together from warring nations all across the Middle East: Israel, Palestine, Iran, Jordan and Syria all feature. The power of this orchestra is not solely the fact that these young people are able to come together in peace; it is what they are able to create together. Truly amazing performances, their cycle of Beethoven Symphonies at the Proms 2011 is evidence enough of that. Yet the unification of these two ideas is where music’s ability to bring people together is crystallised. As an observer, you can’t help but watch in admiration and slight guilt, thinking “as if they haven’t already got enough on their minds.” That guilt soon changes to joy though; you just can’t help but admire the energy of the orchestra, and the evident excitement and delight that the music is bringing them.

James Chater (left) - Photo: Richard Johnson

I recently took part in the Music for Youth Schools Prom at the Royal Albert Hall, an event which, until this year, I had never come across. I approached it with caution, unsure as to what to expect. Yet, when leaving that same night, I felt extremely guilty for ever harbouring doubt. The event brings young musicians together from across the country, between the ages of 8 and 21, for a celebration (and I mean celebration) of music. In the words of the organisation, the music ranges “from Daft Punk to Vaughan Williams, and Elbow to Tchaikovsky.” Impeccably co-ordinated and organised, I have never seen something that summed up exactly why music can bring us together, in a physical way. Everyone, without fail, left the Albert Hall with a buzz of excitement, with many unforgettable memories made. Even I, with the cold heart of one approaching the upper end of the age bracket, was stunned by the occasion. I did not think I would ever get to play ‘Land of Hope and Glory’ at the Albert Hall with a full auditorium shouting back at me, accompanied by fireworks, streamers and balloons falling from the ceiling. Music has the power to bring us together because, more so than anything else, we can create and re-create something that means so much

In this spirit, we are using the power of music to launch an appeal for the victims of Typhoon Haiyan, which ripped through the Philippines on Friday 8th November. We have established an appeal fund and have pledged to dedicate all proceeds from our recent ‘Winter Jazz to Cheer Us’ Café Concert to the appeal.

Why do you think music brings us together? To get in touch and share your thoughts, comment below or join in the discussion on Facebook or Twitter. 

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