With live performances all but impossible these days, the Vancouver Inter-Cultural Orchestra (VICO) has announced the release of In the Key of the World, a full-length studio recording of music by Canadian composers.
Performed by an ensemble of 28 musicians playing instruments from a wide range of musical traditions including Chinese, Persian, Indian and European, the album features music by Dorothy Chang, John Oliver, Moshe Denburg, and Farshid Samandari.
Founded in 2001, the VICO brought together musicians and composers from the diverse cultural and artistic communities in Vancouver, as one of the first professional ensembles of its kind in the world.
A 2012 recipient of the City of Vancouver Cultural Harmony Award, the VICO’s mission has been to create and perform orchestral music that transcends boundaries.
“Intercultural music has existed for centuries in most traditional cultures,” says VICO artistic director Mark Armanini. “The VICO has spent the past two decades developing a contemporary musical art form that draws on this history and brings the idea of music as a universal language to global fruition. We have developed a ground-breaking sound palette and repertoire that combines aural and written traditions, ancient and contemporary styles, and a huge variety of instruments into one ensemble.”
The VICO continues that mission with this latest album, transcending borders and breaking down barriers with a unique fusion of world, classical and traditional music.
“The album offers a glimpse into the limitless creative possibilities of the intercultural orchestra, and the VICO is proud to present this music to the world as an aural offering of humanistic beauty and hope for a harmonious future,” continues Armanini.
In the Key of the World is now available for download online. Visit vi-co.org for more information.