Silk Road

On this CD:

1. The Silk Road
Composed by Byungki Hwang
Performed by Byungki Hwang, Moonkyu Ahn

2. The Forest
Composed by Byungki Hwang
Performed by Byungki Hwang, Hyeran Ahn

3. Spring
Composed by Byungki Hwang
Performed by Byungki Hwang, Hyeran Ahn

4. The Pomegranate House
Composed by Byungki Hwang
Performed by Byungki Hwang, Hyeran Ahn

5. Fall
Composed by Byungki Hwang
Performed by Byungki Hwang, Hyeran Ahn

6. Kara Town
Composed by Byungki Hwang
Performed by Byungki Hwang, Hyeran Ahn

7. Dance in the Perfume of Aloes
Composed by Byungki Hwang
Performed by Byungki Hwang, Hyeran Ahn

Silk Road, Music, Byungki Hwang, Asia, Asian, Classical, Korea, Miscellaneous, Miscellaneous Music

Silk Road Journeys: When Strangers Meet
Average customer rating:

Not for the average listener

A thoroughly enjoyable trip through Central Asia and a few other places.

Silk Road Journey

A Detailed Review From A Non-expert Music Lover

Silk Road student

Silk Road Journeys: When Strangers Meet
Yo-Yo Ma , and Silk Road Ensemble
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B0000641CG
Release Date: 2002-04-16

Tracks:

Mongolian Traditional longsong
Legend of Herlen (Byambasuren Sharav)
"Blue Little Flower" (Chinese Traditional)
"Mido Mountain" (Chinese Traditional)
Moon over Guan Mountain (Zhao Jiping)
"Miero vuotti uutta kuuta" from Five Finnish Folk Songs (Michio Mamiya)
"Joiku" from Five Finnish Folk Songs (Michio Mamiya)
Avaz-e Dashti (Persian Traditional)
Habil-Sayagy (In Habil's Style) for cello and prepared piano (Franghiz Ali-Zadeh)
Blue as the Turquoise Night of Neyshabur (Kayhan Kalhor)
Chi passa per'sta strada (Filippo Azzaiolo)
Desert Capriccio (Music from the film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon/Tan Dun) (Bonus Track)

Amazon.com

This disc introduces Yo-Yo Ma's latest and most ambitious adventure, the Silk Road Project. It 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. The booklet offers essays by Ma and the project's musicologist, Theodore Levin, photographs of the players, and drawings of the Eastern instruments. --Edith Eisler

Customer Reviews:

Not for the average listener.......2007-03-20

I was going to give it 2 stars, but then again i only listened to it once.
I was looking forward to this, but the music is plodding in many parts,
like a dreary symphony. There are fine moments, but I was looking for something a bit more accesible, rhymic, and lyrical. This is a mixed bag that seems to miss more often than hit.

A thoroughly enjoyable trip through Central Asia and a few other places........2007-03-15

I have just added this to my musical library and am enjoying it. From the first beat of the first note of Khongozurl's long song you are transported to central Asia - the land of horses and gers. Of all the pieces I was most interested in listening to the second piece - Legend of Herlen. This to me, was the real silk road. The morin khuur has a very rich and unusual tone that made we want to listen to the it over and over again. Each piece is different and reminds one of the many parts that make up the whole of central asia's culture be it music or diesel trucks competing for road space with camels. The music captures the variety that makes up the region. The Finnish Folksong tracks are a nice touch. I have a friend who was at a trade conference and met a man from Mongolia. Neither could talk to one another until they discovered a common language - Finnish! My friend's family is Finnish and his new Mongolian friend had lived for several years in Finland where he learned enough of the language to communicate. Listening to the Finnish Folksongs reminds me of the Finnish-Mongolian connection that my friend had described. It is a nice touch and complements the other pieces very well. Please don't neglect to read the information insert as this gives a wealth of information on the music and it's origins as well as some of the difficulties experienced by western players playing traditional middle Asian musical instruments. Ma's difficulties with his instrument are particularly interesing to read. The concludig track - Desert Capriccio is a very nice ending to a very rich musical experince. The music from Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is the perfect ending to this trip through central Asia. I highly recommend this CD to everyone.

Silk Road Journey.......2007-02-19

I saw a performance of the Silk Road Ensemble and was absolutely enthralled. So I bought the CD. But it was a big disappointment. It's not the type of music you can comfortably listen to in your living room - I'm sure it would be much more enjoyable in a concert hall. There was far too much that just sounded like "screeching" to me. However, some of the pieces that were much like what we heard at the performance were beautiful. So - a mixed review, but I disliked more than I liked.

A Detailed Review From A Non-expert Music Lover.......2007-01-12

In this review I will give my opinion on each of the 12 selections in this CD, and will also talk about some general themes related to the title "The Silk Road Project".

To anyone who has heard of the Silk Road in Ancient China, the title of this CD immediately brings up images of exotic peoples and their cultures in your mind. I think Yo-Yo Ma's efforts in creating such a culturally diversified recording are definitely welcomed in this era of globalization.

