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Singing in Gaza

Why children in Gaza are learning music, despite the war - and how the territory's only concert grand piano is surviving the conflict

Amid the rubble, in makeshift tents, children in Gaza are singing - and practising the violin, guitar and traditional instruments such as the β€˜oud. The sessions are organised by the local branch of the Palestinian national music conservatory, which still operates, outside its damaged premises, despite the destruction of teachers’ and students’ homes. Why - and how - do they go on singing? And what does music mean to them now? Tim Whewell reported from Gaza in 2015 on the rescue of the territory’s only concert grand piano after a previous war. Now, he finds out how musicians he met then are living and working through this war. He learns about a boy who started playing the violin after he lost his hand in an airstrike. And he finds out about the second near-miraculous survival of the grand piano.

Presented and produced by Tim Whewell
Sound mix by Rod Farquhar
Production coordinator: Gemma Ashman
Editor: Penny Murphy

Available now

28 minutes

Last on

Last Monday 16:00

Broadcasts

  • Sun 27 Oct 2024 13:30
  • Last Monday 16:00