Musical memories from Beirut's lost summer

Nevil Mountford from the non-profit organisation Picture People explains how a multimedia project is remembering last summer's war in Lebanon through music and melody

In July 2006, Israel went to war with Lebanon. Widely seen as a battle between Israel and Hizbullah, enormous destruction was wrecked on Beirut and the predominantly Shia areas of the country. Bridges, roads, power stations and the airport were targeted by Israeli bombs, shattering a once recovering nation. After 33 days of intense fighting, the two sides agreed to a ceasefire and a UN force was deployed in the south. On August 14 2006, Lebanon found itself clearing the damage and asking itself the question once more, "Why?"

During those 33 days of fighting last summer, Beirutis from all areas found themselves listening to some kind of music or sound. Be it on the radio, a CD, an iPod, or the sounds of the outside war, people listened. And many found themselves remembering a certain tune or song that summed up the situation that was going on around them. Some would remember a nostalgic tune from the old days of Lebanon, sung by Fairuz or Marcel Khalife. Some would play the "victory" speeches of the Hizbullah leader, Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah. Others opted for western rock music or rap. In all cases, the people of Beirut identified with a particular sound that they felt expressed the emotions they went through.

We began this project on the first day of the anniversary of the war on July 12. As we walked around Beirut meeting the people, it became apparent that what we were collecting and producing was something more than an eclectic mix of sounds. It was the soundtrack to the war and the collective memory of the people of Beirut during those days. It began in a taxi ride through Beirut, and passed through several music shops, cafes and bars. The project continues until the anniversary of the last day of the war on August 14. The music appears as little postage size pods that fill up empty boxes with the 33 dates on them. One for each day of the war.

This project takes us back to the past glories of Beirut, of Lebanon and a part of the world so steeped in tragedy. It brings us back to those 33 days, when people could only hope for the end. Hope, and fond memory, is emphasised in these songs and sounds.

· Watch the project in full here