Neyshabur, one of the oldest cities on the Silk Road, was a major cultural crossroads that boasted one of the ancient world’s first universities. It produced many of Iran’s greatest poets, including Omar Khayyam and At’ar, and was also known for its turquoise.

In Blue as the Turquoise Night of Neyshabur, Kayhan Kalhor combines Western strings and Indian tabla [TAH blah] (set of drums used in North Indian classical music) with his core ensemble of kemancheh [ke MAHN cheh] (spike fiddle), santur [SAN toor] (hammer dulcimer), and ney [nay] (end-blown bamboo flute).

The piece is an arabesque-like elaboration of an Iranian melodic formula called chahargah. According to Kalhor, chahargah means literally "fourth time," and its mood reflects the quiet and introspective atmosphere of the fourth part of the old Iranian daily cycle, from late night until just before dawn.