Armenia : The Gurdjieff Folk Instruments Ensemble | Tigran Hamasyan | Nara Noïan, produced by Cobie Ivens
I– Music of Georges I. Gurdjieff. (20:07 min)
Performed by Levon Eskenian & The Gurdjieff Folk Instruments Ensemble. A fascinating and highly engaging project that returns the music of Gurdjieff (ca. 1866-1949) to its ethnic sources of inspiration. Until now, Gurdjieff’s compositions have been studied in the West largely through the piano transcriptions of Thomas de Hartmann. The Armenian composer Levon Eskenian now goes beyond the printed notes and investigates the musical traditions Gurdjieff encountered during his travels, and recasts the compositions from this perspective. Eskenian draws attention to the pieces’ roots in Armenian, Greek, Arabic, Kurdish, Assyrian, Persian, and Caucasian folk and spiritual music. With the help of several leading Armenian musicians, Eskenian founded the Gurdjieff Folk Instruments Ensemble in 2008, with which he has now recorded a remarkable album.
CD. Music of Georges I. Gurdjieff – Levon Eskenian, The Gurdjieff Folk Instruments Ensemble. LABEL: ECM Records (2011), code: ECM2236. VIDEO
II–
Tigran Hamasyan. (21:00 min)
The two most famous artists of Armenian descent, Charles Aznavour and Cher, “Westernized” their Armenian names to avoid alienating the general public. The young pianist Tigran Hamasyan, however, is sticking with his birth name. He therefore doesn’t appeal to a wide audience. His music is perhaps too layered and dreamy for that, and he sings in Armenian. The album contains a mix of styles, including jazz, jazz fusion, progressive rock, and Armenian folk.
CD. Shadow theatre – Tigran Hamasyan.
LABEL: Verve Records (2013), code: 3742644. VIDEO
III– Nara Noïan. (18:18 min)
Nara Noïan (stage name), born Anna-Naïra Pavlovna Mnoian on January 2, 1971, in Yerevan, Armenia. In June 2008, the album Cristal was released, featuring a song Nara dedicated to the late photographer Patrick De Spiegelaere. Known for her generosity and the humanitarian messages she conveyed in her songs, Nara was appointed ambassador for the 112 Foundation, for which she composed the official anthem with lyrics by Jacques Mercier, making her the voice of an educational Europe focused on children. The CD’s mascot is none other than “Le Chat” (The Cat), created by Belgian cartoonist Philippe Geluck.
CD. Cristal – Nara Noïan.
LABEL: AMG (2008), code: 138. VIDEO
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