Kyrgyz
Ensemble Tengir-Too in
Showcase at
11th Annual World Music Expo Festival
Ensemble Promoted
and Supported by Aga Khan Music Initiative in Central Asia
 28
October 2005, Newcastle, United Kingdom - Tengir-Too,
the Kyrgyz ensemble supported by the Aga Khan Music Initiative
in Central Asia, performed to an enthusiastic audience in
an overflowing hall at the World Music Expo (WOMEX), the
world’s premier fair dedicated exclusively to the
promotion of traditional classic, roots, folk and ethnic
music. The WOMEX jury had voted to showcase the Ensemble
at the 11th edition of the Festival.
Tengir-Too,
a “new ensemble that plays old music”, takes
its name from the mountain range that towers over the high
alpine passes linking Kyrgyzstan and China -- better known
by its Chinese name, Tien Shan or “Celestial Mountains”.
Founded
and directed by Nurlanbek Nyshanov, a gifted composer, arranger,
and multi-instrumentalist, Tengir-Too provides a living
laboratory for Nurlanbek’s efforts to find a voice
for Kyrgyz music in the contemporary cultural marketplace.
Tengir-Too
is one of the ensembles supported and promoted by the Aga
Khan Music Initiative in Central Asia (AKMICA) within the
framework of its Music Touring Programme. AKMICA launched
the touring programme in 2002 with the goal of acquainting
Western audiences with the diversity and richness of Central
Asia’s musical traditions. From 2002-2004, the programme
organised a series of panoramic concert presentations designed
to present a musical overview of the region. In 2005, the
touring programme’s strategy shifted toward a focus
on presenting individual musical ensembles in longer performances
designed to highlight the depth of each tradition. Summer
and fall 2005 mark the third year of the programme.
The
11th Edition of WOMEX took place 26th-30th October 2005,
in Newcastle, UK, at The Sage Gateshead. The World Music
Expo WOMEX is the world’s premier networking point
exclusively dedicated to world, roots, folk, ethnic, traditional,
local and diaspora music of all kinds. Ten WOMEX editions
have been held: Berlin (1994), Brussels (1995), Marseilles
(1997), Stockholm (1998), Berlin (1999, 2000), Rotterdam
(2001), Essen (2002), Sevilla (2003) and Essen (2004).
For
a virtual showcase and video of the performance, please
visit the
Mondomix site.
The
UK's Independent newspaper also profiled Tengir-Too
in their weekly arts supplement.
For
more information on WOMEX, visit www.womex.com
For information about the AKMICA 2005 touring, please see:
2005 Autumn Tour
Return to AKMICA page.
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