Advertisement
This project is vastly larger than anything I have done before, having taken over a year to record and finalize.
I had a huge amount of help from my amazing engineer Jim Helman, who has recorded all of my solo CDs since 2000 (and who, incidentally, also records Suhaila’s CDs and writes music for her).
For this project, I hauled out my usual vast array of traditional instruments, but also added a crucial new component in MIDI (acronym for Musical Instrument Digital Interface). This wonderful computer hardware/software interfaces with synthesizers and can replicate sounds to an astonishing level of accuracy.
The orchestral music was created using a MIDI software program called Garritan Personal Orchestra, which, as the name implies, contains hundreds of samples and sounds of the modern symphony orchestra, allowing one to play out parts for violins, cellos, horns, oboes, etc., on a keyboard, and layer them to create full symphonic sounds.
So, I was able to create complete symphonic sections and then alternate (and sometimes blend) them with “real” instruments to create the overall effect.
A complete list of the traditional instruments I played on the recording, in addition to MIDI keyboards (deep breath): Turkish lauta; doumbek; frame drums; baglama saz; davul; Finnish kantele; Ukranian kobza; orchestral chimes; goat hooves; divan saz; metal darbukka; Turkish tambur; zils; Egyptian ney; Syrian buzuq and rababa; medieval psaltery; Persian santur, zarb, sehtar, tar, and daff; Indian tamboura and deff; orchestral cymbals.
Whew!
In addition, I brought in a crew of amazing guest musicians to play the things that I don’t (yes, there are still a few!):
Ross Daly: www.rossdalymusic.com
Ross is an amazing musician, an Irishman who now lives on Crete, and is recognized as perhaps the greatest player of the lyra of Crete (a bowed instrument) performing today. His playing is breathtaking, haunting, and moving. He records regularly, tours the world, and has long been a musical hero of mine, so I am beyond honored to have him featured on this CD.
Kitka: www.kitka.org
A magnificent and internationally-acclaimed women’s vocal group, specializing in Balkan and Eastern European repertoire. I was privileged to play on their next recording (due out in 2007), and they returned the favor by singing a choral section for one of the orchestral pieces.
Shira Kammen: www.shirakammen.com
Shira is a long-time friend, regarded as one of the best players of early bowed string instruments in the genre. She usually guests on my recordings and this time was no different.
You can read about more of the guest artists at their sites:
George Chittenden: www.edessamusic.com/bio/George.htm
Diana Rowan: www.sirenharp.com
Eliyahu Sills: www.eliyahusills.com
Also, Bon Singer and Lily Storm (Balkan voices – both former members of Kitka, Bon the former director), Javad Butah (Indian Tabla – an amazing player! We performed together in Shuvani, and now work together in our new group, Alixir), Steve Oda (sarod – has studied with the master Ali Akbar Khan), and Jim Helman (orchestral percussion, in addition to his engineering)
The diversity and variety on this recording is greater than on any of my previous CDs, and for me, that’s saying something!
Combine that with the amazing talents of the many dancers involved, and we should have quite a show!
The CD will be for sale at both shows as well, with artwork designed by Tempest.
I had a huge amount of help from my amazing engineer Jim Helman, who has recorded all of my solo CDs since 2000 (and who, incidentally, also records Suhaila’s CDs and writes music for her).
For this project, I hauled out my usual vast array of traditional instruments, but also added a crucial new component in MIDI (acronym for Musical Instrument Digital Interface). This wonderful computer hardware/software interfaces with synthesizers and can replicate sounds to an astonishing level of accuracy.
The orchestral music was created using a MIDI software program called Garritan Personal Orchestra, which, as the name implies, contains hundreds of samples and sounds of the modern symphony orchestra, allowing one to play out parts for violins, cellos, horns, oboes, etc., on a keyboard, and layer them to create full symphonic sounds.
So, I was able to create complete symphonic sections and then alternate (and sometimes blend) them with “real” instruments to create the overall effect.
A complete list of the traditional instruments I played on the recording, in addition to MIDI keyboards (deep breath): Turkish lauta; doumbek; frame drums; baglama saz; davul; Finnish kantele; Ukranian kobza; orchestral chimes; goat hooves; divan saz; metal darbukka; Turkish tambur; zils; Egyptian ney; Syrian buzuq and rababa; medieval psaltery; Persian santur, zarb, sehtar, tar, and daff; Indian tamboura and deff; orchestral cymbals.
Whew!
In addition, I brought in a crew of amazing guest musicians to play the things that I don’t (yes, there are still a few!):
Ross Daly: www.rossdalymusic.com
Ross is an amazing musician, an Irishman who now lives on Crete, and is recognized as perhaps the greatest player of the lyra of Crete (a bowed instrument) performing today. His playing is breathtaking, haunting, and moving. He records regularly, tours the world, and has long been a musical hero of mine, so I am beyond honored to have him featured on this CD.
Kitka: www.kitka.org
A magnificent and internationally-acclaimed women’s vocal group, specializing in Balkan and Eastern European repertoire. I was privileged to play on their next recording (due out in 2007), and they returned the favor by singing a choral section for one of the orchestral pieces.
Shira Kammen: www.shirakammen.com
Shira is a long-time friend, regarded as one of the best players of early bowed string instruments in the genre. She usually guests on my recordings and this time was no different.
You can read about more of the guest artists at their sites:
George Chittenden: www.edessamusic.com/bio/George.htm
Diana Rowan: www.sirenharp.com
Eliyahu Sills: www.eliyahusills.com
Also, Bon Singer and Lily Storm (Balkan voices – both former members of Kitka, Bon the former director), Javad Butah (Indian Tabla – an amazing player! We performed together in Shuvani, and now work together in our new group, Alixir), Steve Oda (sarod – has studied with the master Ali Akbar Khan), and Jim Helman (orchestral percussion, in addition to his engineering)
The diversity and variety on this recording is greater than on any of my previous CDs, and for me, that’s saying something!
Combine that with the amazing talents of the many dancers involved, and we should have quite a show!
The CD will be for sale at both shows as well, with artwork designed by Tempest.
posted by:
|
SF Bay Area
|
Advertisement
Advertisement
