(Clearwisdom.net) On the 26th and 27th of July 2008, the European Divine Land Marching Band was a presence in London and Cambridge, showing the world's people the goodness of Falun Dafa and strengthening the voice of practitioners' appeal to stop the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) persecution of Dafa.
The European Divine Land Marching Band marching in the streets of London.
The European Divine Land Marching Band in London.
The musicians in the European Divine Land Marching Band, all Falun Gong practitioners, come from different areas of Europe, and are of different ages, nationalities and backgrounds. They share one common good wish - to use their different musical instruments to play the most blessed music. Hearing the band's music, including such melodies as "Falun Dafa is Good," "Law Drum and Law Horn Shakes the Ten-directional World," "Land of Happiness and Delivering the Treasure," people came from all directions to listen. The mercy of the blessed music and the unique spirit of the band members touched the hearts of many people.
A journalist interviewed several members of the Divine Land Marching Band during the two days of activities, and found that they all come with one intention: to clarify the truth and spread the blessings of Dafa.
Mary, a young lady from Holland, works for a big enterprise where she is a consultant for management of zoology and water resources. She has practiced Falun Gong for just about five months. Mary became a part of the band two weeks ago, playing flute. She has studied the flute since she was six or seven years old. The events in the U.K. marked her first time to take part in the performance of the Divine Land Marching Band. When asked why she took part, she said, "Of course, it is for clarifying the truth and to let people realize the goodness of Falun Gong and the persecution happening in China." She said that it was a very special experience for her as a part of the Divine Land Marching Band to march in London, and that she was very happy seeing so many people listening to and enjoying their music.
When asked about why she took up Falun Gong practice, Mary said that it was because of her boyfriend, a Falun Gong practitioner who has been practicing for six years. Her boyfriend gave her a copy of Zhuan Falun. At first, she felt like she was reading a myth. But as she went on, she was surprised to find that the book had solved lots of questions for her, and that what the book teaches is true. After reading Zhuan Falun for the second time, she decided to start practicing Falun Gong. She does the exercise for two hours and tries to read a large amount of Fa every day. She said she had already read all the articles published by Master Li. It was a surprise to her, who started learning music in early childhood, that the band could produce such a good harmonious performance even though some of the members had played their instruments for less than one year. She thought it was miraculous.
The Divine Land Marching Band members include a Chinese father and daughter who live in Stockholm, Sweden. The daughter is only twelve years old, named Maomao. She started practicing Falun Gong with her family members when she was two. As a young child, she learned to play the clarinet, flute, piano and harp. About two years ago she joined the newly established European Divine Land Marching Band. She plays both clarinet and flute in the band, depending on the current need. Before coming to London she practiced intensively for ten days. When asked why she wanted to join the Divine Land Marching Band, she expressed that it can make more people realize the goodness of Falun Dafa. Maomao was very happy with the London activity because so many people clearly enjoyed the parade.
Mr. Fu and Ms. Gu both come from Mainland China. They play trumpet and French horn in the band. When the journalist asked them why they participate in these activities, Ms. Gu answered first, "The Divine Land Marching Band's performance is a very good way to clarify the truth. I've got to take part in it." Mr. Fu used to be a computer programming engineer. When the Divine Land Marching Band was first established he joined it immediately. For a fifty-year-old who just started to learn playing a musical instrument, it was a miracle that within only one week he managed to learn how to play the music "Falun Dafa is Good," as well as remember the scores of three different pieces. One month later he took part in the Divine Land Marching Band's first performance in Paris. "I am very glad that I saw so many people here and they walked along with our parade. The music "Falun Dafa is Good" cleansed the minds of the passersby. When I played the music I interacted with them. It's such a good influence," he said.
Barbara, from Sweden, is a drummer in the Divine Land Marching Band. She said, "After arriving in London on Friday we had the first rehearsal. With a new band leader and several new members who had not performed before, at first the effect seemed not very good. The second rehearsal was still not good enough. But when the parade started, the moment I gave the drum the first strike, I felt a miracle take place. My drumming improved, my performance went well, along with the others, and the whole performance was harmonious. At that second, tears came to my eyes, since I knew all of our hearts were very pure today."
Joseph, who comes from Germany and plays clarinet in the band, at seventy-five years old is the oldest member of the European Divine Land Marching Band. He is the brother-in-law of another member, Alice. Joseph, Alice and Alice's sister all started practicing Falun Gong in 1997. Joseph and Alice received music training in their childhood. When the band was founded, Alice's sister encouraged both of them to participate, as the band is a wonderful way to help people understand Falun Gong.
Nicollase, from Belgium, stressed the common wish of all the band members: to use the pure and clean music and their pure hearts to spread the goodness of Falun Dafa and to help more people come to know the truth of Dafa.
Category: News & Events
