Yo-Yo Ma & The Silk Road Ensemble – Silk Road Journeys

 

One of Yo-Yo Ma's most ambitious adventures, the Silk Road Project, explores the cultures that flourished along the Silk Road, the ancient trade route that for centuries connected Europe and the East. Founded by Ma in 1998, the project aims to create connections, mutual trust, and cultural interchange between people from different parts of the world through their only shared language: music.

This recording includes music from Mongolia, China, Persia, Japan, Iran, Azerbaijan, and an improvisation on an Italian Renaissance street song, performed by musicians from all those countries, as well as America, on both Eastern and Western instruments. Ma, who participates in every piece either as soloist or part of the ensemble, plays cello and a Mongolian "horse-head fiddle." There is also a Mongolian soprano, who sings a traditional song native to her region. For the uninitiated Western listener, the music requires some getting used to. Much of it is based on rhythmic ostinatos. 

The melodies use Oriental scales; the intonation is untempered; the music seems all color, texture, and atmosphere, without what might be called themes; and repetition takes the place of development. Contrast is achieved through sudden change, buildup by adding instruments. However, the music is often beautiful, delicate, dreamy, or peaceful; every listener will find his or her own favorite pieces. The playing is splendid, with much inventive improvisation. Inevitably, Ma's tone and personality stand out, but he never dominates in fact or spirit.  --Edith Eisler (Amazon review)

1        Mongolian Traditional Long Song 1:28
2        Legend Of Herlen 11:17
3        Blue Little Flower (Chinese Traditional) 4:22
4        Mido Mountain (Chinese Traditional) 3:51
5        Moon Over Guan Mountains 11:48
6        Five Finnish Folksongs (No. 3 Miero Vuotti Uutta Kuuta) 1:58
7        Five Finnish Folksongs (No. 5 Joiku) 2:26
8        Avaz-E Dashti (Persian Traditional)    6:01
9        Habil-Sayagy (In Habil's Style) 13:23
10        Blue As The Turquoise Night Of Neyshabur 15:33
11        Chi Passa Per'sta Strada 4:43
        Bonus Track   
12        Desert Capriccio 1:35

 Silk Road Journeys

Andrei Poliakov : telling a story without words...new release "Moonlight and Sunshine"

 

https://youtu.be/7QPxT95IIzE

Andrei Poliakov is a professional musician, composer and producer, who received a fundamental classical music education as a pianist and an oboist in Russia, continued with the professional musical career performing with world renowned orchestras, later diversifying his musical taste and capacity into jazz, rock, and pop genres, performing and recording with various bands and solo. 

The foundation of Andrei’s works is a well educated classical, romantic soundscape, but as soon as the music begins, it starts looking for cross over opportunities to develop into an exciting house party, jazz, pop, or electronic music, all these easily transforming to warm classical follow ups hence the eclectic style which helps Andrei tell better stories without words.

Andrei treats a musical genre as an additional color for the compositions, like seasoning in food; these colors help him get across the emotions and tell the stories to the listener with better precision and stronger impact: “I do not feel bound by a genre or a style, and instead I use and abuse the variety of styles to paint a deeper and more colorful, meaningful musical picture. Nevertheless, the Piano is always staying as a centerpiece of my compositions as I believe the richness and diversity of sounds of the “king of music” easily trumps any
other instrument I know”. 

The “Moonlight & Sunshine” album has an uncommon approach for the neo-classics genre: every next release features 2 different versions of one motive, coming to life as a piano solo piece, interpreting a narrative in the moonlight, and as a fully arranged piece, revealing the same story under the sunshine. 

 listen to "Moonlight & Sunshine" HERE 

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