NEPALIS AND AMERICANS CELEBRATE LIFE OF DANIEL PEARL THROUGH MUSIC

October 6, 2005

As part of a worldwide effort to promote peace through music, the U.S. Embassy held a “Harmony for Humanity” concert on October 5 in memory of Daniel Pearl, the Wall Street Journal reporter who was murdered by terrorists in Karachi, Pakistan, in 2002.

Daniel Pearl was a classically trained violinist, an avid fiddler, and a mandolin player who used his passion for music to form friendships across cultural and verbal divides. Every year around his October 10th birthday, musicians around the world reach out in friendship to join in “Harmony for Humanity.”  Hundreds of performances worldwide are scheduled throughout the month as part of the Fourth Annual Daniel Pearl Music Days, according to the Daniel Pearl Foundation. (www.musicdays.org.)

In remembering Daniel Pearl, the concert at Ambassador James F. Moriarty’s residence also focused on the half century of Nepal-American friendship. The show featured American-style jazz played by the Nepali band Cadenza, followed by contemporary Nepali songs sung by Satya Raj and Swaroop Raj Acharya, and finally a medley of American traditional folk songs sung by members of Kathmandu Chorale under director Bryan Varenkamp.

“The music tonight will reflect the cultural traditions of both Nepal and the United States, in some cases pure and in some cases fused together,” said master of ceremonies Robin Sharma. “We hope the harmonies you hear tonight will stir your soul and remind us that we are all humans together, with a shared future full of peace, prosperity, and democracy.”

Before the concert began, Ambassador Moriarty spoke about meeting Danny’s widow, Mariane Pearl, in the White House with President Bush shortly after the murder.  “She called for reconciliation and refused to condemn an entire culture for the violence of a few. Instead she understood that the terrorists would never win. They represented the past -- people who want to take us back hundreds of years, people who want to dictate the thoughts and actions of others, people who don’t understand humanity’s thirst for peace and freedom. Despite the brutal murder of her husband, she focused on the fact that her unborn baby represented the future -- a message of hope.”

A copy of Ambassador Moriarty’s welcome remarks are available on the Embassy’s website at http://nepal.usembassy.gov. Media may also request photographs of the event from the Public Affairs Section at 444-5577.