Strozzi’s L’Eraclito amoroso (Cantata) Interpretation
Strozzi’s L’Eraclito amoroso immerses the listener into a dramatic recitation full of grief and agony. The textual emphasis of sobs and sighs are brought forth in the musical performance through repetition and descent in tone — “sospir, sospir, sospir.” Throughout the cantata, we hear the melody and rhythm change to suit the text. Although the […]
‘Sayln Ayn Ijaner’ – Sacred
Ode Սայլն այն իջաներ – Sayln Ayn Ijaner – The Chariot was DescendingԳրիգոր Նարեկացի – Grigor Narekatsi, X century – St. Gregory of Narek, X centuryՄշակումը՝ Կոմիտաս Վրդ. – Refined by Komitas VardapetՏաղ Յարութեան – Ode of Resurrection History ‘Sayln Ayn Ijaner’ describes a majestic chariot which descends from the mountain into Jerusalem. The chariot […]
‘Entreald’ – Sacred
Ode Ընտրեալդ յԱստուծոյ – Entreald Astutso – Elect of GodՆերսես Շնորհալի` XII դ. – Nerses Shnorhali XII century – Nerses IV the Gracious, XII centuryՄշակումը՝ Կոմիտաս Վրդ. – Refined by Komitas VardapetՀատված Կոմիտասի պատարագից – Fragment from Komitas’ Divine Liturgy History This ode is sung simultaneously with prayer by St. Gregory of Narek to the […]
‘Amen, Hayr Sourb’ – Sacred
Originally denoted in the Khaz neumatic notation in the 13th century, the melody to this hymn has evolved over centuries. It has several contemporary versions, one of which is arranged by Makar Yekmalyan, found below. Dedicated to The Holy Trinity, this hymn is sung during the Divine Liturgy after The Intercessions and before Ter Voghormea […]
‘Khungi Dzarin’ – Sacred
‘Khungi Dzarin Numan es’ (Խնկի ծառին նման ես) (‘You are like an Incense Tree’) is a sacred song (sharakan) devoted to the Virgin Mary. It is performed during the Feasts of the Virgin Mary, during the Divine Liturgy. The arrangement below is by Krikor Pidejian, intended as a solo. The performance covers the first and […]
‘Lousnakn Anoush’ – Komitas Vardapet
‘Lousnakn Anoush’ (Լուսնակն Անուշ) (‘Sweet is the Moon’) is pastoral song dedicated to the rising of the moon and the author’s longing to walk up the mountains. It is originally a seven stanza song, two of which are performed in the recording below. Arranged for a polyphonic choir by Komitas, this is likely one of […]
‘Havoun, Havoun’ – St. Grigor Narekatsi
‘Havoun, Havoun’ (Հավուն, Հավուն) (aka ‘To the Awakened Fowl’) is an ode composed in the 11th century by St. Grigor Narekatsi, an Armenian monk, lyrical poet and theologian residing in the region of Lake Van. It describes the Resurrection of Christ through allusions to various Biblical scenes. The translation to its words (obtained from a […]
‘New Flower’ – St. Nerses Shnorhali
This sacred song, composed in the 12th century by St. Nerses Shnorhali, is dedicated to the good news of the resurrection of Christ. The translation of the words are as follows: A new flower that shown bright, today from the new grave. Revealed light of resurrection, Good News. In the darkness of the shadow of […]
‘The Sky Has Greyed’ – Komitas
‘The Sky Has Greyed’ (aka ‘Yerkinqn Ampel e’ (Երկինքն Ամպել է)) is a folk song originally arranged by Komitas as a vocal piece. It is a love song describing different scenes of the singer seeing his beloved in the cloudy weather. In the arrangement below, I have maintained the original melody and added an accompanying […]
‘Gorani’ – Medieval Armenian Song
‘Gorani’ is a medieval Armenian love song, centered in the village of Mush. The instrumentation and harmony added to the recording are atypical of the time period, as most instrumentation was limited to minimal percussion and harmonies were generally nonexistent. The rhythm of this song is 5/4, which is common in the Armenian, as well […]
‘Mount Alagyaz’ – Komitas
‘Mount Alagyaz’ is a medley of two folk songs: ‘Alagyaz’ (name of mountain) and ‘Khniki Tsar’ (incense tree). It is a song describing the scenery in the daily village life with the singer’s mother, brother, the mount Alagyaz and the incense tree which grows in front of the singer’s home. Traditionally performed with a choir, […]
‘Let there be Breeze’ – Komitas
‘Let there be Breeze’ is the title to the original songs Hov Lini & Saren Elav (Հով Լինի & Սարեն Ելավ). It is a combination of two songs describing the singer’s wish for there to be breeze in the mountains and for the loved ones to have prosperity. This is a folk song cultivated by […]