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On the Road to Dunhuang: Music from the Dunhuang Caves, the Ottoman Empire, and Medieval Spain
Founded and co-directed by Tomoko Sugawara and August Denhard, the Eurasia Consort brings together two specialists in the ancient musical traditions of East Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. Through their research, teaching, and performances, they seek a common understanding of the world’s great music traditions along the ancient Silk Road.
The Silk Road was an interlocking trade route that connected to the Far East, Central Asia, the Middle East, North Africa and Europe. For about 1,000 years it was a conduit not only for trade, but for religions, ideas, innovations, and music.
During the Tang Dynasty, the Chinese court loved foreign music, in particular Sogdian music and dance. Sogdians were merchants who controlled trade on the Silk road. From their homeland north of Iran they had set up trading colonies in China. Their masculine dance with high jumps was known as “the Sogdian whirl.” Its music was played by small ensembles comprised of harp, lute. flute and drums. These are shown on many sixth-century Sogdian sarcophagi, and wall paintings, in China.
Tang Dynasty music manuscripts have survived in Japan and China. It is from the first millennium. By comparison, the oldest Middle Eastern music is relatively recent (the 13th century), and so is the Ottoman repertoire.
The concert imagines sounds of the ancient Silk Road, taking the listener from the caves at Dunhuang, continuing through the Middle East, and arriving in Europe. Musical instruments such as various versions of the ones being played today – harp, lutes, flutes and percussion – no doubt made the journey as well.
The Eurasia Consort:
Tomoko Sugawara: Ancient Harp, Kugo
August Denhard: Medieval Lute
Program
Talk “Tang Dynasty Court Music”
Tang Dynasty Music:
Ruy Niang 如意娘
Sui Guzi 水鼓子 (kugo solo)
Quing Bei Yue 傾杯楽
Ottoman Music:
Nikrȋz Peşrev Ali Ufki Bey (1610-75)
Mȃhȗr Peşrev Gazi Giray Han (1551-1607)
Medieval French and Spanish Music:
Santa Maria, strela do dia Alfonzo X El Sabio (1221-84)
Stella Splendens Llibre Vermell, 14th Century