But after listening through this CD I felt that something was missing from the selections. One of the most important areas on the Silk Road is the Uyghur region in northwestern China. Their music is quite unique. Inclusion of their music in this CD would be really interesting. Also in this CD not all of the selections are chosen from those regions directly related to the Silk Road. So I guess the title is just a metaphor of "when strangers meet", but is not directly about the cultures along the Silk Road.

Now I will review each of the selections.

1. Mongolian Traditional Long Song

I am somewhat familiar with their culture and land. So to me this song is very beautiful and enchanting. One of the most important factors in conducting any cross-cultural communications is context! You really cannot take it out of context. The Mongolian Long Song might sound monotonous and drawling to a person who is more used to the Western tradition of chant, choral, or opera music. Yet if you know the traditional nomadic lifestyle of the Mongolian people on the vast rolling greens of the Mongolian grassland embellished with winding creeks and rivers, you would probably hear such long-singing voices reverberating between the green of the grass and the blue of the sky. The Mongolian people have some of the most beautiful songs that I know of.

2. Legend of Herlen

There are probably two broad categories of non-western ethnic musics. One is the authentic folksong tradition of the people, the other is westernized works composed by westernized local musicians. I guess Legend of Herlen might fall into the second category. It has some interesting tunes in it. But the overall listening experience is too dramatic. I guess the dynamics used in this piece might even go beyond the ppp and fff. In the Mongolian traditional music, dynamics are sometimes used quite dramatically, with sharp difference between two adjacent notes or phrases. So this piece here is probably not very surprising. Nonetheless I find it a little too dramatic, sometimes even disturbing. Again I am not familiar with the background of this piece, so that might explain the unusual drama.

3. Blue Little Flower

I am not sure what fusion should really sound like. But in this piece it does seem to me that a lot of musical traditions are intertwined in it: western music, Chinese folksong from Shaanxi, and probably Iranian or Indian drums. Somehow the only part of this song that I liked is the beginning line. It's very beautiful and delicate, reminding me of the theme music from the Couching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. But it is westernized, not authentic Chinese folksong. If this is still not a problem, then the drum used in this piece does cause a lot of funny effects. The drum sounds so distinctive and it represents some of the central or western Asia cultures. The images such drum beats conjure up are very incompatible with this northwestern Chinese folksong. So in this piece there are at least three threads: western, Chinese, and Iranian/Indian (I am not sure which one). But they do not converge. There is also the funny part of the singing included in this piece. It is out of place and unnecessary. The singing itself is just too frivolous to me.

4. Mido Mountain

I like this piece, especially the part played by the Sheng. Again there are some elements that sound a little bit too foreign to me, especially the percussion part. They use the same percussion/drum in this piece as in the previous one. But the overall effect of the arrangement does sound authentic and pleasant to me.

5. Moon Over Guan Mountains

If you know that Zhao Jiping is famous for his scores for films, you will probably understand this piece better. But of course understanding does not mean you will like it. This piece falls into the second category that I described above. For a lot of non-Western countries, the influence of western music is definitely immense. Many local composers are trained in both the western tradition and the local tradition. But there is probably a general feeling among composers in these countries that western music is richer in theory and methods. Many of these composers will use themes from folk songs to compose westernized music. I will give this piece a B+. It does include some themes from northwestern China, which sound really unique. As I said in this CD there is no selection from the Uyghur region in China, this piece might make up for that, since some of the themes seem to me to be from that region. But this piece is still too dramatic too, like a film score.

6. Five Finnish Folksongs No. 3

I love this one! The theme melody is so beautiful, and maybe a little bit nostalgic, and maybe a little bit romantic also? But this piece is straightly western music. There is nothing ethnic about it.

7. Five Finnish Folksongs No.5

This one is ok, but not very impressive. The overall structure of this piece sounds like very loose. There is not memorable melody either. But it does not have the maddening drama like in the two pieces I have just talked about. This is good.

8. Avaz-e Dashti
I am not familiar with Persian music. But there are indeed some very Persian melodies in this piece. The instruments used in this piece are all traditional Persian instruments. Maybe this is why it sounds so authentic to me. I like the haunting, floating tunes in this piece. They sound very ethereal to me.

9. Habil-Sayagy

Again this piece falls into the second category like the Legend of Herlen and Moon Over Guan Mountains. Such music is probably interesting to the performers, since they can let loose their inner floodgate of emotions and resort to pure artistic connections. But the problem for such music is that they are just too dramatic, and it's really hard to understand them without fairly good knowledge of the context and their unique cultural backgrounds. I am sure all these three pieces might sound profound, meaningful, and artistic once we know the cultural backgrounds better. But for the general listener, they are too abstract and too emotionally charged. Another problem for such western-traditional combination pure art form of music is that tradition might be distorted and represented in the wrong way.

10. Blue as the Turquoise Night of Neyshabur

I like this one better that the previous one, especially the middle part beginning at around 5 min 30 sec into the music. The melody is quite unique, and memorable. The bassline is very interesting too. It conjures up the image of merchants traveling on camel back through the desert. The pulse of the bass sounds like the steps of camels walking. One the instruments used, I am not sure which one, santur or kemancheh, is quite successful in bringing out the authenticity of the music style.

