music of central asia
Content tagged as music of central asia.
Various: Music of Central Asia Vol 4, Bardic Divas (Smithsonian/Elite)
This beautifully packaged collection -- informative booklet, DVD with doco footage and interactive instrument section -- is not only a handsome set, but contains the remarkable voices of women singers from Central Asia, the region between Iran and the Steppes. Politics and ethnic separations over the past half century have lead to a diaspora...
world-music/1425/various-music-of-central-asia-vol-4-bardic-divas-smithsonian-elite/
Badakhshan Ensemble: Song and Dance from the Pamir Mountains (Smithsonian/Elite)
Okay, this is not for everybody ("Who is that?" said my wife, and not in a favourably curious way) but the previous collection in this Music of Central Asia series (see tag) was an impressive package of a CD, an excellent doco-DVD, and a very useful essay in the booklet. This equally handsome pack, volume five in the series,...
world-music/1452/badakhshan-ensemble-song-and-dance-from-the-pamir-mountains-smithsonian-elite/
Alim and Fargana Qasimov: Spiritual Music of Azerbaijan (Smithsonian/Elite)
This will be brief as some of the previous albums in this beautifully packaged CD/DVD series Music of Central Asia have already drawn attention to these compilations which come with remarkable doco-footage from the regions (See tags). This sixth volume takes the listener to Azerbaijan and the keening, soaring folk styles of music there,...
world-music/1479/alim-and-fargana-qasimov-spiritual-music-of-azerbaijan-smithsonian-elite/
Sari Gelin Ensemble: Music of Azerbaijan (Elite)
The music of Central Asia has featured on Elsewhere previously, notably with the excellent Smithsonian Folkways series (see tags) which come with fascinating DVD mini-films. This is can be "difficult" music but it is also quite breathtaking and this album by a creditable quintet is no exception. The songs are long (three of the...
world-music/1578/sari-gelin-ensemble-music-of-azerbaijan-elite/
Sa Dingding: Alive (Universal)
Elsewhere has frequently posted Chinese, Mongolian and Tibetan music recorded in the field and of earthy authenticity (or soaring spirituality). But we aren't averse to a bit of Cantonese pop, ambient Sino-fusion or wallpaper world music which nods to the Middle Kingdom. These days only a fool or an academic would be snooty about world music...