GRIGORYAN Vardan
In the Shadow of the Song

Fy 8189

885016818920
Felmay Records
Armenia

 

The sound of duduk is so peculiar that even the less attentive listener cannot escape from its charme. This instrument, a double reed shawm, typical of Armenia - but present also in Turkey as mey and Azerbaijan as balaban - has a quasi-human sound, today it is seen as the symbol of the Armenian people, the voice of its desperation and difficult history.
The CD programme opens with My hearth broke through, dedicated to the memory of a dear friend, the melancholic sound of duduk takes us in a sentimental journey so intense to seem almost tangible. In the Shadow of the Song the sound comes from far away and once present it assume cadences that bring to the memory the ritual of Dervishes. Rumblan is pure rhythm and joy to be alive Following the old an immersion in the traditional music from Armenia, rich of virtuoso passages. Dynamic and vibrant sounds in Close to fast where GRIGORYAN gives us a demonstration of his technical ability together with his companions Nerses Grigoryan e David Minasyan. Just put it on, the last track, sees Vardan switch to the zurna, a folk version of the duduk, and with this instruments afford a series of peculiar rhythms.
In the album the compositions by Vardan are clearly based on the traditional heritage of his instrument. Vardan's attendance with less traditional repertoires is evident, but here he his able to make co-exist the passionate tradition of the duduk with the more modern phrasing of other musical languages.


The sound of duduk is so peculiar that even the less attentive listener cannot escape from its charme. This instrument, a double reed shawm, typical of Armenia - but present also in Turkey as mey and Azerbaijan as balaban - has a quasi-human sound, today it is seen as the symbol of the Armenian people, the voice of its desperation and difficult history.

The CD programme opens with My hearth broke through, dedicated to the memory of a dear friend, the melancholic sound of duduk takes us in a sentimental journey so intense to seem almost tangible. In the Shadow of the Song the sound comes from far away and once present it assume cadences that bring to the memory the ritual of Dervishes. Rumblan is pure rhythm and joy to be alive Following the old an immersion in the traditional music from Armenia, rich of virtuoso passages. Dynamic and vibrant sounds in Close to fast where GRIGORYAN gives us a demonstration of his technical ability together with his companions Nerses Grigoryan e David Minasyan. Just put it on, the last track, sees Vardan switch to the zurna, a folk version of the duduk, and with this instruments afford a series of peculiar rhythms.
In the album the compositions by Vardan are clearly based on the traditional heritage of his instrument. Vardan's attendance with less traditional repertoires is evident, but here he his able to make co-exist the passionate tradition of the duduk with the more modern phrasing of other musical languages.

Vardan Grigoryan was born on September 25, 1971, in Yerevan, Armenia, in a family of musicians. His father, Nerses Grigoryan, is a famous folk singer. Vardan has got his first musical education in the music college, then continued studying at the Yerevan State Conservatory in the department of duduk. Since that time Vardan’s unique talent for the live performance of Armenian folk music and his own compositions was revealed. The prove are his various collaborations with several world-known musicians, such as Paul Winter, Chick Corea, Joe Zawinul, etc.
Vardan works and collaborates with Arto Tuncboyacjyan & Armenian Navy Band, the jazz-folk band “Time Report” and many other different popular artists from Armenia. He has participated in different international festivals representing both, Armenian Culture and his own unique musical compositions. Together with the Armenian Navy Band he has participated at the “BBC World Music Awards”.