Recorded and released in 1987, the album was a joint project between the Paul Winter Consort and the Dmitri Pokrovsky Ensemble from Russia, then the Soviet Union.

The Paul Winter Consort first met the Pokrovsky Ensemble during a tour of the Soviet Union in September 1986 when they performed together during a concert at Moscow University.

After obtaining permission from the Russian music label Melodiya, the Consort began their collaboration with the Ensemble.

It received good reviews and was praised by other musicians, notably Pete Seeger and Dave Brubeck.

[4] Russ Landau, a former bassist for the Paul Winter Consort, was asked to write music for the American TV show Survivor.