WNMD Report
The Faroese Daily Dish
June 19 – Rain, Waterfalls, Sheep! Whoa—32° C in New York City; 7° C at the Vágar Airport in the Faroe Islands. That was quite a shock to the system, not to mention the really bumpy landing because of the wind and our small Turboprop plane (let’s not talk about the fact that I couldn’t…
Read MoreBetween Norway and Iceland, Tonality and Atonality
Between Norway and Iceland To understand the musical offering of the 2024 ISCM World New Music Days (WNMD), you need to know the place and the people. It would be a mistake to think of this 11-day music marathon as an abstract contemporary music festival; everything here has its own shape and feel, given by…
Read MoreThe Contemporary Beyond Globalization
“In short, geopolitics has its foundations in chronopolitics.” Johannes Fabian[1] “I do not want to exalt the past at the expense of my present and of my future.” Frantz Fanon[2] “The ISCM’s first century began in Austria; its second century is beginning in South Africa.” ISCM President Glenda Keam’s opening remark for this centennial World…
Read MoreA Historic Milestone: the 2023 ISCM World New Music Days in South Africa
INTRODUCTION The 2023 ISCM (International Society for Contemporary Music) World New Music Festival (WNMD) was a historic milestone, the first time this prestigious festival was held on the African continent. Taking place from 24 November to 3 December in Johannesburg, Soweto and Cape Town, South Africa, the festival not only celebrated the 100th anniversary of…
Read MoreOvercoming Distances
To say that the 2022 ISCM/ACL Festival was ambitious is an understatement. Two festivals were held concurrently in two cities, on two different islands, representing a broad and diverse range of music from around the world. The 2022 ISCM World New Music Days Festival was held concurrently with the 2022 festival for the Asian Composers…
Read MoreA World of New Music Encourages the International Art of Deep Listening —the 2017 ISCM World New Music Days in Vancouver
It’s difficult to be a world showcase with limited resources: the 2015 ISCM World Music Days
The Wizards of New Music: Reflections on the 2016 ISCM World Music Days
ISCM WMD 2011 Zagreb – Program Book and Reports
Getting past difficult pronunciations to answering some difficult questions — the 2014 ISCM World Music Days
Although it has been established as an important urban center for more than 1000 years, Wrocław remains somewhat off the beaten path. There are few direct flights, not even from most places in Europe. Yet its history connects it to at least five different countries. Celtic tribes settled there in the 4th century B.C.E. although…
Read More