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Yo-Yo Ma & The Silk Road Ensemble, “When Strangers Meet”
Yo-Yo Ma, the world acclaimed cellist, put together a crack group of ethnic central asian musicians for this release, looking to recreate, preserve and introduce to a wider audience the plaintive songs and tales of the ancient silk road.
Giving up his cello for the traditional instruments of the steppes, such as the two-stringed, horse hair fiddle, Ma was forced to learn new techniques of playing. Joined by musicians from China, Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Mongolia, the result is an evocative recording that evokes the exuberant intersections of the historic silk road. Hence the title. Jam sessions amongst the musicians also produced some positive results, with Indian tablas, Chinese pipa and erhu joining forces with violin, cello and percussion in the performance of an Italian Renaissance street song !
Largely though it is the ancient songs – drawn from the old caravanessi who used to traverse the silk road – that spark the imagination. The plaintive cries of the lovely singer Khongorzul, matched with Chinese wind instruments such as the sheng, guan, and bawoo, elegantly performed by the musician Wu Tong (more normally known for his Beijing rock group) draw one into the emotion of a 5th century love song – on such journeys, loves were left far behind, with perhaps years going by before unification. Ma however, still uses orchestra to great effect, and in particular the percussion sections in this work. Kettle drums take their place to illustrate the desert storms and lightening strikes, while asian instruments such as the ney flute – performed here by Iranian master Kayhan Kalhor, add a piquant elegance and subtly introduce an ambience that must not on occasions be too far removed from singing and dancing around an ancient caravanssesi’s evening camp fire.
Without doubt this recording contains the musical soul of the silk road, and if you wish to transport yourself to a place far far away, a long time ago, then Ma’s recording is a great collection to have.
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Interesting article! I read about this before. Thanks to author.
Without doubt this recording contains the musical soul of the silk road, and if you wish to transport yourself to a place far far away, a long time ago, then Ma’s recording is a great collection to have.