Jerusalem Could Turn to Peace through Music

The fourth annual Sounding Jerusalem Festival, which hosts many classical musicians for 19 different concerts throughout the month of June in Jerusalem, will conclude this Sunday with a sunset show. Scattered along the rooftops of the Old City, 40 European and Middle Eastern brass players will perform a composition specifically created for the occasion, reported Reuters.

Founded in 2006, the month-long festival was created as a way to unite the conflicted Arab and Jewish populations that reside in Jerusalem, divided by a wall of barbed wire and heavy police patrol.

"We are trying to break down walls," said Erich Oskar Huetter, the festival's prime mover. "We hope to get people a bit confused, say to themselves is this really the music of my enemy?"

The 35-year-old Austrian cellist founded the free concert with financial help from foreign state cultural foundations including Austria and Germany.

Performances were made by musicians from all over the world, including French clarinetist Michel Lethiec, Austrian pianist Paul Gulda, the Casals Quartet from Spain and the Artis Quartet from Vienna, reported Reuters. Bach, Beethoven, Mozart and Mendelssohn were among the many music selections.

"The fact that many different musicians from different cultures come and play together is a great thing. . . . It's very symbolic of this country," said Taiseer Elias, a leading exponent of Arab Music in Israel.