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Harrison: The Rosegarden of Light
Toccata

Harrison: The Rosegarden of Light

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Details

Composer
HARRISON, SADIE
Artist
Bishop, Puntos
Format
CD
Label
Toccata
Released
Jun 10, 2016
Catalog #
TOCC0342
UPC
5060113443427

About

This release is a joint project between American string sextet Cuatro Puntos and student ensembles from Afghanistan National Institute of Music (ANIM), opened in Kabul in 2010 after a period of Taliban rule in which instruments were destroyed and musicians were outlawed. The special goal of ANIM is on supporting the most disadvantaged members of Afghan society, many students are orphans and street vendors. Cuatro Puntos is based in Hartford, Connecticut. The ensemble is a non-profit organization centered around global peace and cooperation achieved through the writing, teaching and performance of music across the world. The title work is by composer Sadie Harrison; in recognition of her unique integration of modern composition and traditional Afghan folk music, she was given the honor of being named a Visiting Fellow at Goldsmiths, London. This album is the result of her time there. The Rosegarden of Light alternates between interludes performed by the Ensemble Zohra, the ANIM all-girls ensemble and fantasies on their material performed by Cuatro Puntos. "At a time when we are bombarded every day by images of the world in crisis, The Rosegarden of Light is a joyful celebration of musicians who share a fundamental right to express themselves through the universal language of music." - Blackmore Vale Magazine

REVIEW:

Music can mean many things to different people and to some it can mean everything. Music can represent religious beliefs, create political conversations, and preserve the cultural aspects of a civilization. Now imagine living in a place where music has been heavily censored since the 1970s, a ban on instrumental music wasn’t lifted until 2001, and the first performance of a decades old children’s book moved people to tears because they thought the songs were lost. This is Afghanistan. This is the importance of the “Rosegarden of Light” release.

The liner notes tell of books about Afghan music and its history and a website to view videos of performers. The performances are lively and solid, mostly a mix of Indian, Persian, and Pashtun, with some strongly influenced by western music. The music isn’t the most difficult, but simply having groups like the ANIM Junior Ensemble of Traditional Afghan Instruments playing folk songs and the all-female Ensemble Zohra existing at all is a major accomplishment. The US string sextet Cuantro Puntos does the heavy lifting on the culturally mixed pieces, and the collaborative works turn an already important musical release into something even greater.

-- Fanfare

Tracklist 13 tracks

  1. 1 Arghawan (The Judas Tree) 03:34
    Track
    1
    Title
    Arghawan (The Judas Tree)
    Duration
    03:34
    Composer
    Mohammad Omar
    Ensemble
    ANIM Junior Ensemble of Traditional Instruments
  2. 2 Allah Hu (This is God) 05:09
    Track
    2
    Title
    Allah Hu (This is God)
    Duration
    05:09
    Composer
    Sadie Harrison
    Performer
    Kevin Bishop
  3. 3 I. Interlude 1, Bahar-e Nastaran-bihag 02:39
    Track
    3
    Title
    I. Interlude 1, Bahar-e Nastaran-bihag
    Duration
    02:39
    Composer
    Sadie Harrison
    Ensemble
    Cuatro Puntos, Ensemble Zohra
  4. 4 II. Movement 1, Bahar-e Nastaran-bihag 03:25
    Track
    4
    Title
    II. Movement 1, Bahar-e Nastaran-bihag
    Duration
    03:25
    Composer
    Sadie Harrison
    Ensemble
    Cuatro Puntos, Ensemble Zohra
  5. 5 III. Interlude 2, Shlrin dokhtar-e maldar 03:58
    Track
    5
    Title
    III. Interlude 2, Shlrin dokhtar-e maldar
    Duration
    03:58
    Composer
    Sadie Harrison
    Ensemble
    Cuatro Puntos, Ensemble Zohra
  6. 6 IV. Movement 2, ShIrin dokhtar-e maldar 05:42
    Track
    6
    Title
    IV. Movement 2, ShIrin dokhtar-e maldar
    Duration
    05:42
    Composer
    Sadie Harrison
    Ensemble
    Cuatro Puntos, Ensemble Zohra
  7. 7 V. Interlude 3, Watan Jan 02:41
    Track
    7
    Title
    V. Interlude 3, Watan Jan
    Duration
    02:41
    Composer
    Sadie Harrison
    Ensemble
    Cuatro Puntos, Ensemble Zohra
  8. 8 VI. Movement 3, Watan Jan 06:41
    Track
    8
    Title
    VI. Movement 3, Watan Jan
    Duration
    06:41
    Composer
    Sadie Harrison
    Ensemble
    Cuatro Puntos, Ensemble Zohra
  9. 9 Qataghani Folksong 04:09
    Track
    9
    Title
    Qataghani Folksong
    Duration
    04:09
    Composer
    Traditional
    Ensemble
    ANIM Junior Ensemble of Traditional Instruments
  10. 10 Ay Shakhe Gul (Oh Flower Branch) (Arr. K. Bishop for String Ensemble) 03:25
    Track
    10
    Title
    Ay Shakhe Gul (Oh Flower Branch) (Arr. K. Bishop for String Ensemble)
    Duration
    03:25
    Composer
    Salim Ustad Sarmast
    Ensemble
    Cuatro Puntos
  11. 11 Logari Folksong 02:18
    Track
    11
    Title
    Logari Folksong
    Duration
    02:18
    Composer
    Traditional
    Ensemble
    ANIM Junior Ensemble of Traditional Instruments
  12. 12 Pesta Farosh (The Pistachio Seller) (Arr. K. Bishop for String Ensemble) 03:42
    Track
    12
    Title
    Pesta Farosh (The Pistachio Seller) (Arr. K. Bishop for String Ensemble)
    Duration
    03:42
    Composer
    Traditional
    Ensemble
    Cuatro Puntos
  13. 13 Ghunchai-e-Sorkh (Red Rosebud) 03:15
    Track
    13
    Title
    Ghunchai-e-Sorkh (Red Rosebud)
    Duration
    03:15
    Composer
    Traditional
    Ensemble
    ANIM Junior Ensemble of Traditional Instruments