11. Chi passa per'sta strada

This one has the same problem as the Blue Little Flower: it does not sound like anything! It is not Italian, nor is it Iranian, nor Chinese, nor anything else. What is it? Who knows. The ethnicity of world music is tied to their unique musical instruments closely. I remember there was one year the Chinese traditional orchestra had a New Year's Concert at Vienna, and when they played the Radetzky March at the end of the concert, I was quite unimpressed.

12. Desert Capriccio

Tan Dun is similar to the composers I mentioned above like Zhao Jiping. Tan's music is unique and interesting to both western and Chinese audience, because of the same thing: they are both unfamiliar with Tan's music. To the Chinese audience, his music sounds western, but to the Western audience, his music sounds exotic. Nonetheless I still like some of this music, like the Couching Tiger and Hidden Dragon. Some of the melodies are really great. Again this piece makes up for the lack of Uyghur music in this album, since the "desert" in this piece is in the Uyghur region. But the music is not Uyghur at all.

There you have it. That's all for my detailed review of this CD. I would give it a B+ for its efforts and some of the really good tunes. As I am not an expert, I might be wrong in many of the points that I make in this review. So feel free to comment on my review.

Silk Road student.......2007-01-05

Each story is complete within itself and offers insight into the life and hard times. I found the stories very believeable.

Average customer rating:

delightful experience
Excellent Compilation with Marvelous Tracks
Beyond the first Silk Road CD
Excelent!!!
One of the Best !

Silk Road Journeys: Beyond the Horizon

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0007TFHEI
Release Date: 2005-04-05

Tracks:

Mohini (Enchantment)
Oasis
Distant Green Valley
Akhalqalaqi Dance
Echoes Of A Lost City
Mountains Are Far Away
Yanzi (Swallow Song)
Battle Remembered
Summer In The High Grassland
Kor Arab (The Blind Arab)
Shikasta (Minstrel's Song)
Night At The Caravanserai
Gallop Of A Thousand Horses
Tarang (Currents)
Sacred Cloud Music

Amazon.com

It is a perilous proposition when genres clash--and no such collaboration is more potentially fraught than when improvisation-trained folk musicians sit in with Western classical instrumentalists, who are taught to interpret a printed score. The renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma has devoted much of his professional life to such intercultural experiments. But the traditions of nations situated along the ancient Silk Road, which began in the Far East, meandered through Asia and terminated in Europe, are especially dear to him. These lushly arranged pieces range from moody scenic vistas to percussive Turkish hip-shakers and they make very pleasant listening. If they owe more to the European canon than the ethnic sources that inspired them, they are also the result of respectful give-and-take between a team of acknowledged masters. And nobody is more of a team player than Maestro Ma, an impassioned, fearless musical seeker and a gracious, deferential colleague. --Christina Roden

Interview with Yo-Yo Ma
Yo-Yo Ma speaks about his latest adventures involved in this new installment of the ongoing Silk Road Project--an epoch-making collaboration among musical colleagues. Read our special interview to learn more about Ma's musical philosophy.

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

delightful experience.......2007-07-04

this collection of music is quite a cultural experience. I've been hooked since I opened the cover!

Excellent Compilation with Marvelous Tracks.......2007-01-20

I enjoyed this compilation of Silk Road music very much. It delivers a nice, diverse sample of music from the region. My favorite track of the CD is Shikasta, but I like the others as well.

Beyond the first Silk Road CD.......2006-11-23

Yo-Yo Ma went beyond indeed. The first CD with Silk Road ensemble (When Strangers Meet) was inconsistent and somewhat experimental. This one however, is superb. As if in the 5 years the musicians got to know each other (but in truth, only a few musicians are the same). 23 traditional Eastern instruments are listed plus a number of western strings and other percussion was used. So the music on this CD gets my full attention, and as the title of first track suggests, you (can) get enchanted.
The tracks are ordered into three parts: Enchantments (1-5), Origins (6-9) and New Beginnings. First track is strangely familiar (like it was used in some film, but there is no mention of this). In third track this theme gets Chinese interpretation. The style from one track to the other changes, so you can't get bored or overexcited. Second is simply very nice, the fourth great intro of Armenian wind instrument duduk (played by famous Gevorg Dabaghyan), accompanied by percussion mostly, albeit the piece is short. 5 is gentle with cello and xun (Chinese ocarina), 6 orchestral from slow to cool, 7 again gentle with cello and vocal, 8 starts with yearning duduk and turns into orchestral battle, 9 cello and percussion. Track 10 is the only one with prominent vocal (love song) and introduces us to the last part of CD, which are more like jam sessions of all instruments. 11 and 13 are very lively. The last one, track 15, brings us a new interpretation of very ancient Chinese melody played on pipa.

Some would probably say this CD is commercialized. Personally I don't see any wrongdoings in this as long the music stays a high quality one. For the more authentic Silk Road one can always buy The Silk Road: A Musical Caravan.

Excelent!!!.......2006-01-15

One of the best concerts I attended in my life (so far... :-)...)

One of the Best !.......2005-12-06

This album has captured the soul of the Silkroad. There is not a single track in this album I don't like. I've been listening to it over and over and over again since I first got it. I think it's much better than the first one.

