MUSICAL MERIDIANS OF CENTRAL ASIA

Lecture by Theodore Levin

Navruz (2011, 24’)
The Badakhshan Ensemble : Song and Dance from the Pamir Mountains
Films from Saodat Ismanilova (Ouzbekistan)

Alhambra, Geneva

This lecture looks at the relations between ancient traditions and new creations in the music of central Asia and its neighbouring regions, which share many similarities but also display significant differences. The presentation will be followed by two documentaries filmed in Uzbekistan and Tajikistan by the Uzbek cinematographer Saodat Ismailova.

Theodore Levin visited central Asia for the first time in 1974, and continues to return there regularly. In 1991, he was named professor of music at Dartmouth College. He is currently a researcher at the University of Bishkek in Kyrgyzstan and a consultant of the Aga Khan Music Initiative.