Spirit of Armenia

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
This album is a tribute to Armenia and to the Armenian musicians who have played alongside Jordi Savall and his wife Montserrat Figueras over the past several years. The repertoire, culled from Hesperion XXI's fascinating live programs, ranges from lively to contemplative. All of the unique and powerful music on Armenian Spirit is beautifully played using traditional instruments including the duduk, an ancient double-reed instrument with a deeply moving sound quality. Jordi Savall illuminates this music with a faultless musical flair, driven by his endless curiosity and supreme musicianship. The disc is accompanied by a lavishly documented and richly illustrated booklet.

REVIEW
This is a beguiling, mesmeric sequence of instrumental music from Armenia, in which Hesperion XXI are joined by a group of that country s finest musicians. Georgi Minassyan and Haig Sarikouyoumdjian play the duduk, the double-reed woodwind instrument of the region. Its beautiful, musky sound seductively reflects the predominantly nostalgic, lamenting, soulful mood of the pieces heard here. Gaguik Mouradian contributes on the kamancha, a bowed string instrument. Savall arranges both anonymous material and music by named composers from the 14th to the 20th centuries, rightly allowing the Armenian musicians, and particularly the duduk, pride of place. --Stephen Pettitt, Sunday Times 2 September 2012

The playing is often of considerable subtlety and refinement . For instance, track 5, where Savall and colleagues play Chouhajian s song Oh inc anus, offers one of the most affecting versions I have ever heard of this song . This disc is a most welcome addition to the catalogue . it has given unfailing pleasure to the present listener . more refreshing and illuminating than many Armenian recordings. --Haig Utidjian, Early Music Review October 2012

'achingly plangent . the poignancy of these songs from medieval and traditional sources recorded on early and folk instruments immediately after the untimely passing of Savall s artistic partner, soprano Monserrat Figueras becomes an obvious metaphor: missing voices memorialised in lovely, evocative, profound and fugitive sound.' --Rebecca Tavener - Choir & Organ, July-August 2015

Number of Discs: 1

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