Editorial

On Monday, 24 October, 2005, the 60th
anniversary of the founding of the UN was
celebrated in Nicosia in a most particular and
moving event held on both sides of the Green
Line. The ceasefire line area in the middle of
Nicosia, pockmarked with landmines was filled
with music as school children and professional
musicians on both sides of the divide took it
in turns to sing songs, beat on drums or play
musical instruments.
This unusual bicommucal event aptly called
«Long Distance Call» was put together by
Dutch composer Merlijn Twaalfhoven and
was supported by the United Nations, the
United States and the Dutch government. It
brought together four hundred Greek and
Turkish Cypriots who performed Cypriot
songs, in their own languages from rooftops,
Long Distance Call
balconies and streets along the Green Line
revealing the musical similarities of both sides
of the island. Music was also made by percussionists,
wind players or using oil barrels
and metal found in Old Nicosia workshops.
There was also a brief performance by musical
artist Haji Mike with some locally inspired
rapping.
The program was devised so that each side
could play its piece to listeners on the other
side. Composer Twaalfhoven was coordinating
the proceedings so that a flurry of
sounds from the north should be immediately
accompanied by a comeback from the
south. His intention was to help people reflect
on the similarities, forget the history and see
things in a fresh light.
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