Concert: Not-In-Our-Name

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Concert: Not-In-Our-Name

WDIE has received the following circular regarding the first discussion meeting of concerned musicians who are planning to organise a "Not-In-Our-Name" Concert. We think that this proposal deserves the attention of all serious musicians and other cultural workers. If any of our readers are interested in participating, please get in touch with us, and we will forward your details to the organisers.

A number of musicians held their first get-together on February 3 to put into operation the idea of organising a Not-In-Our-Name concert. The conception is for musicians to put into practice a political stand. The stand of the concert comes out of the stand of the musicians. We are setting out below some of the points which were touched on in our discussions on February 3, to keep you in touch, and to set out what has been decided on so far.

We are circulating this initial report to those who have expressed interest and others who might be interested, as a body of people who are focusing on taking a stand as musicians, writers, artists, not only against the war in Afghanistan, but against a whole global agenda directed, for example, against Iran, Iraq and the DPRK (north Korea), as well as various collectives of the people in this country.

The kind of intervention that goes by the name of the so-called "war against terrorism" is going to go on. If anything it is going to be stepped up. The State of the Union address of George W. Bush referred to the "axis of evil". Although it is possible that Tony Blair may argue against extending the war beyond Afghanistan, nevertheless the approach of the British government is to press ahead with the "war against terrorism". It is a domestic issue as well as an international issue, with its implications for the criminalisation of dissent and an attack on the right to conscience. The slogan Not In Our Name does not presuppose any narrow political position. It is a declaration that the way this government is acting is Not In Our Name. It relates to people taking a position themselves. It is a principle.

The aim of organising a Not-In-Our-Name concert is to develop the political unity of the musicians and others who have expressed interest in setting the agenda, the content of the concert.

There is political activity and there is cultural activity. And one of the bugbears of society is that there is a division thrown up between the two. But cultural activity is part of the expression of one’s stand in life. For example, one should not have one type of politics and another type of culture, one should have a consistent, whole, coherent stand in life, and one’s cultural activities are an expression of that. That encapsulates the idea of musicians and other cultural workers taking a stand by this means.

Quite a lot of things are coming to light in terms of politics on a world scale. The potential for leading to a world war is high. So issues like that can be raised within a cultural event. Musicians will be encouraged to write new pieces, as well as the fact that everything performed does not all have to be written specially. But what will especially make it important are the new things which will be produced.

If we start organising for a Not In Our Name concert, we are beginning to define the alternative, we are laying the groundwork for bringing people together on a new basis. A lot of people are opposed to what is going on, and we are concerned to give people the opportunity to express that. So that is an important consideration, it is laying the groundwork for what is the alternative. People can take a stand and express their thoughts.

It is proposed that the concert take place on September 14 (the date of the Last Night of the Proms) giving a number of months to organise the concert, and being near the anniversary of September 11.

There is, to generalise, a divide between, say, a musician’s world-view and what they have to do in order to live. So September 14 would be quite significant in making a statement. In fact, there is broad opposition to what is regarded as the "mainstream". So it is not a protest from the margins. People feel marginalised in their work, but the concert will express the convictions of the people who are participating. This is what musical expression should be, rather than the apparent conundrum of a division between your practice and your feelings.

The concert answers the question of what to do, how to express how you feel about the situation in Afghanistan, for instance, as well as the situation at home. The experience is that people respond to the opportunity to take a stand, do something they believe in and which is appreciated and has meaning. It gives the opportunity to involve a broad range of people who generally speaking do not get a chance to connect.

We have the opportunity to blaze a trail about how culture can advance without being dismissive about politics, in a non-sectarian way, irrespective of ideology, with a variety of styles of expression, instead of being compartmentalised. So it is a concert where the participants take a stand against war, playing on their own basis, in which the slogan "Not In Our Name" is key. A broad range of people can respond to this.

Various ensembles can be invited to come and play in this concert, inviting people to think about the content of what they do, as well as composers to write for them.

It also has been raised that if the concert is directed against the war, then maybe September is too late. It was raised that the concert should not be just a gesture and vague, and that if it were in September rather than now it might look like a gesture. Another point that was raised was that it should not be too particular, that is, it should not be restricted to Afghanistan. So, we thought that it is possible to do something more quickly and then do something more elaborate on September 14. Something smaller can be done earlier to galvanise people, and also in September, gathering people together. The earlier event can be a model, starting something off.

So the proposal was agreed that composers can have an interim concert/workshop/discussion, those who are interested in doing it, moving towards September 14. The proposal is to hire the Garrett Centre, 117 Mansford Street, Bethnal Green, E2, on April 21, and see who responds. Then the big public statement would be in September. The two are complementary, not in contradiction. April 21 is a Concert Workshop. It focuses the mind, a concert as a workshop performance. Then there is also time to organise for September 14.

Possibilities for venues for September 14 were discussed, including the possibility of a large central mosque, for example Regent Park Mosque, as a possibility for a venue that itself would be supportive of the event.

It was also raised that the cultures of the national minority communities in Britain should be represented.

And also that it could be either in different rooms, or more likely a longer concert, to accommodate everyone. Either way, it also gives people the opportunity to talk and discuss.

One should think of it as an important statement, with wide-scale publicity.

So we hope that gives a flavour of the initial discussions and how the thinking is going. Please put the dates April 21 and September 14 in your diary. Let us know what you think, and we will take it from there.

Not In Our Name! Plant the Alternative!