Armenia

The Music of Armenia is a superb, 3 CDs the amazingly diverse music of Armenia. There are chants, folk tunes, instrumental music and rich choral harmonies in a collection that underscores the stunning and far too little acknowledged creative density of Armenian culture.

Rock Aid Armenia, also known in earlier stages as Live Aid Armenia, was a humanitarian effort by the British music industry to raise money to help those affected by the 1988 Armenian earthquake. Initiated by the international charity campaigner Jon Dee, the project comprised a number of singles, compilations and a documentary. A special record label Life-Aid Armenia Records was established for producing and distributing the releases by Rock Aid Armenia.

This recording represents an historic and unique synthesis of the ancient and the contemporary featuring a world premiere recording in the spectacular ambience of the Geghard Monastery in Armenia.
The Orchestra’s Artistic Director and Principal Conductor, American-Armenian conductor Aram Gharabekian, has brought the NCOA into a new era of artistic triumphs and international acclaim since his appointment in 1997. For their outstanding achievements in Armenia and in other parts of the world, Maestro Gharabekian and NCOA have been duly recognized in a proclamation by the United States Congress and televised features on CNN Special and Russian Kultura TV Channel.

The origin of the National Chamber Orchestra of Armenia (NCOA) dates back to the Soviet era. It was founded by the violinist Zareh Sahakiants as the Armenian State Chamber Orchestra in 1961. In 1997 it was merged with the Yerevan Chamber Orchestra to form the new NCOA. As of September 2010 the Principal Conductor and Music Director is Vahan Mardirossian.
In April 1997, Armenia’s Ministry of Culture extended a special invitation to American-Armenian conductor Aram Gharabekian and appointed him as Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of the newly formed National Chamber Orchestra of Armenia. The twenty-five members of the NCOA exemplify the finest chamber music players in Armenia who are all graduates of the Komitas Conservatory in Yerevan.

Great composers of Armenia are reunited under this great CD to capture the essence their country! Great choice and great result! A must have for any people who love Armenia and is beautyful music!

Ohannes Tchekidjian was born in 1929. From 1951 to 1953, he was studying music at "Ecole Normale de Musique" in Paris. In 1961 he finished his post-graduate studies at the Istanbul Conservatory…

Ohannes Tchekidjian was born in 1929. From 1951 to 1953, he was studying music at "Ecole Normale de Musique" in Paris. In 1961 he finished his post-graduate studies at the Istanbul Conservatory…

The CD is comprised of eighteen works, eight by the world-famous Armenian musician Komitas. In addition, works by Robert Petrosian, Makar Ekmalian, Nerses Shnorhali (12th century), Mesrop Mashtots (5th century), Ervand Erkanian, Giovanni Gabrieli (16-17th century), Nikolay Sidelnikov, Arne MellnŠs, and David Haladjian round out the mix of classical and modern composers…

LONDON, Dec. 18— The Soviet-born cellist Mstislav Rostropovich played in a benefit concert for Armenian earthquake victims Saturday night, after postponing a visit to India in order to participate in the event.
''It was very important for me to take part in this concert,'' the 61-year-old musician said before a last-minute rehearsal with the flutist James Galway, the conductor Andre Previn and other musicians who rearranged their schedules and donated time to perform….

The music in this collection reflects the spirit of Armenia through dances and songs that have their origins in scenes from everyday Armenian life. Korganov’s pictorial Bayati is an especially vivid representation, while Kara-Murza’s Pot-pourri sur des airs arméniens is a significant work, combining Armenian folk music with the Western piano tradition. Melikian’s Emeralds is one of his famous cycles of romances, hallmarked by a strong sense of poetic narrative and a vivid emotional expressiveness. This album of Armenian piano discoveries is played by Yulia Ayrapetyan, a specialist in the music of Armenia.