Various Artists - Bardic Divas - Import CD+DVD

Credits:

Various Artists

Description:

Folkways' "Central Asia Series" is back with a bang! Women's voices blooming in the unexplored land of music! As we announced last week, Rice Records will begin distributing the world's most extensive catalog of folk music under the Smithsonian Folkways label in 2012. We have decided to add one more important title to the series of Central Asian music to be presented as the first release from Rice Records. The word "bardic" in the title means "minstrel. Bards played a major role in the music of Central Asia, and the music of nomads with their traditional stringed instruments, such as the dhombra and the dotard, and their traditional songs, is one of the core elements of the musical culture of the region. This album focuses on female singers who have passed on the music orally handed down by the Central Asian minstrels to the present, and at the same time, it has been edited to serve as a comprehensive overview of the vast traditional music of Central Asia. From Azerbaijan, which borders Turkey to the west, to Kazakhstan across the Caspian Sea, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, which border the Aral Sea and were centers of an ancient culture called "Khorasım," and Kazakhstan, which borders China, The album features 13 female artists from Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan, all of which are adjacent to China. Among them are Khalfa, sung by three cute young women from Uzbekistan; Mugam, sung by Azerbaijani singer Fargana Gasmov; and Jirau, a voice-crushing song by Kazakhstani singer Ulzan Baibushinova (pictured on the cover). The book also introduces the various styles of singing in the region, such as Zhyrau, sung by Kazakhstani singer Ulzan Baibushinova, whose voice is crushed in the cover photo. 　The accompanying DVD includes talks (with English subtitles) and performances by the singers featured in the book. The DVD also includes a documentary film that is well worth watching, featuring the rich nature of Central Asia and religious ceremonies such as weddings. Of course, the 48-page full-color booklet is filled with detailed explanations and beautiful photographs. The 48-page full-color booklet is filled with detailed explanations and beautiful photographs, bringing the unknown music of Central Asia much closer to the viewer. Japanese commentary and obi included. (From the manufacturer's information)