Music for a New Day

Date: World premiere at 7 pm ET on Friday, April 30, 2021
Price: To tune in, visit the Museum on Facebook or return to this page!

In March and April of this year, the Museum brought together a cast of Canada-based performers to compose and record a new musical work symbolizing renewal, hope, and the transformative beauty of diverse cultures honouring each other. 

With musical direction by renowned Iranian-Canadian composer and instrumentalist Kiya Tabassian, Music for a New Day will debut on Friday, April 30 at 7 pm ET as part of a special virtual presentation. To participate, visit the Museum on Facebook or return to this page!

Tune in for a fascinating short film that opens new windows on how artists collaborate creatively in spite of the realities of the global pandemic. Directed by Pakistani-Canadian filmmaker Imran Babur, this collection of vignettes frames the debut of the composition, which is featured within the film itself. The audio mix of Music for a New Day was produced by veteran sound engineer Reza Moghaddas.

A sonic experiment

Music for a New Day began as a kind of sonic science experiment. The Museum was curious to see what creative chemical reactions would transpire if we assembled about a half dozen of our favourite musicians — each bringing their own individual voice — to develop new music inspired by the promise of spring. It has evolved into a complex conversation between different cultural perspectives, one that takes place within the restrictions required to protect the public’s health.

Collaborating virtually, this talented group of musical masters has produced a mesmerizing blend of diverse traditions, from Iranian classical, to Arabic jazz, to traditional Mi'kmaq, and beyond. Music for a New Day features performances from:

Kiya Tabassian – Setar
Hamin Honari – Percussion
Fariba Davoudy – Vocals
Darlene Gijuminag – Vocals, Drum
Justin Gray – Bass Veena
Raphael Weinroth-Browne – Cello
Majd Sekkar – Clarinet

View artist bios