ored recordings

nalchik

There is a gracious force /In choirs of living words

Есть сила благодатная / В созвучье слов живых

Mikhail Lermontov, “A Prayer” (1837)

First and foremost, Ored Recordings is based in distant Nalchik––in the mountainous Kabardino-Balkarian Republic. It is very far removed from any traditional centers of the Russian music industry. Secondly, Ored publishes “field recordings of authentic traditional music from the Caucasus, Russia, and the world.” Folk music is obviously very atypical among modern audiences. Ored is far removed in time and space from the mainstream.

Overseeing these archival matters are Bulat Khalilov and Timur Kodzokov, both local residents who find, record, produce, and then publish their ethnographic recordings. Khalilov offers some level-headed commentary:

“People really exoticize these cultures. They think a folk performer is some dude on horseback, speaking with amazing wisdom. In reality that same guy goes to work each day, cooks at home, has a TV and notebook… and that’s all perfectly fine. We’ve never tried to showcase these recordings by saying “the spirit of the forefathers oozes from the songs” or “the music will transport you through time…” No! We stress the fact that anybody can perform folk music.”

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