Nauryz with Roksonaki: Music from Kazakhstan

In celebration of the Nauryz (Nowriz), the Central Asian Spring Festival, the Wang Center presents an unparalleled opportunity to learn about Central Asian culture and music directly from Kazakhstan's most talented avant-garde artists. A smash hit at the 2002 Smithsonian Folklife Festival, Roksonaki pioneered the creation of a unique sound that integrates ancient Kazakh instrumentation with contemporary rock and jazz using motifs drawn from Eurasia's indigenous religious traditions. Followed by discussion with artists and anthropologist Helen Faller.

A program of the Central Asian Cultural Exchange, with collaboration from the Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the United States of America. Supported by Air Astana, The Kazakh-American Business Association, Turkish Airways and the participating institutions.
Please call (631) 632-4400 or e-mail wangcenter@stonybrook.edu to reserve your tickets.
Tickets: $10.00 for students & seniors; $15.00 general admission; $25.00 V.I.P.
"Roksonaki may be the most interesting avant-garde band to come out of Central Asia since the Soviet Union's collapse in 1991. Bringing the 13th century into dialogue with the 21st, their unique sound fluently and joyfully combines elements of ancient nomadic Kazak traditions–reed flutes and throat-singing–with contemporary rock and jazz. Roksonaki are musically fluid and as at home playing rock and roll as they are improvising new classical motifs with Yo-Yo Ma."–Helen M. Faller, Ph.D., Cultural Anthropologist, Specialist in Central Eurasian Arts Exchange