Average customer rating:

Be a Marco Polo of music
Northern Exposure
Sparse Great Songs
The Silk Road: A Musical Caravan
Like an Exotic Journey

The Silk Road: A Musical Caravan
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Smithsonian Folkways
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Silk Road Journeys: Beyond the Horizon
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Without You

ASIN: B000063NDQ
Release Date: 2002-04-23

Tracks:

Mahur (Iranian) - Bruno Caillat
Fakhri Havasi (Azeri) - Edalat Nasibov
Balbyraun (Kazakh) - Aygul Ulkenbaeva
Dance Of Tamir Agha (Armenian) - evorg Dabaghian
Dilkash (Azeri) - Elshan Mansurov
Uchun Dur (Uzbek/Tajik) - Jurabek Nabiev
Choban Bayati (Azeri) - Mailik Mansurov
Mokhalef (Iranian) - Hoseyn Qavami
Shushtari (Iranian) - Hasan Kasa'i
Lullaby From Itsuki (Japanese) - Kojiro Umezaki
Ker-Tolgoo (Kyrgyz) - Samara Tokhtakunova
Xiao Yue Er Gao ('High Little Moon') (Chinese) - Wu Man
Jiu Kuaang ('Wine Mad') (Chinese) - Yao Bingyan
Kharagay ('The Pine Tree') (Khakas) - Svetlana Chebodaev
Ilme ('Hook') (Kazakh) - Aygul Ulkenbaeva
The Gallop Of Jonon Khar (Mongolian) - Baterdene
The Nightingale (Kyrgyz) - Ruslan Jumabaev
The River Herlen (Mongolian) - Baterdene
Nava (Uzbek) - Turgun Alimatov
Woy Bala ('Hey, Kid') (Uyghur) - Nur Mahammat Tursun
Meskin II (Uzbek) - Abdurahim Hamidov
Ufar-e Bayat (Tajik/Uzbek/Bukharan Jewish) - Barno Is'hakova
Chabbiyat Tazi Marghul (Uyghur) - Uyghur Muquam Ensemble
Shawm And Percussion Band (Chinese) - Gongxiao Dasha Ensemble

Tracks:

The Nomadic Sound: Jew's Harp Melody (Kazakh) - Edil Huseinov
The Nomadic Sound: Khai (Khakas) - Evgeni Ulugbashev
The Nomadic Sound: Tepen Kok (Kazakh From Mongolia) - Kelek Kumaqay
The Nomadic Sound: Kogmen (Khakas) - Slava Kuchenov
The Nomadic Sound: Excerpt From Alpamish Epic (Uzbek) - Jaule Bakhshi
The Nomadic Sound: Beyish Namasi ('Meoldy Of Paradise') (Qaraqalpak) - Qalbeke Uzaqbergenova
The Nomadic Sound: Terme (Kazakh) - Almas Almatov
The Nomadic Sound: Lament (Turkmen From Iran) - Dordi Torik
The Nomadic Sound: Mashq-e Javanan (Tajik/Uzbek) - Sirajoddin Juraev
The Nomadic Sound: Kuu (Kyrgyz) - Nurlanbek Nishanov
Traditions Of Festivity: Sanam (Uyghur) - Abdurashid Nadirev
Traditions Of Festivity: Charzarb (Tajik) - Abdullah Nariev
Traditions Of Festivity: Mizghan-i Siyah ('Black Eyelashes') (Afghan/Tajik) - Muhammud Rahim Takhary
Traditions Of Festivity: Love Song (Azeri From Iran) - Ibrahim
Traditions Of Festivity: Qara Olu (Kazakh) - Edil Huseinov
Spiritual Music: Kertolghau (Kazakh) - Sayan Aqmoldaev
Spiritual Music: Dargilik (Tajik) - Khodapanah Berdov
Spiritual Music: Madh (Tajik) - T. Soltan Qalbov
Spiritual Music: Zikr (Uyghur) - Naqshbandi Afaqi Brotherhood
Spiritual Music: Kyrgyz Wisdom Song (Kyrgyz) - Akli Sekebaev
Spiritual Music: Allah Madad (Iranian/Afghan) - Abdollah Sarvar Ahmandi
Spiritual Music: Alevi Song (Turkish) - Ashiq Faizullah Chinar
Spiritual Music: Sufi Hymn (Turkish) - Jarrahi Dervishes And Others

Amazon.com

"What if Marco Polo had owned tape recorder?" This intriguing concept is raised in the liner notes to this impressive two-CD set, which wanders along ancient Asian trade routes known as the Silk Road. The first disc, Masters & Traditions, deals with formal styles performed by and for sophisticated connoisseurs. Meanwhile, the music on Minstrels and Lovers is played by amateurs who are part of daily life and thus reach a wider audience. The imaginary caravan passes through Iran, Kazakhstan, China, Uzbekistan, Mongolia, and Afghanistan, encountering nomads, mystics, and bards along the way. The instruments are scratchy, pungent, and/or serene, while the singers weave a potent spell out of a millennium's worth of slow-changing rural and urban vistas. In the opening essay, cellist Yo-Yo Ma, the project's artistic director, pleads for intercultural communication and empathy. This compilation provides an exotic, brave, entertaining first step in that direction. --Christina Roden

Album Description

What if Marco Polo had owned a tape recorder? And what if his epic travels along the Silk Road had taken place not at the end of the 13th century, but at the beginning of the 21st? Far-fetched conjectures to be sure, but our compilation The Silk Road: A Musical Caravan offers a glimpse of the rich musical life that an intrepid and curious traveler like Marco Polo might find in the lands of the Silk Road today.

