I feel that "Melting River" is my most personal work to date. It is the most intimate collaboration, inspired by the choreography of Aszure Barton, the movements of her dancers, the majesty of the Canadian Rockies, and the generous collaborative spirit that flows through The Banff Centre. For a few precious weeks in April-May 2012, all I did was sleep, eat, watch dance rehearsals and make music with the two instruments I had on hand - my dear old viola, made by Alexander Tulchinsky, and a "fadolin" - a 6-string violin I had recently acquired from Eric Aceto. I'd love to hear your thoughts -- find me at http://Ljova.com Enjoy! "The fact is Ljova's highly addictive viola and six-string fiddle music sounds great" --Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times "The music is elegant but lively, pensive yet liquidly kinetic, anchored by looped or circular phrases in the lower registers as bright melodies sail overhead." --Lucid Culture blog Released on the eve of Hurricane Sandy, October 28 2012. THANK YOU: I am most grateful to Aszure Barton for commissioning this work; and to the dancers as well for trusting me to create the strongest work, and for encouraging me with love to make it stronger. To Curtis MacDonald, my co-composer for this project at Banff, who wrote wildly contrasting music for this project, which I hope you'll hear one day. I learned from Curtis every day at Banff, and continue to be inspired by him. To my dear wife, Inna, and our kids, Benjy & Yosi, for tolerating dad being out of town for most of April and May, and for joining me on the last 10 days at Banff. You are my best part, my dearest loves. To Alex Kharlamov & Shahzad Ismaily for being very patient with me through mixing; to Steven Berson for mastering; to Rena Effendi for lending her incredible photography. To my parents, Alexander Zhurbin & Irena Ginzburg-Zhurbin, for everything else, with love. ABOUT THE ALBUM: This album includes a collection of music that Ljova composed as part of a commission by choreographer Aszure Barton for Project XII (conceived and developed at The Banff Centre, in Alberta, Canada). Ljova recorded almost all of the music in The Banff Centre's Hut #2, over the course of several months, alongside watching rehearsals and preparations. With the exception of two chords on a piano, the rest of the music features Ljova performing on his viola, as well as the "fadolin" -- an acoustic 6-string violin/viola/cello hybrid made by Eric Aceto. All the elements of Project XII culminated into the live performance piece, Awáa, choreographed and directed by Aszure Barton. Awáa is a collaborative work created and performed by Aszure Barton & Artists, a collective of visual, sound, and performing artists cohering to evoke the movement-based vision and free spirit of its founder. This work also features original music by the incredible Curtis Macdonald. CREDITS: Music composed & performed & recorded by Ljova, at The Banff Centre, Canada. Additional recording at Ljova's studio in New York. Mixed by Shahzad Ismaily (1, 4, 6) and Alex Kharlamov (2, 3, 5, 7) Mastered by Steven Berson cover photograph by Rena Effendi Project XII was co-commissioned by The CanDance Network Creation Fund, National Arts Centre, Danse Danse, Canada Dance Festival, Le Grand Théâtre de Québec, La danse sur les routes and supported by the Dance Section of the Canada Council for the Arts and The Banff Centre and their supporting Performing Arts Residency program.