The historic Tilla Kari religious academy, Registan Square, Samarqand
Turkey, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, and Central Asia
This DVD presents the arts and music of the Silk Road in western Asia, where Islam flourished after the 7th century with an artistic renaissance that reflected the beauty of Persian culture. Featuring rare and beautiful Persian classical music from the 6th century, Sufi music from an order of Dervishes founded in the 13th century by the poet and mystic Jalaluddin Rumi, and other selections from historic recordings.
The new companion CD-Rom gives a cultural history of the western Silk Road, beginning with ancient Persia and Zoroastrianism; Sufism and its influences in music and Persian poetry; and Islamic philosophy with its profound insights revealed in the visual arts--with 86 photos.
"A stunning journey through music, art, and poetry from Istanbul to Samarqand." --Wes Blomster, Ph.D., music critic, The Boulder Daily Camera
"The Silk Road: Music, Art, and Poetry from Istanbul to Samarqand" effectively uses the sublime power of Sufi music drawn from rare recordings to evoke the rich spiritual legacy of the western Silk Road lands." --Theodore Levin, Ph.D., Professor of Music, Dartmouth College
"Judith Frey's DVD on the Silk Road brings to life a marvelous artistic combination of visual representations of architectural treasures with rare and wondrous musical selections from a private collection." --Brenda Romero, Ph.D., Professor of Musicology, University of Colorado-Boulder
"From the melodious tones of the camel bells and the haunting sounds of the ney to the geometric perfection of Islamic mosaics, Judith Frey's Silk Road DVD elegantly conveys the sights and sounds of the ancient caravan routes through western Asia. Combining stunning visual images with subtle poems and rhythmic music, Frey explores the history, literature, religions, and artistic traditions of lands associated with the Persian Empire." --Elizabeth Owen, Ph.D., associate professor, Asian Art History, University of Denver
“The DVD is a masterpiece, and will help the western mind understand Islamic culture,” --Eugene J. Kinder, M.D., psychoanalyst, Boulder
The companion CD-Rom:
“The CD-Rom integrates the musical and artistic traditions of the Silk Road into a rich philosophical and historical context that is extremely meaningful--and essential for students.” --Brenda Romero, Ph.D., Professor of Musicology, University of Colorado-Boulder
"The depth of information and thoughtful connections between artistic expressions and cultural and religious values was great." --From Sand to Sea, Cultural Exchange Through Trade Along the Silk Road, Yale, summer institute 2008
Judith Frey traveled to Samarqand and Bukhara in 1999 and began work on The Silk Road: Music, Art, and Poetry from Istanbul to Samarqand, releasing the DVD in 2006. She completed the companion CD-Rom in 2009. She has also produced two multi-media presentations, Rhythms of Africa: Traditional Music and Art South of the Sahara, and The Quest for the Sacred in Traditional Cultures, covering more than a dozen musical and artistic traditions from around the world.Judith Frey has been a guest lecturer at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science (1996); the Denver Art Museum (1997, 2007); LaRoche College in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (1998); Chautauqua, Boulder (1999, 2000); Henderson Museum at the University of Colorado (2000); Arapahoe Community College Distinguished Lecture Series, Denver (2003); the University of Colorado at Boulder (art history, 2003; musicology, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2007); the University of Denver (art history, 2007, 2008); the University of Colorado Center for Asian Studies (seminar for teachers, 2008); Yale University, Council on Middle East Studies (summer institute, 2008).
DVD running time: 33 minutes 20-page booklet includes music and photo identification companion CD-Rom presents a brief history of the Silk Road with 86 photos of art and architecture For complete ordering information, see "how to buy"
