A Masterpiece
J. P. Pascoe | South Burlington, VT United States | 12/27/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I recently heard a track from this CD on WRUV-FM at the University of Vermont. I had to stop everything I was doing and listen in awe. Iranian Kayhan Kalhor is internationally renowned for his magic with the kamancheh (a Persian spiked fiddle). Brooklyn Rider is a string quartet based in New York City but with an international reputation as well.
This collaboration has it's roots in musical friendships formed at Tanglewood in 2000, where musicians had gathered for Yo-Yo Ma's Silk Road Project. A trip to Iran followed in 2004, and then three of the pieces were developed in 2005-2008. Arrangement of the longest piece, "Silent City" (29:10) was commissioned by the Carnegie Hall Corporation.
The result of the musician's efforts is a work of musical beauty that brings together Persian myths and classical traditions with contemporary Western music of the classical form. The musicians are listed as: Kayhan Kalhor - kamancheh, setar; Colin Jacobsen - violin; Jonathan Gandelsman - violin; Nichilas Cords - viola; Eric Jacobsen - cello; Jeff Beecher - bass; Mark Suter - percussion.
Believe me, I wouldn't take the time to write this if I wasn't simply enthralled with this CD.
"
A good one
Kamyar Souri | 05/16/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I believe that this album is great, but don't expect to be impressed first time you hear it. Give it some time...
"Silent city" track is 30 minutes long with a VERY slow way of story telling. follow it with patience, and after 30 minutes, you will find the end of this nice story.
"