Santa Cruz Sentinel, CA
March 24 2007
Armenian music, art displayed in concert
The Chookasian Armenian Concert Ensemble will present "Passage to
Armenia," a concert of traditional Armenian music, at the First
Congregational Church in Santa Cruz, under the auspices of Cabrillo
College’s Distinguished Artists Concert and Lecture Series. In
addition, three gold-leaf illuminated miniatures from the 13th-14th
centuries, considered the Golden Age of Armenian art, will be
displayed. The concert and display take place March 31.
The illuminated miniatures are illustrated Bible pages and show the
rich art of Armenia. The music of the Chookasian Ensemble is said to
represent the soul and spirit of Armenia, with hauntingly beautiful
timbres played on ancient instruments. The music is performed as a
devotion and as a way to perpetuate traditional folksongs and dance.
Leader John Chookasian became fascinated with the music, culture and
dance of his parents’ homeland during a childhood in New York City.
Family and friends would gather to sing and dance and eat his
grandmother’s Armenian food.
"I was fortunate enough to be a part of this experience, and it
affected my entire life. I became fascinated with this unique style
of music," he says in a statement.
What distinguishes this music the way it straddles both Middle
Eastern and Western traditions. But several traditional instruments
will be played, including the d’hol, a hand drum; a kanun, a
piano-harp with triplicate strings tuned in unison; a kemenche
four-stringed, fretless violin; and a shivi, a duduk and zurna, all
wooden flutes.
Before each song is played, an explanation of the songs and their
composers will be given.
Chooksian says: "Anyone who knows the history of the Armenian people
knows that it has been a difficult one, filled with repeated
genocide, lost kingdoms and the struggle for existence. And yet,
despite all of the hardships, the Armenians, after more than 3,000
years, still exist. That is because they consciously preserve their
traditions, language, to maintain their ethnic identity"
If You Go
WHAT: Chookasian Armenian Concert Ensemble.
WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 31.
WHERE: First Congregational Church, 900 High St., Santa Cruz.
DETAILS: 688-1518,
http://www.santacru zsentinel.com/archive/2007/March/24/style/stories/ 04style.htm
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
