Hi Dears! So far only 6 actions for momentum!

Finished my text for the project to send to choirs and possibly broadcasting stations. My dear friend Laurel offered to pimp up the document, so it looks a bit more appealing! Exciting!

CHILDREN’S CHOIRS FROM THE WORLD SING

‘Malala Speaks’

Choir piece ‘MALALA SPEAKS’ for children’s choir (SSA), length: 4-5’

I would like to introduce to you this new song for children’s choir – with the words of the inspiring young woman, Malala Yousafzai (1997). ‘Malala Speaks’ is the first composition in my new series, called ‘Meetings with remarkable women – music inspired by women’s lives’

Following an open call to write a piece for amateur choir from wonderful initiative by

Marica to support Dutch composers in times of Covid19, I started looking for a meaningful text for this composition – words of hope, that we might all need to hear in this period.

The fact that a choir stands for a collective voice, an opinion of the people, or a truth of a group in society, made me search for a text that was speaking for a bigger group in society. In addition, I was looking for a voice from the upcoming generation. That’s how I chose to create a composition on words by Malala Yousafzai, the young Pakistani activist. Malala, who stood up as twelve-year-old girl and spoke at public events when the Taliban banned girls from going to school in Pakistan. As a consequence, she was attacked by a Taliban gunman and miraculously survived after being shot in the head. She recovered and her mission to support children, especially young girls all over the world has only become stronger since. In 2013 she launched the Malala Fund, a nonprofit organization aimed at increasing girls’ access to education. The same year, she co-authored “I Am Malala,” her best-selling memoir. In 2014 Malala received the Nobel prize for Peace, as the youngest recipient ever for her ongoing work to protect girl’s education around the world.

There are many things, that touch me about Malala Yousafzai. One of them is, that she has no feelings of vengeance against the people, who attacked her. Having gone through a near death experience seems to have given her even more strength to help others. In a society with so much emphasize on individualism I find it particularly inspiring, to see someone like Malala, who sees herself as one voice of many children, in particular girls in need for safety and deprived of education.

She sees her life as a sacred gift.

While I was writing the music, the following idea popped up in my head:

1. How about asking a young girl’s choirs to sing this song?

2. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to create an online event/concert with youth choirs from all different continents to sing this song together?

3. What if this song with Malala’s beautiful message sung by children/young girls could reach out and create extra support to offer to all children in need now in times of the pandemic?

The text for this piece consists of excerpts from the Nobel Lecture of Malala & another speech she held at the United Nation Youth Assembly:

“The Taliban tried to stop us and attacked me and my friends.

But their bullets could not silence us. We survived and our voices have grown louder.

Weakness, fear, hopelessness died; Power, strength and courage was born.

I am not a lone voice – I am many.

I am Shazia, I am Kainat, I am Kainat Soomro, I am Mezon. I am Amina.

Let us be the last generation to see empty classrooms, lost childhoods and wasted potential. Let us bring equality, justice and peace for all.

Peace for All.”

Marcia/Steun de Componist & Esther Gottschalk, director of the Dutch composer’s association, Nieuw-Geneco, have created a new online platform to offer new choir music for amateur choirs in The Netherlands and abroad through the website http://www.dutchchoirmusicnow.nl.

For more information about the project ‘Malala Speaks’: please contact: [email protected] / tel: +31 621 466 433 / Amsterdam – The Netherlands