Little known Kyrgyzstan, a former Soviet republic in Central Asia, is experiencing the same cultural dilemma as its sister states from the U.S.S.R. Should musicians recover traditions that had been fading fast under Communism (with a historical diligence not unlike the early music movement in the West), or should they try to reanimate their cultural traditions for a new era? The ensemble Tengir-Too faces both directions, though their inclinations are toward preservation. On Mountain Music Tengir-Too performs many ruminative melodies on age-old string instruments and pipes along with jauntier tones that express a new spirit. Also included is a documentary DVD on Kyrgyzstani music.

-David Luhrssen