Soul Strings

American-based concert violinist Elmira Darvarova teams up for this album with world-renowned masters of the Sarod - brothers Amaan Ali Khan and Ayaan Ali Khan - who represent the seventh generation of a musical lineage known as the Senia Bangash School. The concept of this collaboration (precipitated by a live performance at NYC's Symphony Space) is to preserve the essence of both Indian and Western traditions so that they are able to partake of each other without artistic compromise, engaging and celebrating both the shared and discrete musical "DNA" of both traditions. The music, composed by Amjad Ali Khan, father of Amaan and Ayaan, as well as disciples of the elder Khan, is based on traditional Indian ragas. The album also includes "Rock Ethic" by Norman Zocher and Mimi Rabson - a solo violin composition based on a different cross-fertilization - inspired by both Bach and Led Zeppelin. All tracks are world premiere recordings. Former concertmaster at NYC's Met Opera, Ms. Darvarova became the first woman in the organization's history to attain that post.