Customer Reviews:

Be a Marco Polo of music.......2007-05-06

Its rather difficult to review this in the regular like it/don't like it way. This is the endemic music of the people along the silk road the runs across Asia. Some of it sounds very strange compared to Western music, like study for an Anthropology course, while some of it very enjoyable.

Northern Exposure.......2007-03-30

This anthology is an outstanding survey of the northern section of the so-called Silk Road, taking us from Turkey, Azerbaijan,and Iran, through Uzbekistan, southern Siberia, China, and finally to Japan, but not in order, as the CD set is organized instead by category of musical function and the localities seem random. Although there are significant gaps in the styles, and I particularly miss the sweet lyric songs of Kyrgyz women, the powerful mugham voice of Qasimov of Azerbaijan, and more examples of the kylkobyz fiddle of Kzakhstan, the set provides a fine introduction of the musics of inner Asia and particularly the instruments. A glossary of instruments is provided, but unfortunately their images are often lacking. All the examples are short by necessity, when many traditional pieces are far longer in duration. For the uninitiated, it will take repeated listening to distinguish the uniqueness of timbre and rhythm from one land to the other; but this similarity of sounds helps demonstrate the role of the trade routes in sharing instruments and styles, such that the Japanese biwa, the Chinese pipa, and the Arabic oud all are related. If you want to attain some feel for the musics of inner Asia, then certainly these disks will meet the requirement.

Sparse Great Songs.......2007-03-29

Some of the pieces on the first cd are "take away" great.
The secound cd is ...
I enjoy "world culture" music and sound however, the secound cd in this double collection was a monotonous let down.

The Silk Road: A Musical Caravan.......2007-01-03

Thank you for this part of my research on Central Asia.

Like an Exotic Journey.......2005-08-06

This is the ultimate World Music collection. It features authentic sounds from vastly diverse cultures, assembled in such a way that they don't clash, they flow along like a caravan journey. If you're looking for familiar tunes, this isn't for you. But if you'd like to expand your musical horizons, I highly recommend it.

Average customer rating:

Transcendant
Melodic Bliss
I place this album with the best from Vangelis
Kitaro's Silk Road is a Good Choice!!
A Masterpiece

Silk Road 1
Kitaro
Manufacturer: New World Music
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Mandala
The Best of Ten Years (1976-1986)
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Sacred Journey of Ku-Kai, Vol. 2

ASIN: B00006CTFW
Release Date: 2002-07-30

Tracks:

Silk Road (Shichu No Michi)
Bell Tower (Shoro)
Heavenly Father (Tenchi Sohzo Shin)
The Great River (Harukanaru Taiga)
The Great Wall Of China (Chohjo)
Flying Celestial Nymphs (Hiten)
Silk Road Fantasy (Silk Road Genso)
Shimmering Light (Kikari To Kage)
Westbound (Nishi Ni Mukkatte)
Time (Toki No Nagare)
Bodhisattva (Bosatsu)
Everlasting Road (Towa No Michi)

Customer Reviews:

Transcendant.......2006-02-09

I lived in Japan when Silk Roads debuted. I was transfixed by the haunting melodies then and remain so today. This particular work spiritually takes me to another place and another time. I still have the original Japanese vinyl recordings as well as the CD (both volumes). This, to me, is the musical equivalent of a blue rose.

Melodic Bliss.......2005-09-12

Kitaro was the major pioneer of New Age music from the mid '70s and through the '80s, and though widely imitated, no one succeeded in matching his inspired brilliance. Not even Kitaro himself, as his earlier works have a mystery and a magical quality that were to diminish slightly when he left Japan, where he had a home studio which had a dazzling view of Mt. Fuji. In the mid '80s, Kitaro moved to Colorado, and teamed with David Geffen to record some wonderful compositions, but none that compare with the exquisite beauty of albums like "Silk Road."

The tracks on "Silk Road" were culled from the soundtrack of a Japanese documentary series that began in 1980 and ran for 5 years, and are a seamless stream of melody, with a mellow loveliness and a liquid lyrical mood that does not change from track to track. This unchanging aspect of the recording makes it a superb CD for meditation or study, or just to relax with and allow the music flow through one's mind and soul.

Kitaro built his own synthesizer in the '70s, and though he had many devoted fans in America, the recordings they bought were imports, until 1986. His US recordings, starting with "Tenku", often included live musicians, and brought him a Grammy nomination and huge world-wide success, but if you want to hear the "real Kitaro", the music that started a new genre in the music industry, listen to "Silk Road." Also highly recommended are my favorite, "Ki," and a fabulous compilation of his best work, the 2-disc "The Best of Ten Years." Total playing time for "Silk Road" is 42'05.

