ARMENIAN CHURCH PSALMS SOUND IN VILNIUS
Noyan Tapan
July 29, 2009
VILNIUS, JULY 29, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. St Jonas church of
Vilnius where the biggest church organ of Lithuania is and where many
famous musicians have performed concerts was again crowded on July
11 evening. This time the notification of the concert promised the
listeners "an exclusive music evening, where Armenian church psalms
which have a history of one and a half thousand years will sound."
Young singer Justina Harutyunian (mezzo soprano), organist Jurate
Landsbergite, German flute player Johannes Hustedt and Lithuanian young
trumpeter Saulyus Petreykis took part in the concert. The latter also
performed as a duduk-player.
This year Vilnius has been announced the cultural capital of the
EU and besides it in those days Lithuanian solemnly celebrated the
millenial anniversary of the mention of the name Lithuania and the
above-mentioned concert was held within the framework of the very
program. The online Bernardinai.lt newspaper titled its publicity
article in the following way: "Armenian millenial church psalms will
congratulate millenial Lithuania." In the same article J. Harutyunian
and J. Lansbergite told about Armenian sacred music and about Armenian
notes, khazes.
Armenian church psalms of V-XII centuries were the basis of the
concert but Justina also performed Krunk, Kilikia, Dle Yaman, Chinar
Es songs. The program of the concert was also interesting because
besides some Armenian works, pieces by Bach and Lithuanian musicians
(without vocal) were also performed, it can be said that each musician
presented his national music at the concert. The different items of
the program were wonderfully in harmony with each other contributing
to the general success of the concert.
It is over 20 years that Jurate Landsbergite has been including
Armenian sacred music in her concerts and gives lectures on that theme
in European tours. Justina Harutyunian’s mother, Marite Kontrimaite
who is an Armenologist and translator of Armenian literature has
greatly helped her in this issue. By the way, J. Landsbergis is the
daughter of Lithuanian modern policy godfather Vitautas Landsbergis.
Justina Harutyunian is also an organist, she has graduated from
Vilnius Musical Academy and now attends vocal classes at the same
Academy. Her cooperation with J. Landsbergite is not new, they often
have joint performances. Last year Justina performed church psalms
to the accompaniment of Jurate at the Pray Breakfast event held at
the Presidential residence of Lithuania.
It was not also the first time that S. Petreykis accompanied
Justina. He is a great lover of duduk (Armenian national pipe) and
this year is going to visit Armenia to attend some classes of duduk.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
