Fables

Hover's most recent offering is an outdoor musical-theatrical production based on the Christian fables of the medieval Armenian parable-writer Vardan Aigektsi (1170-1235). Combining singing, instrumental music, narrative, theatre and dance, in both traditional Armenian and non-traditional settings, the choir brings music to life for its audiences with this production. It portrays the seven cardinal Christian virtues in a uniquely Armenian way. With original music by Stephan Babatorosyan (1959), hand-made costumes and masks, authentic instrumental accompaniment, and hand-held stage props, the production is reminiscent of travelling troupes of ages past, performances being held in public arenas for the entertainment and enlightenment of audiences young and old.

THE HEALING BIRD

There once was a blessed bird that would not visit hopeless cases. But if the patient had the will to live, the bird would visit and cure the ailment with the sanctifying touch of its beak. In the same way, the Lord turns away from sinners, but saves the repentant from evil.

THE HERMIT AND THE SHEEPDOG

There once was a monk who lived near a village, where he would go at nigh to visit his lover. The village chief had a large sheepdog that frightened people from coming near the village. One night the monk set out to see his lover, but on the road the dog attacked him. The terrified monk fled to his cell and repented, realizing that this night he had been frightened by a growling sheepdog while for years he led a life without fearing God’s judgment.

THE EAGLE AND THE ARROW

Once upon a time, an eagle the king of birds, was soaring through the sky when he was struck by an arrow. Seeing his own feather on the tail of the arrow, he exclaimed, “Alas, I have caused my own death. An enemy could not have wounded me more fatally.” So too we wound ourselves when we do not resist evil impulses.

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THE AILING LION AND THE FOX

Once a lion-king became ill, and his doctors said that only hope of cure was to drink a broth made of donkey’s ears and heart. They sent a fox who tricked the donkey into coming to the palace by telling him, he would become the King’s heir. The lion tried to choke the donkey, but the donkey got away. The fox lured him back to the palace. The time the lion succeeded in choking him. But while the lion slept, the fox ate the donkey’s ears and heart, then told the lion that the poor donkey had neither. Out of greed people often fall into the same trap as the donkey.

THE FOX AND THE ARMOR

Once upon a time, there was a fox who found a fancy suit of armor. He had heard that the armor would bring him respect and keep him warm, so he put it on. To his dismay, in the summer it burned him, in the winter it froze him and when he filled it with water it leaked. The armor is like human glory – vain, harmful and useless.

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THE CAMELS, THE DONKEYS, AND THE PIGS

Once upon a time the young donkeys and camels asked their mothers why the master fed the pigs barley, even though the donkeys and camels did all the work. Their mothers answered humbly that patience brings understanding. As winter’s cold approached, they heard a sudden squeal, then another. The mothers took their young donkeys and camels to see the slaughtered pigs. Then they understood that the hardworking and should not envy the lazy who eat without work.
Terrified, they checked their hooves for the barley.

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