Aleksey Igudesman: Asia & More

• Traditional: Duniye Ay – Oh this World
• Traditional: Spring Snow
• Traditional: Sari Gelin
• Igudesman, Aleksey: Hear no Evil
• Igudesman, Aleksey: Under the Rising Sun
• Igudesman, Aleksey: Namaste Sarahswati
• Traditional: Los Dos Phillipinos
• Igudesman, Aleksey: Chilekli Devekushu
• Igudesman, Aleksey: Three monks have no water to drink
• Rentaro, Taki: The Castle Variations

Is there no limit to Aleksey lgudesman's creative ability on the violin? This is his fourth book of violin duets in a series inspired by world music traditions. After the inviting and frequently visited genres of celtic, klezmer and latin music, lgudesman takes us to the music of Asia - a less obvious destination for string players. His journey spans the continent, from Turkey and Azerbaijan through India to Japan, although he spends most time exploring the music of the Far East. (…) As a publication it is a beautiful product, with a fascinating collage-style cover and the highest quality paper and typesetting, with the music thoughtfully arranged and laid out so that one of the players can always turn the page. For our further pleasure and education there is a short, entertaining introduction to each piece. lgudesman injects playfulness at every turn, making this a delight for advanced players and professionals either to read through or perform, adding spice to any recital. Music Teacher Magazine 9/2012

Where in the world is Aleksey Igudesman? This time it’s Asia (& More!), bringing us his latest collection of musical gems. Igudesman is a formidable violinist, a brilliant comedian, and composer/arranger of uncanny versatility. No matter which genre of music he draws us into, he always manages to capture the essence of the musical language and does so in his uniquely clever and joyful way. I always eagerly await Igudesman’s latest contributions to the repertoire, and Asia & More will surely hold a regular spot on my music stand, both in my living room and in concert halls for years to come. Joshua Bell

Mais où est encore passé Aleksey Igudesman? Cette fois, c’est en Asie, d’où il ramène une nouvelle collection de pépites musicales. Igudesman est un violoniste formidable, un brillant comédien et un compositeur et arrangeur d’une étonnante polyvalence. Quel que soit le style de musique dans lequel il nous entraîne, il réussit toujours à en capter l’essence, avec une intelligence et une jubilation qui ne sont qu’à lui. J’attends toujours avec impatience sa dernière contribution au répertoire. Asia & More reviendra sûrement régulièrement sur mon pupitre dans les années à venir, dans mon salon comme dans les salles de concert. Joshua Bell

Is Aleksey Igudesman the world's funniest violinist? His chutzpah is matched both by his formidable violin technique and his flair for pastiche - witness his variations on "I Will Survive", performed with his duo partner Hyung-ki Joo, which so far has amassed more than five million views on YouTube. (…) Some pieces are traditional Asian tunes, but most are made up by Igudesman, who admits in his introduction: 'The inspirations for this book were manifold and few things in it are truly authentic.' (…) The design of the book, with humorous pictures of the composer in various poses, makes for an irresistible addition to the Igudesman canon. The collection offers some terrific showpieces, an abundance of imaginative textures, intricate rhythmic demands and arresting harmonies for violin duet. It is for competent and advanced students who will enjoy stretching their technique, their world-music repertoire and their sense of the absurd. The Strad 6/2012