exotic

The cimbalom – a Hungarian concert dulcimer – is not an instrument that features prominently in most royalty-free music libraries, which is precisely what makes Mysterious String Quintet so distinctive. The instrument’s metallic, resonant quality gives the piece an exotic character that immediately suggests the Eastern European and Middle Eastern musical traditions the piece draws from, whilst two violins, viola, and cello provide the sophisticated Western orchestral framework that disciplines and structures the whole ensemble. The piece was inspired partly by the original Prince of Persia game theme and the Zoltar theme from Big – a combination that tells you something interesting about its character: sophisticated, slightly otherworldly, and quietly thrilling.