To bring peace, speak music
Ihab Darwish
Music is an extremely powerful and unifying language. A universal medium speaks to everyone across all borders. It can bring peace in people’s hearts and minds as it overcomes linguistic barriers. Music builds bridges that connect people from different parts of the globe and common appreciation of cultural diversity. It is a great tool to spread messages of peace, tolerance, shared humanity and promote cultural diplomacy, in which I strongly believe.
I was and still convinced that international musical projects are very effective to communicate one's nation values and traditions. In my early career, I took this honorable opportunity to share cultural diplomacy, represent and promote my country United Arab Emirates.
“I utilized music to enhance better understanding and establish long-term partnerships with countries and people.”
First international encounters and inspirations
The first international project that I carried out was in 2018, I cooperated with the worldly renowned Beethoven Academy Orchestra. Together with young and the brightest talents from Poland, we recorded my debut album “Waves of My Life”. The recording sessions were an amazing experience, a very creative endeavor with great energy flow. We were keen to uncover the music inspired by traditional tunes from the UAE and finally play it live to unlock the hidden melodies between the notes.
It is not always easy, but I believe that this collaboration challenged and inspired us on many aspects, especially as musicians and people who adore music in any shape and form. During winter, we all came together at Alvernia Studios near Krakow, Poland, and spent long recording session, brought a unique album to life and wonderful relationships that continue to flourish since the first meeting.
Following this project, at the invitation of Abu Dhabi Festival, the Orchestra visited Abu Dhabi, UAE to perform my debut concert, and it was another life changing experience for musicians and soloists from around the world. This brought us even closer together.
I am proud to have this support from Abu Dhabi Music and Art Foundation whom have helped us to spread our culture among all international musicians and artist. Subsequently many of them expressed their desire to travel to the UAE on their own in order to deepen their understanding of the country and the region.
I have received sincere compliments from His Excellency Dr. Yousif Al-Sabri, former UAE Ambassador to Poland, who wrote his statement in the Polish newspaper: “the first ever musical collaboration of this scope in the United Arab Emirates”, and named them as an “excellent example of cultural diplomacy and building stable bridges of understanding and tolerance between nations and cultures”.
Spreading the wings, reaching new frontiers.
I continued my cultural diplomacy journey, I cooperated with John Beasley, five-time Grammy-nominated American jazz musician. During these difficult pandemic times which provoked the globe, all artists were locked down in their houses, the cultural projects were restricted and extremely limited. Regardless of all these complications we were able to combine forces and bring unique art to the people.
I was introduced to John by the US Embassy, when he visited my homeland UAE. At the first meeting we have decided to work on some music together. Shortly after, the reality surprised us with lockdown. We had no choice but to work together but apart, across continents, from our home studios and use technology. Lauren Willy, US Embassy Cultural Attaché wrote about this experience that “collaborations like this create opportunities for innovation and invention while also deepening the US-UAE bilateral relationship” and I couldn’t agree more.
Once we were invited to present our piece online, we started creating a musical dialogue, and we went on a very special musical journey with John. We have different musical backgrounds, but we are so passionate about what we do. Therefore, I was sure that he would take the piece to the next level with his jazz influences. The result was fascinating.
Nova Duetto - creativity in the times of pandemic
The cooperation with John Beasley was the first cross-cultural-continental exchange in the age of physical distancing between UAE - USA. We were brought together by the US Embassy in UAE and NYUAD Arts Center. I love when music celebrates the differences. Piece, Nova Duetto, that came out as a result of this digital sessions with John, is a dialog between oriental and western instruments. It connects different music cultures and styles. Working together on this recording filled us with new energy, emotions and created new horizons of collaboration, and enables us to create a unique artistic voice.
Our first collaborative composition was first premiered online via online broadcasting hosted by New York University Arts Center and it was a blast. We also spoke about collaborating for the first time, finding modes to work together when we couldn’t be together and how we fused musical traditions and learned new vocabularies to create fresh and outstanding music.
This experience was absolutely extraordinary and fascinating, and I am sure the best is yet to come.
Ihab Darwish
Composer
edited by Zosia Jeziorna
