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Notes from the record label:
Invited to judge a classical piano competition in the Kazakh capital, Astana, music critic Michael Church stumbled on a parallel competition for players on the flute and horse-hair fiddle, and for ballad singers self-accompanied on the lute. Realising that the cultural heritage of this vast – and politically crucial – land was unknown in the West, Church went back to record Kazakh nomad music in both Astana and in the old capital, Almaty, near the border with Kyrgystan. The result is this remarkable and riveting CD.

Until Stalin penned them up in their collective farms and factories, the Kazakhs were a nomadic people. Village shamans cast their spells with music, and travelling bards would deliver ballads and epics, which would function like newspapers. Church’s recordings reflect the vigour of Kazakhstan’s present-day bardic tradition, and the virtuosity of the horse-hard fiddlers. It also reveals a new magic which young musicians are creating with ancient instruments; like the jew’s harp and zither which combine with the richness of Kazakhstan’s vocal music. Each singer has his or her own distinct style and sound, and they all project as though they are calling out to us from across this remote and hitherto under explored region.

Songs of the Steppes, recorded in the winter snows, offers a fascinating and unique musical journey.