RELEASED: September 9th 2016
TRACKS: 24
TOTAL LENGTH: 00:59:24
FORMAT: 320 kbps MP3
CATEGORIES: Inspired Music
GENRE: World/International, Soundtrack, Instrumental

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THE CONFERENCE OF THE BIRDS is the original soundtrack CD by Randy Armstrong for the Theater and Dance production by Academy Award Winning Playwright and Actor, Jean-Claude Carriere and celebrated Theater Director, Peter Brooke. Premiering in San Jose, CA in September 2016 at the Mexican Heritage Plaza Auditorium, the CD features music and soundscapes composed for 11 international dance traditions. THE CONFERENCE OF THE BIRDS was written by 12th Sufi poet, Farid al-Din Attar. Baha'is will be familiar with this work through the mystical writing of Baha'u'llah, THE SEVEN VALLEYS. This CD is an international musical smorgasbord of sound and instrumental colors!

"An incredible music score that captures the vibrant spirit of 11 different cultures - yet with a common thread that connects them all. Randy has a mastery over the genre of World Music." - Antara Bhardwaj, Director of Dance & Music for The Conference of the Birds

On September 9 - 11, 2016, the Theater and Dance Production of THE CONFERENCE OF THE BIRDS premiered in San Jose, California at the Mexican Heritage Plaza Auditorium to enthusiastic and appreciative audiences. The new production presented the timeless play by Academy Award Winning Playwright and Actor, Jean-Claude Carriere and celebrated Theater Director, Peter Brook as envisioned by Vinita Belani, EnActe Arts & Usha Srinivasan, Sangam Arts. Over 50 actors & dancers ages 4 to 84 where on stage with eleven international dance traditions representing the vision of the Sufi poem, THE CONFERENCE OF THE BIRDS by Farid ud-Din Attar.

The Conference of the Birds by Farid ud-Din Attar
Playwright Adaptation by Jean Claude-Carriere & Peter Brook
Original Score & Soundtrack Recorded at Beauty Hill Recording Studio, Barrington, NH 03825 USA
Produced & Engineered by Randy Armstrong
Executive Producers: Vinita Belani - EnActe Arts & Usha Srinivasan - Sangam Arts
Director of Theater - Vinita Belani
Director of Dance and Music - Antara Bhardwaj

RANDY ARMSTRONG - Composer, Acoustic, Classical, Electric & Synth Guitars, 6-String Bass, Keyboards, Drum Set, Sitar, Tabla, Tanpura/Tamboura, Swarmandal Zither, Gungroo Bells, Chimes, Andean Charango, Andean Panpipes, Bomba Drum, Persian Santon, Darbuka, Oud, Daff, Riq, Tambourine, Zils, Egyptian tabla, Tar, Native American Frame Drums, Lakota Flutes, Chinese Gu-Zheng, Gongs, Japanese Koto, Shakuhachi, Chinese Bamboo Flutes, Xylophones, Djembe, Dunun, Sangban, Kenkeni, Atoke Bell, Cowbell, Brazilian Caxixi, Axatse Shakers, Cameroonian & Thai Shakers, Samoan Slit Drum, Ganza, Maracas, Egg Shakers, Puerto Rican Cuatro, Nature Sounds, Brazilian Bird Whistles, Nigerian Nut Shakers, Chajchas, Ipu Heke, Hawaiian Slide Guitar, Slack-Key Guitar, Ukelele, Conch Shell, Ocean Drum, Hand Claps, Sound Effects & Synth Programming

THE MUSICIANS:
Volker Nahrmann - Upright & Electric Bass, Dilruba, Cello, Keyboards
Marty Quinn - Tabla
Ken LaRoche - Concert Flute, Indian Bamboo Flutes, Mbira
Cynthia Chatis - Concert & Alto Flute, Vocals
Brett DesChenes - Trumpet
Antara Bhardwaj - Vocals
Raghav Bhat - Carnatic Violin
Vidyha Bhat - Vocals
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Opening night speech and narrative presented by Usha Srinivasan:

"Over 800 years ago, in a land of Persia, lived the son of a wealthy chemist. He had received excellent education in many fields including theology and practiced the profession of his father. Over the years, he served large numbers of customers who came to him seeking cures for their ills and confided in him their deepest sorrows and greatest fears. This had a profound impact on the man - he gave up his profession and traveled far and wide across Asia, from India to Arabia and Turkistan. Along the way he met many scholars and mystics. He returned home an enlightened man and went on to become one of the greatest Sufi thinkers and poets of all time. His name was Farid ud-Din Attar. Indeed, Attar dandled a young Rumi on his knees and given him the book Asrar Nama - which greatly influenced Rumi's spiritual development. Attar's most famous work is Mantiq al tayr - The Conference of the Birds. This 4500 line poem tells the universal story of the soul's search for truth. It has stood the test of time and transcended geographical and cultural boundaries. In 1972, Peter Brook & Jean-Claude Carriere traveled across Sub-Saharan Africa with a troupe of 20 actors that included a young Helen Mirren. They used the parables in the poem to stage plays in villages. The result of this 8500 mile journey was the play, The Conference of the Birds.

Today, we stand before you humbly to present an interpretation of the play that is a result of a different, yet significant journey. One that began over 2 years ago and brought together artists from many different cultures and walks of life - united by a mission to create a work of art that not only entertains but also educates and elevates.

This is a complex, multi-layered play. There is something in this for everyone. Some of you may find resonance in the Sufi philosophy that underlies it. Others may be drawn to the music and dance. It is our fervent hope that all of you discover today the breathtaking beauty of the cultures that call our great nation home. We may not all be birds of the same feather. But if we flock together, we can soar!"
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©2016 UMP RECORDS, a division of Unu Mondo Productions
P.O. Box 128, Dover, New Hampshire 03821 USA
All Songs Composed, Performed, Recorded & Published by Randy Armstrong
Except The Flying Birds by Randy Armstrong & Ken LaRoche
Beauty Hill Recording Studio - Barrington, NH 03825 USA
©2016 - Published by Crimson Ark Music, BMI - All Rights Reserved.
For Information: randyarmstrong.com