[LESS INFO] 9 VIEWS | ADDED 01:00:00 03/17/10
"Globalization of course acts on tradition," said Mahmudjon Tojibaev in a wide-ranging discussion that followed the recording session for In the Shrine of the Heart. "But a lot of young people are studying at the conservatory [in Tashkent, capital of Uzbekistan] in the traditional singing department. In Communist times, you could count on your fingers the number of people who studied traditional music. Now there's a large contingent, and among them are some fine musicians. If they continue to find inspiration, I firmly believe that our traditions will not die." Generations of Uzbek and Tajik singer-songwriters bequeathed a remarkable legacy of lyrical ballads, devotional songs, and instrumental pieces to the gifted contemporary master-musicians who perform on these tracks. Rooted in the sophisticated urban song traditions of Bukhara, Samarkand, Tashkent, Qoqand, and Khiva, these popular classics come alive in superbly recorded new performances. 15 Tracks, 74 Minutes, 45-page Booklet. Music of Central Asia is a co-production of the Aga Khan Music Initiative in Central Asia, a program of the Aga Khan Trust for Culture, and Smithsonian Folkways Recordings. The aim of the series is to present leading exponents of Central Asia's rich and diverse musical heritage to listeners outside the region.
