Music Intervenes in Evil Versus Evil

I hadn't given much thought lately to the "Axis of Evil" and talk about nuclear threats. Certainly I hadn't considered music as a way to heal political wounds. I was surprised to learn that the New York Philharmonic Orchestra just visited North Korea by invitation.

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.

Then I learned of deeper implications, and even after-effects, of this window to the Western world. Music is very much loved in North Korean culture, but has, like everything else, been molded by the all-pervasive “cult of personality” around Kim Jong-il. The only music allowed is music which either glorifies him personally, or Communism in general.

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.

The orchestra members commented on how moved they were by the audience’s reaction, saying that they are used to giving and sharing of themselves during a performance, but never before had gotten so much back. The audience’s reaction wasn’t immediate, but gradually smiles appeared. After playing the U.S. National Anthem and a beloved Korean folk tune, the audience responded and the orchestra hated to leave the stage.

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.

All because two nations dared to try something very frightening and different: opening themselves to exploring the unknown territory of healing two nations at war by sharing a mutual love of music.