This is just the merest sampling of the huge amount of music available east of NATO territory... I can hardly claim that this is a comprehensive, or even representative, sample of what's available. Nonetheless, these are some of the albums which have leapt out at me over the last few years -- hopefully you will find these records as striking as I have. And keep checking this site for more reviews-- it is sure to expand over time. This is the first page covering the letter "X"...
Min Xiao-Fen "Spring, River, Flower, Moon, Night" (Asphodel, 1997)
A technical tour-de-force by this master of the pipa, a four-stringed Chinese lute. The material is hundreds of years old, and beautifully recorded -- not a string is plucked without being heard, not a note is muffled, and Min's mastery of the instrument is dazzling. I can only imagine what one of her recitals must be like!
Zarbang "Persian And Middle Eastern Percussion" (Arc Music, 2005)
A dazzling live performance, built around a dynamic percussive core, but with melodic embellishment from the Persian santur (a form of dulicmer, played here with amazing dexterity and fluidity) and the even more unusual sound of the Iranian bagpipes known as the ney-anban, which sounds a lot like the odd, primitive bagpipes used in Gallician folk music. The five-member Zarbang ensemble is made up of expatriate Iranian and Afghani virtuosi, living in various, far-flung European countries. Listening to this energetic, compelling concert album, it's clear that fans in Europe have a lot to be thankful for... If you like the Persian classical group, Ghazal, you might also appreciate this group's lively, less stuffy performance style -- there's plenty of authenicity, but also a lively, playful showmanship that should draw you in. Nice!
Asian & Islamic Albums: Compilation Albums
Asian Music Index
World Music Index
