Aga Khan Master Musicians – Nowruz (Smithsonian Folkways, 2023)
The Aga Khan Master Musicians, a captivating musical collective of six talented members, released their superb debut album, Nowruz, on October 13th, 2023, through Smithsonian Folkways.
This twelve-track LP is a splendid fusion of contemporary sounds infused with the richness of age-old musical traditions. Furthermore, the origin of Nowruz springs from the diverse and winding musical journeys of the Master Musicians, with their roots extending from the Middle East, Central Asia, and China. These musical paths converged in a Swiss recording studio, where this extraordinary album took shape.
Nowruz is a testament to the musicians’ unrestrained creative exploration. Remarkably, the album’s name, “Nowruz,” pays homage to the Persian New Year and signifies the revival and continuation of cherished traditions upheld by the Aga Khan Master Musicians.
Crafted under the umbrella of the Aga Khan Music Programme in 2013, the Aga Khan Master Musicians seamlessly blend time, geography, and diverse artistic styles. This harmonious mix is a mesmerizing fusion of East and West, bridging the past and present, while effortlessly traversing various musical genres, including folk, jazz, Western and non-Western classical traditions.
The creative process of Aga Khan Master Musicians highlights their openness and democratic approach. Each member contributes their unique compositions, often featuring their favorite instruments, which are thoughtfully arranged collaboratively. These arrangements evolve through live performances, embracing spontaneity and improvisation.
Nowruz presents a range of stellar ensemble pieces, solos, and duets, each spotlighting the extraordinary talents of individual musicians. Within this creative framework, the group’s instrumental ensemble is truly exceptional, featuring an eclectic array of instruments, from the pipa, kanun, dutar, frame drum, viola d’amore, and saxophone to the innovative duclar, a hybrid device that combines the clarinet and duduk.
Feras Charestan, a virtuoso on the kanun, demonstrates his skill in both classical orchestral music and accompanying traditional Syrian muwashshah singers. Similarly, Wu Man, the renowned pipa master, gracefully transitions between canonical solo pipa pieces and contemporary compositions. Meanwhile, Abbos Kosimov, an expert in rhythm, weaves his frame drum mastery across diverse musical genres.
The instruments in the ensemble reflect an ancient musical lineage that stretches back to the ancient Silk Road, influencing an array of instruments like lutes, viols, and zithers. Notably, even the ubiquitous saxophone, a more recent addition, finds its place through the fusion of jazz and local maqam music in Damascus.
The Chinese pipa, with its roots in Central Asia, resonates with the dutar, masterfully played by Sirojiddin Juraev. Likewise, the viola d’amore, with its associations with Italian Baroque music, likely traces its ancestry to the Middle Eastern rabab brought to medieval Andalusia by Arab conquerors. Tunisian violinist Jasser Haj Youssef’s playing is a harmonious mix of Baroque music and Arab maqam, creating a unique and enchanting soundscape.
Furthermore, while the Aga Khan Master Musicians’ distinctive instrument ensemble sets their contemporary music apart, their cosmopolitan approach to music-making is gaining recognition far and wide. Younger musicians find inspiration in their work, and the Aga Khan Music Programme utilizes their music for cultural development initiatives. Additionally, Aga Khan Master Musicians members are not only exceptional performers but also dedicated educators, leading workshops and sharing their musical wisdom on a global scale.
Buy Nowruz.
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.