Smithsonian Folk Life Festival Silk Road

A distribution of: CentralAsia-L - Announcement List for Central Asian
Studies


EVENT- 2002 Smithsonian Folklife Festival: The Silk Road

This year's Folklife Festival, sponsored by the Smithsonian Institution in
Washington, DC, is devoted to the Silk Road.  It opened on the National Mall
on June 26 and continues through July 7.  "The Silk Road: Connecting
Cultures, Creating Trust," features a living exhibition of the music,
crafts, foods and narrative traditions of the countries linked by a  network
trade routes, extending from Japan to Italy.  More than 350 musicians,
dancers, craftsmen, storytellers, and cooks from 20 countries are
participating in the Festival, including Turkey, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan,
Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, India and China.  Among the
traditional crafts demonstrated on the Festival grounds are pottery, jewelry
making, paper making, calligraphy, weaving textiles and rugs, and puppetry.
The 2002 Festival has been produced in collaboration with the Silk Road
Project, Inc.  Normally, Smithsonian Folklife Festival attracts over one
million visitors.  Additional information about the Festival is found at the
following Web sites:

http://www.folklife.si.edu/CFCH/festival2002.htm

http://www.silkroadproject.org

Here I would like to focus on those aspects of the Smithsonian Festival that
bring together the music, arts and culture of the Turkic World.  Of the
several large stages, where musicians and dancers perform, one is named
"Istanbul Crossroads" and next to it stands a model of St. Sophia
(Ayasofya).  Another stage is called "Samarkand Square." The Aitys Stage is
devoted to the Nomadic traditions of Central Asia and features an authentic
Yurt (traditional tent) from Kazakhstan.  Musicians playing on authentic
instruments and dancers in traditional costumes perform to the delight of
the spectators: Bezmara playing traditional Ottoman music (Turkey); Sufi
music and dance by Alevi Semah of Hubyar (Turkey); Sabjilar: Epics and
Throat Singing from Khakasia (Russia); Muras: Virtuosos from Kyrgyzstan;
Aitys: Nomadic Tournament of Minstrels and Bards (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,
Turkmenistan, Qaraqalpakistan); and Muqam: Uyghur Courtly Music (China).

The Smithsonian has issued a set of 2 CDs, featuring samples of the music
heard during the festival: "The Silk Road: A Musical Caravan." It can be
ordered online and a description of the CDs is found at:

http://www.folkways.si.edu/catalog/40438.htm

The Smithsonian Folkways Recordings also has other CDs devoted to Central
Asian music.

Normally, one does not  imagine such an impressive festival like the Silk
Road connecting diverse cultures of Asia taking place in the heart of
Washington, DC.  This is a city where crucial (and sometimes unpopular)
political decisions are made.  Yet, this week it is also hosting a series of
events that bring together the arts and culture of the Turkic World.

Inci Bowman
Washington, DC