I place this album with the best from Vangelis.......2003-11-02

although the style are quite different. Each has their own merits. "Silk Road" sounds more Oriental with a hint of western influence. The melody, instruments selection, recording quality are superb! Love this album and Kitaro's 'Kojiki' (translation something like 'Ancient History').

Absolutely recommend this album if you like instrumentals.

Kitaro's Silk Road is a Good Choice!!.......2003-03-10

I obtained the historical video series "The Silk Road" two years ago and I thought the soundtrack music made the programs much more enjoyable. I found out that the music was done by an artist named Kitaro and I vowed to get a copy of the soundtrack. The Silk Road film series and Soundtrack came out in the late 70's or early 80's and I found the music to be very refreshing compared to some of the new, modern New Age music being churned out. If you purchase this CD you will not regret it. Also ,if you can try and see The Silk Road film (try your local library video section) it will enhance your enjoyment of the music.

A Masterpiece.......2003-01-05

This is probably Kitaro's most well know piece and it is one of his best (all his music is so consistently great) Silk Road was my first introduction to Kitaro so it holds a special place. "Flying Celestial Nymphs" is probably my favorite all time Kitaro song. An astonishing song that touches the spirit and soul. To correct what the reviewer from PA said there is NOT a skip or defect on this CD What they are referring to is the end of track 5 "The Great Wall of China" the songs ends very abruptly at seemingly the peak of the song and then it goes immediately into the next track "Flying Celestial Nymphs" This is part of the original concept of Kitaro, it is supposed to end that way and it is how Silk Road was originally first released on album. For some reason the Gramavision CD release which is widely available in the US choose to fade out the ending of the song before the intended ending. This was against Kitaro's wishes. The version of "Great Wall of China" on this release is actually 5-6 seconds longer than the one on the Gramavision release because it now has the full song. So this is definitely the version of Silk Road you want to get. I hope not too many people were dissuaded from getting this because of that review. This is one of the best. Music of life and peace.

Average customer rating:

Loved first one , love this one too .

Silk Road 2
Kitaro
Manufacturer: New World Music
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Silk Road 1
Mandala
Gaia
Sacred Journey of Ku-Kai, Vol. 2
Spiritual Garden

ASIN: B00006CTF5
Release Date: 2002-07-30

Tracks:

Peace
Takla Makan Desert
Eternal Spring
Silver Moon
Magical Sand Dance
Year 40080
Time Travel
Reincarnation
Dawning
Tienshan

Customer Reviews:

Loved first one , love this one too ........2002-11-28

Cann't tell you about recording quality of this edition - I have older one . This is the part 2 CD from " Silk Road " collection . And it stays with the tradition of first album : slow and deep , very relexing mood . If on some of Kitaro albums I have favorite parts and have to put them on "repeat" ," Silk Road " ( 1 and 2 ) I just listen to .

Average customer rating:

Lost Songs of the Silk Road
Opened my eyes again
Seductive and mesmerizing...a welcome escape!

Lost Songs Of The Silk Road
Ghazal
Manufacturer: Shanachie
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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As Night Falls On The Silk Road
The Rain
Moon Rise Over the Silk Road
Night Silence Desert
Without You

ASIN: B000000E4I
Release Date: 1997-09-23

Tracks:

The Saga Of The Rising Sun
Come With Me
You Are My Moon
Safar/Journey

Amazon.com

The word ghazal means a type of Persian (Iranian) poetry and also describes an old style of romantic ballad often sung in India. The classical music traditions of Iran and India both feature complex scales and rhythms that demand a lifetime of study. However, they are highly compatible with each other, and combining them allows for fresh insights and deeper pleasures. Shujaat Hussain Kahn is the son of the legendary sitarist Ustad Vilayat Khan, and his own command of the multistringed instrument is a wondrous thing. He is joined by Iran's Kayhan Kalhor, a master of the kamancheh, a spiked violin with a woodsy tone, and the setar, a small lute thought to be a prototype of the sitar. The brilliant tabla drummer Swapan Chaudhuri rounds out an all-star trio. Together they make exciting, accessible, richly melodic music that will delight listeners of all tastes and backgrounds. --Christina Roden

Customer Reviews:

Lost Songs of the Silk Road.......2007-02-24

It came on time in great conditon. I have listened to it several times.

Opened my eyes again.......2003-11-09

This music openned my eyes again. After hearing part of it on Public Radio while driving on the highway, I had to stop in an Indian music store in Chicago to get it.

Seductive and mesmerizing...a welcome escape!.......1998-10-17

I found that this music grows on you with repeated listening. It ebbs and flows, and before you know it you're transported to another time and place, not readily found in today's world. The fusion of Indian and Persian influences works surprisingly well. The vocal is an enchanting complement to the two exotic instruments. Not to be missed!

