Different traditions, and why don't we know anything?
Asia Music
Various
Celestial Harmonies through Larrikin Records
Available on CD
Reviewed by Mina O'Shea
After passing through the hands of many people who felt they couldn't review it because they "don't know anything about Asian music", this CD ended up with me. I don't know anything about Asian music, but I was emboldened by the theory that any creative work must be able to be experienced and judged by anyone, whether or not they have studied its history.
To test the theory, I took the discs with me to a child-minding job, hoping three bright minds under the age of 12 might help me write this review. After hearing the first track one said that he'd heard "that sort of thing before" and asked could we put Madness on instead. Another said it sounded like farting.
I remembered that before we studied cubism at high school I had thought that I hated modern art. With anything foreign to us — visual, verbal or musical — a little bit of knowledge can go a long way. After much fiddling, I removed from the CD case the enclosed 16-page booklet (of all the nice things which come in boxes, I am convinced CDs have been designed to dare you to try to get the goodies out).
The beautiful cover image by Nancy Hennings reveals a list of what sounds like a liquorice all-sorts bag of Asian music: from "A Traditional Composition for Gya Ling and Dung Chen" to "Man Land Struggle" and "Improvisation #2". I was eager to hear whether the producers were either very ambitions or culturally careless. After reading the booklet and listening to the discs again, it was obvious that they are well aware that the geographical area "Asia" encompasses an enormous wealth of diverse peoples and cultures, and accordingly, music.
This collection focuses on the music which followed the spread of Buddhism from India through Tibet, China and Japan. A brief history of the music of those four countries is given as well as an explanation of the instruments and intentions of each track.
Over 31 tracks, the musicians produce sounds as varied as those reminiscent of large animals giving birth, and angels alighting on lotus leaves. Some pieces are arresting and rhythmic, others peaceful and reflective. Since much of the music is complexly linked to religious and philosophical life, sitting by the fire alone is the best way to appreciate it.
After large doses of Paul Kelly and Michelle Shocked, it is refreshing to experience music of different origins yet not so entirely different from much modern Western music. The organic and mood-creating style of some tracks has parallels with jazz. The poetry of good music retains its power, whatever cultural language it speaks.
The album's booklet quotes the Grove Dictionary of Music and er Western consideration of all the world's music has seemed to reinforce the ancient theory that music does, in fact, have powers that transcend its purely sonic surface, and may even be part of a larger, logical system, be it cultural or cosmic".
Asia Music is an excellent introduction to some of the musical traditions of the region and an inspiration to learn more and listen more.