WCM: An Association for Creative Music
Founded by Garrett List in 2006, our associations’ primary objective is to create music for this group of people. WCM serves as a meeting place for all concerned by the creation of a new music for world citizens – artists from other disciplines - dance, theater, cinema, the visual artists, and literature. WCM will foster the support of and stimulates interest in the crossing of artistic frontiers and the desegregation of the musical arts.
What are the goals of World Citizens Music?
Popular or commercial: what are the choices; what are the values?
The work of our association is based on the necessities of music in our time. This necessarily includes the relation between music (culture) and the society in which it finds itself. This relationship, which we feel is fundamental in keeping creative music “creative”, has been seriously perturbed by the history of the last one hundred years. Today, the general feeling is that if something is successful on a commercial level then it is popular. If we ask ourselves, “Is the music to which we listen being bought because it is popular or because it benefited from a good advertising campaign?” we then realize that we have misunderstood what “popular” means while having perfectly understood the meaning of commercial. We must remember that people buy what is available to them. The creation of a new music that is addressed to each and everyone becomes vital.
This is why World Citizens Music is committed to finding ways of dealing with the dichotomy of popular - commercial.
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Eclecticism: Crossing cultural barriers to appreciate the differences
Today’s world of high-speed communication has given legitimacy to an often-misunderstood word: eclectic. In music, the cross-fertilization of artistic influences that has ensued because of the information overflow has created an almost bewildering number of styles and non-styles. Happily for us today we might find ourselves listening to Neo Classical Hip-Hop Latino Jazz on the radio or who knows what else… This means that the stylistic purity that was once sought after in western art has been put aside. Eclectic art and music generates a greater acceptance of our differences thus insuring the quality of cultural exchanges and their inherent values. Enhancing eclecticism will protect these exchanges from becoming yet another form of co-optation or even from theft of cultural identities. The enhancement of eclectic music will lead to diminishing racism and xenophobia and create an atmosphere of harmony between people.
For this reason WCM is committed to the promotion of new eclectic music and the musicians that create it.
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Creating Musical Ensembles
An important part of the creation in music is the possibility of emerging composers to hear their music and to put it in front of a public. WCM is committed to this aspect of musical creation. As such, the musical ensemble "Orchestra ViVo !" is one of WCM’s major projects.
—> "Orchestra ViVo !" is a large acoustic 30-piece ensemble.
—> "Orchestra ViVo !" will have as one of its major missions the creation of new music, the music for world citizens.
—> WCM will also actively seek and/or create different kinds of concert spaces. "Orchestra ViVo !" will play in concert halls and festival podiums but will also go to meet its public in those places where music has always been found, renewing music’s traditional role.
WCM is committed to creating musical ensembles that fit the need of today’s new music: music for each and everyone.
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Support of Emerging Talents
A program of master classes and workshops for young professionals was started in 2008-09. The resounding artistic success of this effort convinced us to continue. The first series was based on the art of the song. While continuing with the vocal arts, additional master classes will be formed: the “Riffing” improvisational concept in music and contemporary dance; the re-interpretation of classical music; musical composition.
In a second phase, WCM should create a commissioning program. This program will stimulate the creation of eclectic music, new music for each and everyone. These compositions will become a part of the repertory of "Orchestra ViVo !".
WCM is committed to creating a workplace for young professionals, at the beginning of their careers; those who have decided to dedicate their lives to making music.
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Revisiting the Role of the Musician
Everyone seems to agree: the many crises facing the world today require a new way of thinking about who we are as human beings and about what eventual plans of action must be taken. Music and the arts will play an important role in the development of this new way of thinking if the musicians themselves are permitted to work in this way. Creative music must now be seen an integral part of the workings of the society. The romantic view of the solitary artist/genius struggling to express him/her self in a hostile world is no longer adequate. Art can no longer imitate life. But art could show us how to live in a better way. The music of a devoted artist will become a model to people in all walks of life; will show us the power of the imagination. Art becomes empowerment, showing people how to have confidence in themselves. This will in turn refuse the pessimistic attitude that pervades today’s thinking.
WCM is committed to the nurturing of musical creation as a stimulus to develop confidence in one’s own creativity, confidence in human imagination.
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