Customer Reviews

Silk Road 1

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1 star:		(3)

 

 

This is probably Kitaro's most well know piece and it is one of his best (all his music is so consistently great) Silk Road was my first introduction to Kitaro so it holds a special place. "Flying Celestial Nymphs" is probably my favorite all time Kitaro song. An astonishing song that touches the spirit and soul. To correct what the reviewer from PA said there is NOT a skip or defect on this CD What they are referring to is the end of track 5 "The Great Wall of China" the songs ends very abruptly at seemingly the peak of the song and then it goes immediately into the next track "Flying Celestial Nymphs" This is part of the original concept of Kitaro, it is supposed to end that way and it is how Silk Road was originally first released on album. For some reason the Gramavision CD release which is widely available in the US choose to fade out the ending of the song before the intended ending. This was against Kitaro's wishes. The version of "Great Wall of China" on this release is actually 5-6 seconds longer than the one on the Gramavision release because it now has the full song. So this is definitely the version of Silk Road you want to get. I hope not too many people were dissuaded from getting this because of that review. This is one of the best. Music of life and peace.

Kitaro was the major pioneer of New Age music from the mid '70s and through the '80s, and though widely imitated, no one succeeded in matching his inspired brilliance. Not even Kitaro himself, as his earlier works have a mystery and a magical quality that were to diminish slightly when he left Japan, where he had a home studio which had a dazzling view of Mt. Fuji. In the mid '80s, Kitaro moved to Colorado, and teamed with David Geffen to record some wonderful compositions, but none that compare with the exquisite beauty of albums like "Silk Road."

The tracks on "Silk Road" were culled from the soundtrack of a Japanese documentary series that began in 1980 and ran for 5 years, and are a seamless stream of melody, with a mellow loveliness and a liquid lyrical mood that does not change from track to track. This unchanging aspect of the recording makes it a superb CD for meditation or study, or just to relax with and allow the music flow through one's mind and soul.

Kitaro built his own synthesizer in the '70s, and though he had many devoted fans in America, the recordings they bought were imports, until 1986. His US recordings, starting with "Tenku", often included live musicians, and brought him a Grammy nomination and huge world-wide success, but if you want to hear the "real Kitaro", the music that started a new genre in the music industry, listen to "Silk Road." Also highly recommended are my favorite, "Ki," and a fabulous compilation of his best work, the 2-disc "The Best of Ten Years." Total playing time for "Silk Road" is 42'05.

I obtained the historical video series "The Silk Road" two years ago and I thought the soundtrack music made the programs much more enjoyable. I found out that the music was done by an artist named Kitaro and I vowed to get a copy of the soundtrack. The Silk Road film series and Soundtrack came out in the late 70's or early 80's and I found the music to be very refreshing compared to some of the new, modern New Age music being churned out. If you purchase this CD you will not regret it. Also ,if you can try and see The Silk Road film (try your local library video section) it will enhance your enjoyment of the music.

although the style are quite different. Each has their own merits. "Silk Road" sounds more Oriental with a hint of western influence. The melody, instruments selection, recording quality are superb! Love this album and Kitaro's 'Kojiki' (translation something like 'Ancient History').

Absolutely recommend this album if you like instrumentals.

This is a reissue. I thought with the logo "2o Bit Digitally Remastered" that I would be getting better sound quality. And you do...except...there is a defect on the original tapes on Track Five that now also shows up on each and every disc, or so I was informed by New World Music when I wrote to them about the problem being on my original purchase and then the exchanged copy.

I would like to recommend the music. But, I don't think anyone should buy a disc that has been manufactued with a known defect.
(And since I can still play my old copy without having any skipping, I'm not sure about the explanation I received. My trust level has taken a serious hit here.)

I would still recommend purchase of the Silk Road music, just not this issue.

Another one of my favorite Kitaro CDs . I didn't have any problems with recording quality . But I got it long time ago .Just try to find older edition of this album .
All disc stays on same level of slow and deep , very relexing mood ... just changes the " shades " of it .

When Silk road came on TV I was In High-School. After seeing the first episode I was already fascinated by the music that complimented the amazing photogaphy flawlessly. I had never before heard of Kitaro, but by the time the series finished I owned volumes 1 and 2 (on vinyl Lp's).

