Music of Central Asia

The Music of Central Asia


Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, in collaboration with the Aga Khan Music Initiative (a program of the Aga Khan Trust for Culture), is producing a 10-CD/DVD set documenting the music of Central Asia.

Volumes 1-9 of the Music of Central Asia series are currently available for purchase. This ground-breaking, newly recorded, and GRAMMY-nominated series presents authentic musical traditions of Central Asia as they are performed today, featuring some of the region's most outstanding artists. From the nomadic and bardic cultures of the steppes to the classical court traditions of the cities, this series celebrates musicians who display a mastery of older traditions and also embody a contemporary spirit of innovation. Produced in conjunction with the Aga Khan Music Initiative, each release includes an extensive color booklet and comes with a vivid bonus DVD containing a series introduction, ~24-minute film, interactive glossary and map.

(Thanks to Ron Silliman for alerting his blog readers to this.)
The minaret of Jam, Western Afghanistan.