Mountain Musicians
Dr. Debra Jan Bibel | Oakland, CA USA | 06/20/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Long alpine horns, lutes, ocarinas, flutes, jew's harps, upright fiddles: this wide assortment of musical instruments makes Kyrigyzstan unique on the Silk Road. Its smooth musical tone and sweet melodies are also special. Like the group Tengir-Too, the Kamarkan Folk Ensemble are touring musical ambassadors of a nation that became independent after the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991. This recording was made in London in 2001. [Amazon states two discs but it actually is one.] The album includes a booklet with color photographs of the land, its peoples, the musicians, and their instruments. Lyrics are also provided.
The music is varied, only suggested by the various instruments, and listening is a treat. The quality of sound is slightly inferior to the Smithsonian Folkways recording of Tengir-Too, and although the musical selections are similar, the two albums do not overlap."