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Armenian Folk Music
Hover Recordings, 2007

The ancient oral tradition of Armenian music is a vibrant source of today’s living folk songs. Passed on for centuries from generation to generation, these sometimes playful, often hauntingly beautiful tunes evoke all aspects of everyday life for people living in their ancient homeland: their toils and trials, heroes and mythic figures, nature and crafts, love and longing.  
Armenian folk songs range in structure from straightforward, short songs to multi-voice compositions with complex harmonies.  Until the 19th century, Armenian music was written in its own unique notation that differs from the standard European notation.  Fr. Komitas was one of the pioneers of European notation in Armenian music.   Sensitive to the distinctive beauty and richness of local variation, he  took special pains to record songs preserving their authentic voice and harmonies.  Inspired by the delicacy of this native art, he cultivated what the Russian scholar Yuri Tyulin has termed Armenian polyphony which is often reminiscent of Bach in its robust intricacy. 
The pieces included in this recording were selected for their variety, authenticity and suitability for the sound that Hover Chamber Choir has come to be known.  Some lesser known pieces, performed infrequently due to their complexity, were included particularly because they were among Komitas’s own favorites. 
This recording was made possible by a grant from the “Flora Family Foundation, USA .
The production supervision and the promotion, which will cover the whole world's leading magazines, international organizations, festivals and agencies is done by Kultur Aktiv e.V. from Germany.

Armenian Divine Liturgy
Hover Recordings, 2006
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The Divine Liturgy is the most sacred worship service of the Armenian Church. Founded by two of Christ's disciples, Thaddeus and Bartholomew, the Armenian Church is the keeper of ancient apostolic traditions passed down orally through the centuries. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries the chants of the Divine Liturgy were harmonized in two major choral settings. The revered Armenian churchman, folklorist and composer Fr. Komitas wrote the choral setting presented in this recording on the eve of the Armenian Genocide, to which he fell victim, adding to the poignancy of this work. Now thanks to the Flora Family Foundation (U.S.A.), we have the opportunity to hear the men of the award-winning Hover Chamber Choir of Armenia present an authentic rendition of this timeless masterpiece of Armenian music and sacred tradition. The production supervision and the promotion, which will cover the whole world's leading universities, conservatories, music colleges, international organizations, agencies is done by Kultur Aktiv e.V. from Germany.

De Profundis. Armenian Sacred Music
Vem Recordings, 2006

Armenian sacred music is an ancient and unique form of Eastern Christian culture, drawing on native Armenian musical traditions and Christian practicies dating to the missionary work of the apostles Thaddeus and Bartholomew in Armenia. Christianity became an essential part of Armenian identity in 301, when Armenia became the first nation to declare Christianity as state religion. Through the centuries, Armenian culture and Armenian music flourished in this fertile soil. The soloists on this particular CD are talented singers: Anahit Papayan and Lusine Ghazaryan.

The Way. Armenian Sacred Music (together with VEM radio), 2005
http://www.vem.am

Perhaps no other facet of Armenian spiritual worship is at once so personally accessible and yet mystically transcendent as Armenian Sacred Chant. This rich vocal discipline is rooted in the simple humanity of Armenian folk culture and the formal ritualism of Eastern Christianity. The effect produced is an open-hearted and ardent expression of worship that permeates the soul, reflecting Armenian Christian doctrine, emphasizing the individual’s relationship with his Creator through the perfect human reality of the Savior.
This album presents various genres of Armenian sacred music: the sharakan (plainchant), gandz (florid chant) and tagh (ode), as well as hymns from the Divine Liturgy. In this album, traditional arrangements by the venerated composer and ethno-musicologist Komitas Vardapet (1869–1935), the staple of Armenian worship, are juxtaposed with two new arrangements by the modern Armenian composer Vaché Sharafyan, which are striking examples of the continuing vitality and energy of Armenian sacred music.

Vardan Aigektsi’s Six Fables

(Pomegranate Music, Boston 2003)

An original composition based on the fables of the Armenian Renaissance fabulist and monk Vardan Aigektsi (1170-1235). The music to Six Fables was written by contemporary Armenian composer Stepan Babatorosyan. Contemporary lyrics: Yuri
Sahakyan.

Armenian Voices

(Pomegranate Music, Boston 2001)

Our first CD presenting a variety of Armenian and International repertoire.

Download from http://www.cdbaby.com

Ludwig Bazil: Spiritual Choir Music

Armenian composer from Germany, Ludwig Bazil’s setting of St. Gregory of Narek’s Book of Lamentations

1999, Venice , Italy.

 

Ararat Soundtrack

(Michael Danna, Canada 2002)

It should be noted that the male contingent of Hover are the voices to be heard on Egoyan’s soundtrack for Ararat. The soundtrack can be found in all major music outlets.

Hover are proud to be represented by Pomegranate Music and hope to continue and build upon this great relationship in the near future. For further information about Pomegranate Music

Pomegranate Music

Pomegranate Music is a world, classical and jazz music label based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA, with an informal office in Yerevan, Armenia. Our purpose is to promote and develop musicians from Armenia. Most of our music is recorded in Armenia and performed by local artists. Consistent with Pomegranate’s credo, we seek to support local musicians and help them achieve financial sustainability to continue their musical artistry in Armenia. Armenia has a rich musical history, which has bolstered and expressed the Armenian soul, even in the most difficult of times. This small, proud, and ancient nation is now experiencing and exciting renaissance of creativity, which Pomegranate Music is pleased to share with you.
 
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