By Eileen Conrad

The Silk Road Ensemble, 17 remarkable musicians who have traveled the globe bringing Eastern and Western music together with inspiring results, invites staff and faculty to a free, open rehearsal Wednesday, March 7, at 8 p.m. in the McCune Conference Room in the Interdisciplinary Humanities Center (HSSB 6020). Seating, which is limited, is on a first-come, first-served basis.

Rooted in the musical traditions of eight nations, the group will retrace ancient paths of cultural exchange and explore some of today’s most exciting musical crossroads as they prepare for their upcoming Arts and Lectures performances on Friday, March 9, and Saturday, March 10, at the Arlington Theatre. Under the artistic direction of cellist Yo-Yo Ma, the musicians will play a combination of familiar and exotic instruments.

Among the works to be performed by Ma and the ensemble in concert are two versions of the “Silk Road Suite;” “Silent City” (commemorating a Kurdish city destroyed by Saddam Hussein); Osvaldo Golijov’s “From Air to Air,” (Andalusia’s mixture of Arab, Jewish, and Christian folk melodies); Jeeyoung Kim’s “Ancient Bell” (scored for violin, cello, Persian bamboo flute, Korean drum, and a recording of an 8th-century Korean bell); and classical music from Azerbaijan, performed by vocalist Alim Qasimov, kemancheh (fiddle) player Rauf Islamov, and tar (lute ) player Ali Asgar Mammadov.

The distinguished cellist and the Silk Road Ensemble are currently in residence at UCSB.

Founded by Ma, the Silk Road Project connects artists and audiences around the world through performances, residency programs, and other cultural encounters. Ma said he formed the project to “plant the seeds of new artistic and cultural growth, and to celebrate living traditions and musical voices throughout the world.”

One of the most important surviving features of the old Silk Road is the variety of music performed, on instruments old and new, indigenous and imported. This living musical heritage allows audiences to experience a link to thousands of years of trade and exchange among those who traveled the Silk Road. It is also symbolized in the University Art Museum’s current exhibition of instruments from the Eichheim Collection, which continues until April 8.