Here is the unmistakable sound of the Balkans, full of spirit, romance, and life. To an ear unused to regional distinctions, it might seem like the work of a single composer. This is not, obviously, the case, but there is still a commonality that belies the animosities of these tormented lands. The breath-taking landscapes, the rich folk traditions, the festive occasions of peoples' lives, are all reconciled in music.

If only the people of the Balkans, not just the music-makers, would listen to the common threads that are so plainly obvious in their music! I once heard a folk-orchestra in Salt Lake City perform a miraculous concert of Hungarian Gypsy music from Slovakia, under a Japanese conductor. That was just the music, working its magic. This is the aim of this splendid compilation, as well. If only music were enough!

- Andrei Codrescu