Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Gomidas Vardabed.

Yesterday when I was driving home after a long day, Obama's press conference was on NPR. After it was over, they switched to classical music as usual.

It was the 'Taller than a poplar tree' by Gomidas performed by the Armenian Philharmonic. What a pure music it was! (whole album)

We may have a banditocracy on our hands and breakdown of law and order in Armenia but we are still a great nation. For such a small nation we have remarkable input for the humanity.

11 comments:

Ani said...

It really is beautiful, isn't it? It's like a balm for the world.

Ankakh_Hayastan said...

What is surprising is tuning to Armenian music on an American radio station. I've come across it quite a few times; but it has never been Aram Khatchadourian.

Anonymous said...

The singer is Isabel Bayrakdarian accompanied by the Armenian Philharmonic. This CD "Gomidas Songs" was nominated for a Grammy this year as "Best Classical Vocal Performance"!! Even though it did not win, still a huge accomplishment.

The whole recording is out of this world.It's being played on many North American radio stations and it has truly put Gomidas on the map of the North American public. Check it out here:

http://nonesuch.com/albums/gomidas-songs

and God Bless Armenia!

Ankakh_Hayastan said...

Anonymous, thank you for the information.

Ani said...

In case you missed it, or anybody else wants it, I posted this on Khosq a while ago--it's got both a link to an audio interview and a nice article from the New York Times.

http://khosq.com/en-us/article/2008/12/04/
songs_of_gomidas_the_grammy_nominated_album

Armen Filadelfiatsi said...

On the CD cover, why is she wearing a "traditional Armenian costume" in a distinctly non-traditional way?

Ani said...

Why not?

Armen Filadelfiatsi said...

Why not "Why?"?

Ani said...

Why not "why not?" Anyway, it's a modern realization and orchestration of the music, so why not a modern adaptation of the costume? It's not like she's posing with a feathery fan and a boa constrictor...

Armen Filadelfiatsi said...

If it is a modern interpretation then OK, but I'm not sure that it is. There were a few Kronos Quartet-ish riffs that I noticed in the online samples, but everything else sounds pretty down-home to me.

Ani said...

Album credits:

Photography by Michael Wilson
Hair and makeup by David Goveia
Traditional Armenian costume worn by Isabel Bayrakdarian graciously provided by Hamazkayin Toronto
Design by John Heiden

All songs by Gomidas Vardabet; arranged and orchestrated by Serouj Kradjian.
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I think, Armen, you just like to stare at women's pictures for hours on end--just an observation...