By Neil McLennan, Instigator of the #iPlay4Peace international crowdsourced orchestra
ON June 28, 1914 Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated in Sarajevo. July became a busy month in international diplomacy and militarism. The seething cauldron of discontent had been boiling up in the preceding years. However, over a very short space of time Europe slipped into conflict. On August 4, 1914, Britain entered the war. The regional conflict escalated to world war as the British Empire joined.
This year we commemorate the end of the First World War. The words can slip out quite easily, but it truly was the first global war, and the bloodiest war the world had seen. Napoleonic War tactics were no match for the machine guns, heavy artillery and later gas and tanks which transformed the face of the battlefield. The landscape of Europe was scarred and battles raged across the world from Africa to Asia. In Europe only Spain, Switzerland, the Netherlands and Scandinavian countries remained neutral.
One hundred years on we ask: what have we learned from it all? A second world war broke out in the living memory of “Great” War veterans. Warfare continues. Indeed 1968 and 2016 were single years with no British service deaths on operations. Of course, globally the killing continues daily under our very eyes. Aleppo was a stark reminder to us all. And last week tensions in the Middle East escalated again.
In May 1919 George Edward Honey, an Australian journalist, proposed a Remembrance silence. His proposal was for five minutes of contemplation. This was a marked difference from the “celebratory” veterans’ dinners that has initially been planned for November 1919. In October South African Sir Percy Fitzpatrick nudged the silence idea. However, it was not until November 7, 1919 that King Edward proclaimed a silence.
Last November I suggested that whilst our respectful, reverent Remembrance morning activities should continue for another 100 years and more, surely we must be able to offer more than silence on the centenary of the “war to end all wars”. I proposed that on the afternoon of Remembrance Day, musicians should unite globally in the international communication of music. Together they should play, showing that creativity and co-operation conquers war. Soldiers heard more of the war than they saw of it, and music kept spirits high and was played together across “no man’s land”.
Since then a new composition, Armistice, has been prepared. It has been scored by Scots fiddler Thoren Ferguson on Steve Burnett’s wonderfully crafted”Wilfred Owen Violin”. Musicians from Shetland to South Africa, from Ypres to Australia have volunteered to play in harmony at 4pm CET on November 11.
We launched the #iPlay4Peace musical co-operation idea on June 28,, the 104th anniversary of the Sarajevo assassination. Our aim was to create an international orchestra for a global concert by August 4. If the world could go to war in such a short timespan, surely it is not beyond the wit of humanity to create a crowdsourced global concert in the same time period.
By cooperation, rather than proclamation, we have more than met our aim. Solo musicians, ensembles, groups and full orchestras are stepping forward to say and play #iPlay4Peace Many are joining this growing movement. There is still time to join and we welcome all who want to play at 4pm CET on November 11.
What lesson have we learned from the First World War? Civilisation’s creativity and cooperation can conquer conflict. It just needs willing volunteers to step forward, not for war, but for peace and reconciliation.
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