Average customer rating:

Sil Road Suite composed by Kitaro
The magical best cd of Kitaro
Magnificent
Superb CD. One of the best ever

Silk Road, Vols. 1 & 2
Kitaro
Manufacturer: Kuck Kuck Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Oasis
An Ancient Journey
Mandala
The Essential Kitaro
Spiritual Garden

ASIN: B000008HDF
Release Date: 1992-11-03

Tracks:

Silk Road (Shichu No Michi)
Bell Tower (Shoro)
Heavenly Father (Tenchi Sohzo Shin)
The Great River (Harukanaru Taiga)
The Great Wall Of China (Chohjo)
Flying Celestial Nymphs (Hiten)
Silk Road Fantasy (Silk Road Genso)
Shimmering Light (Hikari To Kage)
Westbound (Nishi Ni Mukatte)
Time (Toki No Nagare)
Bodhisattva (Bosatsu)
Everlasting Road (Towa No Michi)

Tracks:

Peace (Shizukesa No Naka De)
Takla Makan Desert (Takuramakan Sabaku)
Eternal Spring (Inochi No Izumi)
Silver Moon (Karakhoto No Genso)
Magical Sand Dance (Shimpi Naru Suna No Mai)
Year 40080 (40080 Nen)
Time Travel (Jikukan)
Reincarnation (Saisei)
Dawning (Yoake)
Tienshan (Tenzan)

Customer Reviews:

Sil Road Suite composed by Kitaro.......2005-09-21

The product came in a good packing material without any damage within 7 days as notified by the seller. It was supposed to be a used one, but it did not have any noticable scratches on the CD.
When played, the DC produced beautiful sounds. I am very happy about the purchase. Thanks. I saved over $7 which was 45% savings over a new one. Miki

The magical best cd of Kitaro.......2005-04-04

In this CD Kitaro explodes the magical and misterious ways of the life. Songs like Peace or Bell Tower have the particularity of move our mind to another place.

Magnificent.......2001-11-15

This is simply one of my favorite musical works of all time. The orchestration is magnificent. Something like this could easily have drifted into very cheesy territory indeed, but this is first class all the way. I still only have a vinyl copy and one not so good quality tape. It astounds me that this is not still available! I would buy a cd at a reasonable price (or even not so reasonable) in a heartbeat!

Superb CD. One of the best ever.......1999-08-09

I love this CD. It combines the best of Kitaro's work with a full orchestra. The result is absolutely magnificent.

Average customer rating:

Meditative reflective music
repetitious-repertoire....
Soothing to the soul...
Kayhan Kalhor/Shujaat Husain Khan masters of improvisation
Amazing

As Night Falls On The Silk Road
Ghazal
Manufacturer: Shanachie
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Lost Songs Of The Silk Road
The Rain
Moon Rise Over the Silk Road
Night Silence Desert
Without You

ASIN: B00000AFQ3
Release Date: 1998-09-15

Tracks:

My Eyes, My Heart
Between Dawn And Dawn A New Truth
Snowy Mountains
Traces Of The Beloved

Amazon.com

This is the second release to feature the exceptional collaboration between Persian and Indian musical masters and it is every bit as good. Kayhan Kalhor is a consummate player of the kamancheh (Persian spike fiddle). In Kalhor's hands this instrument has a range of expression from gentle melancholy to fiery passion. Shujaat Hussain Khan is the masterful sitarist of this musical meeting. His pure tone and technique create watery cascades of notes, and at other times, eruptions of bright sparks of sound. Swapan Chaudhuri, tabla virtuoso, provides the rhythmic foundation and deft percussive ornamentation. The four long pieces on this title are rich treasure troves of classical technique and dazzling improvisation. The marvelous interplay between the bowed kamancheh, the plucked sitar, the struck tabla, and the warm vocals, exemplify not only the meeting of the remarkable minds of the musicians, but also the joining of two rich musical traditions finding harmonious common ground. --Jeff Grubb

Customer Reviews:

Meditative reflective music.......2007-03-27

I got this disc on the recomendation and result of reading some of the reviews here, most notably by "peperflower." As a result I was very satisfied and play this disc whenever I need that break from reality to ease into another state of mind;it always works. The colloboration of Persian and Indian music that is meditative is an experience that should be experienced by all world music lovers. The peaceful harmonies are foreign but familiar. If you read the names of the songs you get the picture. The improvisation by the musicians and mesmerizing vocals is perfect music for reflection. The tablas and sitar couple beautifully with the kamancheh(spike fiddle) to create an ancient sound that is timeless. This music takes you on a journey; on a soujourn of the soul and it's inner workings. Somehow peace comes through all the surrounding chaos of our existence when you listen to your heartbeat and the music of Kayhan Kalhor & Shujarat Husain Khan. This is a masterpiece of improvisation that rivlaies the greatest jazz and blues musicians of the western world. Listen to this disc and find your peace. Peace be with you.

repetitious-repertoire...........2005-08-18

I found Ghazal's live recording -The Rain- to be a mesmerizing fusion of Persian music with Indian Raga(5-stars). But I have been disappointed with other recordings that I have sought out,for the simple reason that I find Ghazal's repertoire to be surprisingly limited.This disc for example has only the 3rd track that is "new",the other 3 tracks are variations of what is on the live recording. Same melodic lines with fresh improvised structures.Sure,this is a fine recording with outstanding musicianship and thus will serve to treat the first time listener with a delightful experience. however, Iam sad to say that one only needs to own any one of their recordings and that is all. It is a repetitious-repertoire...on disc,however,this music really lives on the stage,it is a living-tradition that perhaps was never meant to be "recorded".

