The United Nations was founded on principles of respect for diversity and multi-culturalism. As a reflection of these core values, the UN Music Club seeks to develop music projects that relate directly to these core values.
UN World Music Project
The project brings together a wide variety of musicians – both members and friends of the Club – with a repertoire that incorporates music styles from around the world: jazz, Caribbean, Afro-Cuban, East European, Arabic. The Project intends to expand its repertoire to include even more styles, and following in the footsteps of the UN Singers, to serve as unofficial goodwill ambassadors for the United Nations.
The first such initiative was started in 2010. The group consisted of 10 musicians and 2 vocalists
The Project’s first performances were held that same year. Recordings and performances are described below, including examples of sound tracks.
A more recently established project involves a partnership between UN Geneva music ensemble and the group Aqua potable music project for the Environment.
True to its title, this ensemble dedicates specially composed pieces to protection of the environment. It is a partnerhip between UN Staff members who are also fine musicians, and a group of Geneva based professional musicians, AQUA POTABLE MUSIC PROJECT, who dedicate their work to the same environmental cause.This musical project is also connected with the ORQUESTA JUVENIL DE CUBA PARA LA ECOLOGIA, an orchestra composed of Cuban young people who try to raise environmental awareness through music.
On the 22 November, on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the UN Music Club, the combined group will perform it’s inaugural concert with Shama Milàn’s compositions Extinciòn and Jam Love Session
More about recordings and sessions:
The initial World Music Projet , a large group of 16 musicians played at the World Environment Day celebrations, held on the premises of the United Nations Office at Geneva, follwed by a number of performances in 2011. A recording session was held on 2 July and following mix-down and production, the Project hopes to have the CD available for distribution by late autumn 2010.
- CD background French
Information sur le Projet “Musiques du Monde” des Nations Unies et son CD “Pour Haïti, Pays debout”
- CD background English
Background info on the UN World Music Project and its CD “Pour Haïti, Pays debout”
- Recording session
The UN World Music Project’s CD recording session.
- UN World Music Project CD
You can listen online to the UNWMP’s CD.
Photos by Sergio da Silva and Melinda Isachsen, courtesy of the Club Photo International.