Central Asian Music at the Fez Festival The three ensembles from Central Asia featured at this year’s festival each represent a distinct element of the region’s rich and diverse musical heritage. In the afternoon concert, Ensemble Tengir-Too surveys the expressive culture of the nomadic Kyrgyz, whose instrumental music, songs, and much-celebrated epic tradition reflect a legacy of intimate contact with both the natural and supernatural world. Among Central Asian nomads, spirituality is expressed as much in ancient pre-Islamic forms – shamanism, animism, wisdom and morality tales – as in Muslim monotheism. Offerings to spirits, blessings, praise-songs, and rituals of healing and purification are core elements of nomadic expressive culture.