Soothing to the soul..........2005-07-26

Ghazal keeps a beautiful flow of music floating around your mind.

Kayhan Kalhor/Shujaat Husain Khan masters of improvisation.......2004-09-23

I have got many CDs of Persian music but I consider this one the most beatiful among them.
The sound experience of the players and the mastery of instruments show through the whole album but it's in "Traces of the Beloved" (4th track) that you can find confirmation of that.
If I were in everyone of you fans of persian music, I'd buy this CD with no hesitation at all. It lasts almost 75 minutes and you enjoy every moment.
You can clearly notice how well Kalhor and Husain Khan play their improvisations with one mind and one heart. There are moments in which one player leaves way to the other and viceversa.
Tip: the first time you listen to this CD, don't be envolved in other mansions. Just list to the music and let your mind fly hand in hand with the setar of Sujaat Husain Khan.

Amazing.......2003-02-20

This is one of the most fantastic, relaxing, dreamy CD's you will ever own...I plan on buying the other 2 as soon as possible.
I have a wide range of musical favorites, from Godflesh to old school punk to The Chemical Brothers...Ghazal seems to speak to me for some reason. You can put this CD in and just float through the whole set mesmerized. I have no other way to describe it.
awesome

Average customer rating:

Best of Silk Road is Also Best of Kitaro

Best of Silk Road
Kitaro
Manufacturer: Domo Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

The Best of Ten Years (1976-1986)
Best of Kitaro, Vol. 2
Mandala
Gaia
Dream

ASIN: B00008GRNX
Release Date: 2003-02-25

Tracks:

Theme From Silk Road
Bell Tower
Flying Celestial Nymphs
Mirage
Linden
40800
Takla Makan Desert
Lord Of Wind
Caravansary
Moon-Star
Pray At Xian - (live) / Mercury=20

Amazon.com

In 1980, few people knew about the Japanese synthesizer player named Kitaro. He'd released a few albums in Japan, but Silk Road was the album that put Kitaro on the map. Originally recorded as the soundtrack to a Japanese TV series about the trade route between Europe and China, Kitaro subsequently released it as a double LP. This disc contains some of the best themes from that recording as well as some other songs, including 1996's "Flying Celestial Nymphs" and "Caravansary" featuring Yu-Xiao Guang's delicately expressive lines performed on a native Chinese violin called the huquin. The Best of Silk Road concludes with two new pieces, "Pray at Xian/Mercury," nearly 18 minutes in length. They feature Kitaro on Native flute playing over gentle arpeggiations. Although these pieces do become tiresome in their repetition, the Japanese composer's melodic trade-offs with To-san on Chinese pipa are a serenely austere respite from Kitaro's often overly lush orchestrations. --John Diliberto

Album Description

Best of Silk Road blends Kitaro's influences from traditional Japanese music and the romantic Western tradition with serene and seductive arrangements, gentle melodies and combination of lush, majestic textures. This CD features a previously unreleased version of the `Theme for Silk Road' as well as `Pray at Xian/Mercury', which was recorded live in Xian, China during Kitaro's 2002 Silk Road tour.

Customer Reviews:

Best of Silk Road is Also Best of Kitaro.......2004-01-21

A good album. If you like the theme from The Silk Road, you could also purchase the original video of The Silk Road produced by NHK TV Japan. Kitaro's music is soothing and an excellent accessory to meditation.

Average customer rating:

Fantastic
Butterfly Lovers Concerto

The Butterfly Lovers Concerto

Manufacturer: Naxos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

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The Yellow River Concerto
The Butterfly Lovers
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Eleven Centuries of Traditional Music of China

ASIN: B000260QCO
Release Date: 2004-07-20

Tracks:

The Butterfly Lovers Violin Concerto
A Beloved Rose (Kazakh Folk-Song)
The Half-Moon Climbs (Uygur Folk-Song)
Spinning (Gansu Folk-Song)
All At Work (Great North-West Folk Song)
Sa Li Hong Ba (Uygur Folk-Song)
Lan Hua Hua (Shanxi Folk-Song)
Lift Your Veil (Uygur Folk-Song)
Tulufan (Xinjiang Folk-Song)

Album Description

The Butterfly Lovers Violin Concerto, scored for solo violin and Western orchestra, is one of the best known of all contemporary Chinese compositions. It has become indelibly linked with Takako Nishizaki, whose seventh recording of this hugely popular work features on this disc. Songs and Dances from the Silk Road, by the Slovak-born Peter Breiner, is based on traditional melodies to be heard in the West of China, from where the famous Silk Road takes its course through Central Asia to the Occident. Takako Nishizaki is one of the world's most recorded and appreciated violinists, especially beloved in China and other parts of Southeast Asia through her many popular recordings and personal appearances in concerts and in the media. She also lies at the very heart of Naxos' rich recorded offering of music for the violin.

Customer Reviews:

Fantastic .......2006-08-06

This is a delicate, soothing, mastery of East meeting West. My favorite selection on this CD is "Spinning," which is so very beautiful. I think that anyone would do well to add this to their collection.

Butterfly Lovers Concerto.......2005-10-07

A lovely recoding...not as breathtaking as the live performances I've heard, but divine to be able to hear this piece at will...no ticket required

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