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Mother of Light: Armenian Hymns & Chants in Praise of Mary / Bayrakdarian
Delos

Mother of Light: Armenian Hymns & Chants in Praise of Mary / Bayrakdarian

$18.99

Details

Composer
AREVELTSI KHORENATSI TBIR
Artist
Bayrakdarian, Aznavoorian, Coro Vox Aeterna, Hamre
Format
CD
Label
Delos
Released
Oct 14, 2016
Catalog #
DE 3521
UPC
013491352121

About

Soprano Isabel Bayrakdarian is the originator for this project which was her fulfilment of the promise she made a couple of years ago in prayers offered to save her mother’s life when she committed to produce a collection of hymns and chants written in praise of the Virgin Mary. She has brought together 18 of these that amazingly cover a period ranging from a composer who died only 30 years ago back to one who died well over 1500 years ago! Of course it is almost impossible (I say almost because I don’t know) to be sure that anything written that long ago would sound as it is interpreted here but suffice it to say that those about which we can be more certain (13th-17th century) are not so very different in their sound world to those written much nearer our time. They are all connected by a sound that is intoxicatingly ethereal. The occasional use of a cello or percussion accompaniment works very well but it is the unaccompanied voices that are so wonderfully evocative as well as incredibly restful, just the thing to effect a detox for the mind after a stressful day. Isabel Bayrakdarian is the key to this for her voice is an extraordinary instrument that is crystal clear with pinsharp diction and I say this despite the fact that I know no Armenian once I located the place in the text, which is not just given in English but is transliterated into Latin characters, I could follow the words so clearly an Armenian speaker would have no difficulty in doing so. Her accompanying singers, whether the vocal group Coro Vox Aeterna, her two sisters or the other two sopranos, give great support while the cellist, Ani Aznavoorian, also of Armenian origin, has a wonderfully rich tone which so perfectly complements the voices and her brother provides percussive support using instruments that are traditionally used in Armenian church services adds yet another layer to the proceedings when called for.

It is an interesting fact that hymns and chants that in several instances go back so long into what can truly be called ‘ancient history’ are the mainstays of today’s Armenian Orthodox church worship for I certainly know of no such parallels in other strands of Christianity and it shows the strength of undiluted tradition. I wouldn’t try to pick out any of these mesmerising items out for singular praise as they are all equally magnificent in their affecting power.

Anyone who enjoys the experience of the voice as instrument cannot fail to find this issue a fascinating and captivating listen. If you find the other-worldly sounds of Russian or Bulgarian Orthodox Church choirs with their rich basses addictive then the correspondingly high voices of these Armenian voices will weave their magic just as powerfully translating into a heady brew that will keep you spellbound.

– MusicWeb International (Steve Arloff)

