Political Healing Through Music

Not long ago, the New York Philharmonic Orchestra was touring in Asia and was invited to perform in North Korea. At the time, this seemed quite unusual and potentially politically healing, from what I understood about our relations with that country. President Bush had called North Korea part of the "Axis of Evil". This of course insulted many North Koreans and the United States was subsequently identified by North Korea’s leader as evil. North Korea and the United States were technically "at war".

It is well-known that the leader of North Korea, Kim Jong-il, is a tight-handed dictator. He has never allowed himself to be interviewed. He is not an elected president, so there is no vote to keep him in power. He retains power through his authority over all aspects of North Korean life. There is only one television channel in the country, and only 10% of the population own television sets. The Western world is effectively kept at bay. So an American orchestra being invited into North Korea had huge political implications. There is no doubt that for many people, this was their first experience of Western music.

Kim Jong-il rules by an all-pervasive "cult of personality" in North Korea. As far as music is concerned, North Koreans love music, but the only music allowed is that which supports him and Communism. The implications of the symphony's visit deepen. North Koreans have been arrested, tortured and kept in prison for years for simply playing, singing, or performing forbidden music, even if they did so only in their own homes.

Imagine what passed through these people’s minds as they watched the Philharmonic’s performance! Should they show emotion? Would their names be taken down? Defectors from North Korea to other countries watched in amazement. Korean listeners heard the American National Anthem played. This truly amazes me - the national anthem of a country that calls them "evil"! Orchestra members were amazed also. They didn't know what to expect, and at first the audience was quiet and stone-faced. But soon smiles appeared, and after the finale of a popular Korean folk tune, the audience exploded into smiles, cheers and applause, with audience and orchestra waving to each other.

But even more happened after that. There have been political concessions made, there is talk of destroying a nuclear power silo in exchange for…taking back the designation of North Korea as part of the Axis of Evil. Hearts softened, minds opened, all because two angry nations took a chance on something a little less frightening than nuclear annihilation: sharing their love of music.

Come hear free samples of the healing music of Daniel Kobialka, sought after around the world as a speaker, composer and performer. Listen to music that relaxes and heals from the virtuoso violinist who performed as primary second violin with the San Francisco Symphony for decades.