The ancient Silk Road was not one, but a series of trade routes, whose nexus was the desert oasis of Kashgar, in Xin Jiang, northwest China. A marketplace, rest stop and meeting place, Kashgar was an important gateway into China, through which passed the trade goods and rich cultural influences of India, Persia, Central Asia, and the Mediterranean. The Silk Road, as an ancient symbol of cultural exchange, has inspired Orchid Ensemble to explore the wealth of these traditional musics, and to create this collection of traditional works and new compositions expressing the rhythms, modes and character of these exotic lands.
Released in 2000, the Orchid Ensemble's debut CD Heartland features original compositions by Vancouver composers Mark Armanini and Jin Zhang, alongside fresh arrangements of traditional Chinese music of diverse styles.
