The Vancouver Inter-Cultural Orchestra proudly presents

Sunday November 23, 2008 at 8 pm
UBC School of Music Recital Hall (6361 Memorial Road)
Tickets $20 General, $10 Students/Seniors/VICO Members/Groups of 10+
To purchase tickets call 604.739.8047, e-mail info@vi-co.org, or visit http://www.vi-co.org

In its first major concert of the season, the Vancouver Inter-Cultural Orchestra proudly presents the world premiere of a pioneering inter-cultural work by renowned composer/ethnomusicologist Elliot Weisgarber (1919-2001).  Songs of a Thousand Autumns, a choral piece based on classical texts from the 8th century Manyoshu Anthology of the Imperial Court of Japan, and sung in Japanese, was commissioned in 1984 but has never yet been performed in its entirety. The VICO and guest choir Laudate Singers will present the piece in a new arrangement by Mark Armanini, as the centrepiece of an exciting programme that also includes “The Inner Light” (by another pioneer of inter-cultural music: George Harrison of Beatles fame), the world premiere of Habitaculum – Dwelling Place, a new commission for choir and inter-cultural orchestra by Vancouver composer Larry Nickel, and Nasime Shiraaz (from Dreams of the Wanderer) by Moshe Denburg, featuring astounding Iranian tenor Amir Haghighi.

Imagined Worlds: Past & Futures Unveiled offers Vancouver audiences a rare opportunity to learn about the roots of inter-cultural music in BC, and to witness the potential it holds for the future.
The musical programme will be accompanied by a photographic exhibit by Laurie Gish entitled A Living Heritage: the Composers’ Community. The collection, curated by Mark Armanini, includes portraits of pioneering BC composers such as Harry, Frances and Murray Adaskin, Barbara Pentland, Jean Coulthard, Elliot Weisgarber and more. A Living Heritage will be shown alongside recent photographs of VICO performers and musicians by Alistair Eagle and others… images that reveal the people behind the scores and instruments, and tell compelling stories of artistic innovation, documenting the talent and diversity of BC’s leading musicians across several generations.

The VICO is currently the only professional orchestral ensemble in BC (possibly in Canada) devoted to performing inter-cultural music on a grand scale… shedding light on the musical traditions of Canada’s many cultures and the myriad bridges between them.

“Music that sounds like Vancouver looks”
– The Georgia Straight

In the VICO, Western-trained orchestral musicians rub shoulders with performers in musical traditions from all over the world…and fertile ground is created for cross-cultural teamwork between classical, jazz and world music artists. For more information on the ensemble and its upcoming events, please visit www.vi-co.org.