In September, the Silk Road Project continued its exploration of relationships between musical tradition and innovation, commissioning eight new compositions. We were honored to have eight composers - Christopher Adler, Gabriela Lena Frank, Osvaldo Golijov, Kayhan Kalhor, Jeeyojng Kim, Angel Lam, Dmitri Yanov-Yanovsky, and Evan Ziporyn - accept the Project's invitation to participate. As the rehearsals began, we discovered an extraordinary range of expressive creativity in the form of eight unique interpretations, each a "story" written for a diverse combination of instruments.

Many of the prices were performed as written, while some gathered players along the way. Empty Mountain, Spirit Rain, written by Angel Lam, features the marimba and the haunting sounds of the shakuhachi. A lovely, soulful piece, the composition is rooted in her reflections on the death of her grandmother when she was five. The music captures and conveys the essence of expectation; it is both poignant and important.

Osvaldo Golijov chose to recreate his much-acclaimed Ayre. With input from all of the workshop participants, the resulting arrangement, entitled Air to Air, incorporated nearly every available instrument, including kemanchh, pipa, and Galician bagpipe (and instrument new to the Project's repertoire) in addition to percussion, strings, and audiotape. Here, "composition" was both verb and noun, presenting the musicians a rare experience as they took an active, collaborative role in the invention process.

Composers' creative energies can be sparked by an infinite number of sources - a work of art, a personal experience, the uniquely expressive sound of a particular instrument. The environment that supports innovation at the Silk Road Project is one that values generosity, openness and curiosity about others, about their music, perspectives and ideas. Percussionist and composer Evan Ziporyn, a great advocate of the Balinese gamelan, shared his interest and expertise in this instrument ensemble. His new composition Sulvasutra, written for tabla, pipa, and string quartet, was inspired by an ancient Sanskrit treatise.

After a week of intense rehearsal and premiere performances at Zankel Hall in New York City, we are delighted to report that all eight compositions will be added to the Silk Road Ensemble repertoire. The Ensemble and I are deeply grateful to each of these talented composers and are eager to begin introducing audiences to their works in Chicago and on the West Coast this spring.

Yo-Yo Ma
Artistic Director