Kitaro's work over the years had ups and downs. The entire Silk Road albums (all 4 of them) are among his best music ever. The theme melody is explored in subtle re-interpretations throughout all the albums. The mood changes with the geographical imagery that it is associated with, and does so in a profound and subtle way. It showcases Kitaro's excellent compositional skills.This music is evocative, diverse and soothing. It has none (or very few) moments of sickly sweet new-age overtones that have plagued many of his later work. Instead it is very well tempered throughut. Silk Road 1 features the wonderful title track of the series. But all four albums are up to the same level of musical excellence, yet each has a unique and very different feel.

After over a decade this is one set of Kitaro albums that I still play a lot. The other one is KI. If you only ever plan to get one Kitaro album, Silk Road 1 is probably THE one to get. It is truly beautiful and timeless music.

I bought this for my parents for Christmas who are in their 60s. It was on their list. They love it! They say they like to listen to it in the car. I heard it and thought it was great music, but it is too relaxing for the car as it puts me to sleep.

I lived in Japan when Silk Roads debuted. I was transfixed by the haunting melodies then and remain so today. This particular work spiritually takes me to another place and another time. I still have the original Japanese vinyl recordings as well as the CD (both volumes). This, to me, is the musical equivalent of a blue rose.

This is the album that has launched the composer/performer onto the path of fame and music career for three decades up to the present time, after his early album " Oasis " in 1976, the year this first " Silk Road " album was also released according to some source (?). The compositions partly formed his music to a TV documentary series titled " Silk Road " released in East Asia about that time or later onward. It was described as the first of 4 " Silk Road " series albums, along with the shadowy " Silk Road : Volume 2 ", the sensuous " Tunhuang ", and the melancholy " India ".

The album represents his early effort of combining the Oriental and Western music with a modern instrumentation that was outstandingly accomplished throughout the 12 pieces - very distinguishing. The music comprises a mixture of contrasting characters of light and shade, femininity and masculinity, yin and yan - typical of the Kitaro albums but especially colorful and dualistic here.


The title track ' Silk Road ' is the opening theme song of the Travel Documentary - very classical and enchanting with its singing electronic wind timbre which characterizes the Soul of Kitaro's music.

Track (6) ' Fly Heaven ' ( translated from the original Japanese edition ) stands out as one of his very best creative work - a freestyle melodious air sung with a lovely flute and a second woodwind in harmony, accompanied by two steel-string guitars playing fast and slow rhythms side by side, further embellished with a glistening percussion continuo, all encompassed in an atmospheric ambience - touchingly sweet and sad.

(12) ' Everlasting Road ' is a long expressive air resembling a soaring duet of brass and strings singing along a continuo of soft percussive rhythms - a very soulful ending.

(7) ' Silk Road Fantasy ' has the tune of a romantic Japanese olden song ornamented with a dazzling array of modern timbres and mandolin tremolos - charming and elegant.

(10) ' Flow of Time ' impresses one as a profound ambient Largo sung with a long and pensive trumpet and strings that fade out spectacularly.

(4) ' The Great River ' is a spacious flowing air of strings and flute marked by some seagull calling sounds and watery harp rhythms - very cinematic.

The shorter pieces are characterized by less lyrical, short recurring motifs - chimes and soft percussions in ' Bell Tower ' (2), strings and brass like chantings in ' Westbound ' (9), and various pacing rhythms in ' The Great Wall ' (5) which end abruptly to one's surprise ( in the Japan edition ).

The remaining 3 pieces have much darker, shadowy characters:

(3) ' Creator of Heaven and Earth ' is a formidable piece with a heavy rumbling bass, haunted angelic strings, and menacing signalling tunes.

(8) ' Light and Shadow ' resembles a modern native dance with its primitive drumming rhythms and wild-sounding tones and timbres.

(11) ' Bodhisattva ' is a chillingly raw and quiet piece bordering on the tuneless.


The album propelled a series of dramatic, evocative ' program music ' of Kitaro that would reach a climax in " Kojiki " - a New Age Opera of Japanese Myths (1990).

Unqestionably, " Silk Road Vol.1 " is an epitome of Neoclassical Oriental Music.