Silk Road Journeys

Ma, Yo-Yo & Silk Road Ensemble
Sony Classical
World | Apr 2002

Reviews

Jacki-O
Reviewed 2002-08-13
Yo-Yo Ma & the Silk Road Ensemble: Silk Road Journey Label: Sony Classical
This is a wonderful classical music/traditional Asian music CD, inspired by the cultures along the Silk Road. Yo-Yo Ma does not disappoint – he captures the essence of this journey. A lot of love went into this CD – and you can tell. Try: 1,2,3,5,8,9,11.
1. Beautiful Mongolian vocal “long song”. Absolutely stunning.
2. Begins like the soundtrack to a Chinese martial arts epic. Mongolian vocals interspersed; slow and sparse – but beautifully composed & layered.
3. Starts w/ flowing traditional melodies, then breaks into a vigorous male vocal – I can hear the horses charging over the plains…
4. Starts w/ energetic traditional melodies, slows down, then builds up again
5. A long piece w/ beautifully flowing melodies inspired by nature scenes
6. Lovely piano & cello piece – melodic & has a folksy feel
7. Playful piano flourishes
8. Persian melodies w/ a mix of instrumentation – really nice & haunting flute (ney) w/ strings (santur)
9. A pretty far-out piece – a lot of musicians/instruments involved, contributing to an unusual composition that doesn’t really recall Middle Eastern work. However, this piece really illustrates Yo-Yo Ma’s virtuosity on the solo cello
10. Slow and haunting, for the most part, then breaks into more recognizable Middle Eastern melodies/rhythms about halfway through
11. Italian melody using Asian/string/tablas instrumentation
12. Traditional Chinese melodies – from the soundtrack of Crouching Tiger

Recent airplay

Avaz-E Dashti, Blue Little Flower
MelangeJun 16, 2016
Habil-Sayagy
Clean Copper RadioNov 01, 2015
Legend of Herlen, Desert Capriccio
Clean Copper RadioSep 17, 2015
Habil-Sayagy
Music CasseroleSep 11, 2010
Habil-Sayagy
Finneman's MarketNov 02, 2006
Desert Capriccio
Mixed Up ClassOct 10, 2005

Charting

2002-08-26 — 2002-10-28 Reggae/World
Week EndingAirplays
Sep 29 1
Sep 15 2
Sep 8 3

Track listing

1. Mongolian Love Song
2. Legend of Herlen
3. Blue Little Flower
4. Mido Mountain
5. Moon Over Guan Mountains
6. Five Finnish Folksongs
7. Joiku
8. Avaz-E Dashti
9. Habil-Sayagy
10. Blue As The Turquoise Night
11. Chi Passa Per'sta Strada
12. Desert Capriccio