Tracklist 18 tracks

  1. 1 Pourvarov Tapor (Censer procession) 00:13
    Track
    1
    Title
    Pourvarov Tapor (Censer procession)
    Duration
    00:13
    Composer
    na Not Applicable
    Performer
    Ishkhan Bayrakdarian
  2. 2 Zartir Nazeli (Arise, Graceful One) (arr. S. Kradjian for voice and cello) 04:27
    Track
    2
    Title
    Zartir Nazeli (Arise, Graceful One) (arr. S. Kradjian for voice and cello)
    Duration
    04:27
    Composer
    Baghdasar Tbir
    Performer
    Isabel Bayrakdarian, Ani Aznavoorian
  3. 3 Khngi Dzarin (Frankincense Tree) (arr. S. Kradjian for voice and choir) 03:52
    Track
    3
    Title
    Khngi Dzarin (Frankincense Tree) (arr. S. Kradjian for voice and choir)
    Duration
    03:52
    Composer
    Anonymous
    Performer
    Isabel Bayrakdarian
    Ensemble
    Coro Vox Aeterna
    Conductor
    Anna Hamre
  4. 4 Mayr Yev Gouys (Immaculate Mother) (arr. S. Kradjian for voice, choir and cello) 02:58
    Track
    4
    Title
    Mayr Yev Gouys (Immaculate Mother) (arr. S. Kradjian for voice, choir and cello)
    Duration
    02:58
    Composer
    Ara Bartevian
    Performer
    Isabel Bayrakdarian, Ani Aznavoorian
    Ensemble
    Coro Vox Aeterna
    Conductor
    Anna Hamre
  5. 5 Hamemad Kez (Incomparable One) (arr. S. Kradjian for voice and cello) 04:57
    Track
    5
    Title
    Hamemad Kez (Incomparable One) (arr. S. Kradjian for voice and cello)
    Duration
    04:57
    Composer
    Hampartsoum Limondjian
    Performer
    Isabel Bayrakdarian, Ani Aznavoorian
  6. 6 Varaneem (Burdened with Sins) (arr. S. Kradjian for voice and choir) 04:35
    Track
    6
    Title
    Varaneem (Burdened with Sins) (arr. S. Kradjian for voice and choir)
    Duration
    04:35
    Composer
    Anonymous
    Performer
    Isabel Bayrakdarian
    Ensemble
    Coro Vox Aeterna
    Conductor
    Anna Hamre
  7. 7 Avedis Kez Mariyam (Good Tidings to You, Mary) (arr. S. Kradjian for voice, choir and percussion) 04:34
    Track
    7
    Title
    Avedis Kez Mariyam (Good Tidings to You, Mary) (arr. S. Kradjian for voice, choir and percussion)
    Duration
    04:34
    Composer
    Anonymous
    Performer
    Isabel Bayrakdarian, Ishkhan Bayrakdarian
    Ensemble
    Coro Vox Aeterna
    Conductor
    Anna Hamre
  8. 8 Aghers ar Diramayr (Plea to Mother of God) (arr. S. Kradjian for 3 voices, cello and percussion) 05:06
    Track
    8
    Title
    Aghers ar Diramayr (Plea to Mother of God) (arr. S. Kradjian for 3 voices, cello and percussion)
    Duration
    05:06
    Composer
    Grigor Narekatsi
    Performer
    Isabel Bayrakdarian, Siroun Kojakian, Marie-Jean Zaatar, Ani Aznavoorian, Ishkhan Bayrakdarian
  9. 9 Diramayrn (Mother of the Lord) (arr. S. Kradjian for voice and choir) 02:50
    Track
    9
    Title
    Diramayrn (Mother of the Lord) (arr. S. Kradjian for voice and choir)
    Duration
    02:50
    Composer
    Grigor Narekatsi
    Performer
    Isabel Bayrakdarian
    Ensemble
    Coro Vox Aeterna
    Conductor
    Anna Hamre
  10. 10 Badjar yev Sgizpn (Cause and Origin) (arr. S. Kradjian for voice and percussion) 03:47
    Track
    10
    Title
    Badjar yev Sgizpn (Cause and Origin) (arr. S. Kradjian for voice and percussion)
    Duration
    03:47
    Composer
    Anonymous
    Performer
    Isabel Bayrakdarian, Ishkhan Bayrakdarian
  11. 11 Zandjareli Looso Mayr (Mother of Light) (arr. S. Kradjian for voice, choir and percussion) 02:39
    Track
    11
    Title
    Zandjareli Looso Mayr (Mother of Light) (arr. S. Kradjian for voice, choir and percussion)
    Duration
    02:39
    Composer
    Movses Khorenatsi
    Performer
    Isabel Bayrakdarian, Ishkhan Bayrakdarian
    Ensemble
    Coro Vox Aeterna
    Conductor
    Anna Hamre
  12. 12 Sharaganner (Sharagans from Holy Week) (arr. S. Kradjian for voice and choir) 02:46
    Track
    12
    Title
    Sharaganner (Sharagans from Holy Week) (arr. S. Kradjian for voice and choir)
    Duration
    02:46
    Composer
    Movses Khorenatsi
    Performer
    Isabel Bayrakdarian
    Ensemble
    Coro Vox Aeterna
    Conductor
    Anna Hamre
  13. 13 Asdvadzadzin Yergnayin (Divine Mother of God) (arr. S. Kradjian for choir, cello and percussion) 01:30
    Track
    13
    Title
    Asdvadzadzin Yergnayin (Divine Mother of God) (arr. S. Kradjian for choir, cello and percussion)
    Duration
    01:30
    Composer
    Komitas Vardapet
    Performer
    Ani Aznavoorian, Ishkhan Bayrakdarian
    Ensemble
    Coro Vox Aeterna
    Conductor
    Anna Hamre
  14. 14 Zgousoutyount Ko (O Pure God Bearer) (arr. S. Kradjian for 3 voices and percussion) 01:26
    Track
    14
    Title
    Zgousoutyount Ko (O Pure God Bearer) (arr. S. Kradjian for 3 voices and percussion)
    Duration
    01:26
    Composer
    Anonymous
    Performer
    Isabel Bayrakdarian, Siroun Kojakian, Marie-Jean Zaatar, Ishkhan Bayrakdarian
  15. 15 Aysor Joghovyal (The Saints Are Gathered) (arr. S. Kradjian for voice and choir) 02:51
    Track
    15
    Title
    Aysor Joghovyal (The Saints Are Gathered) (arr. S. Kradjian for voice and choir)
    Duration
    02:51
    Composer
    Nerses Shnorhali
    Performer
    Isabel Bayrakdarian
    Ensemble
    Coro Vox Aeterna
    Conductor
    Anna Hamre
  16. 16 Antaram Dzaghig (Eternal Flower) (arr. S. Kradjian for voice, choir, cello and percussion) 02:56
    Track
    16
    Title
    Antaram Dzaghig (Eternal Flower) (arr. S. Kradjian for voice, choir, cello and percussion)
    Duration
    02:56
    Composer
    Vardan Areveltsi
    Performer
    Isabel Bayrakdarian, Ani Aznavoorian, Ishkhan Bayrakdarian
    Ensemble
    Coro Vox Aeterna
    Conductor
    Anna Hamre
  17. 17 Panin Hor (Word of the Father) [18th-19th century] (arr. S. Kradjian for voice and cello) 04:10
    Track
    17
    Title
    Panin Hor (Word of the Father) [18th-19th century] (arr. S. Kradjian for voice and cello)
    Duration
    04:10
    Composer
    Anonymous
    Performer
    Isabel Bayrakdarian, Ani Aznavoorian
  18. 18 Oor es Mayr Im (Where Are You, My Mother?) [18th-19th century] (arr. S. Kradjian for 3 voices, choir and cello) 06:16
    Track
    18
    Title
    Oor es Mayr Im (Where Are You, My Mother?) [18th-19th century] (arr. S. Kradjian for 3 voices, choir and cello)
    Duration
    06:16
    Composer
    Anonymous
    Performer
    Isabel Bayrakdarian, Siroun Kojakian, Marie-Jean Zaatar, Ani Aznavoorian
    Ensemble
    Coro Vox Aeterna
    Conductor
    Anna Hamre