Date: November 28, 2010 Venue: Vancouver East Cultural Centre City: Vancouver Ensemble: Vancouver Inter-cultural Orchestra, John Olver, conductor
Gypsy Chronicles is an imaginary musical journal in four parts, crossing Byzantium - modern-day Istanbul - toward the gates of Europe in search of the source of music in ancient melody and harmony, untempered and untamed, resonating with nature. I imagine musicians converging there, in Byzantium, from all parts of the Silk Road, to play this music that comes down to a handful of tones which they might play over and over again, searching for the source of their common musical heritage. One day I will make this trip. Meanwhile, I am fortunate to live in Vancouver, a city where excellent musicians from these regions have settled here and can realize my dream-music. My heartfelt thanks to the Vancouver Inter-Cultural Orchestra for commissioning Gypsy Chronicles, and to the Canada Council for the Arts for funding.