Author: Zaminian Bedik

Serj Tankian Discusses New Projects, Collaborations

Friday, May 21st, 2010
by Asbarez

Musician Serj Tankian is a busy man. His most recent project was a
collaboration with the Auckland (New Zealand) Symphony Orchestra to
produce a symphonic version of his successful solo effort `Elect the
Dead.’

Asbarez Special Correspondent Irina Lemberg caught up with Tankian to
discuss this effort and other projects on the Horizon.

Tankian will be the featured performer at the June 5 Museum of
Contemporary Art Member opening for the highly-anticipated exhibition,
Arshile Gorky A Retrospective.

IRINA LEMBERG: How was the idea of making the symphonic version of
Elect the Dead born and how did you get into contact with the Auckland
Philharmonic Orchestra?

SERJ TANKIAN: I was contacted by Jooles Clements the Marketing and
Development Manager of the APO about doing some sort of collaboration,
and I was happy to respond and see if we could make something work
out. I was honored that an orchestra wanted to collaborate with me and
had been thinking of incorporating orchestral elements into my next
solo record, so it was perfect timing. The fact that it would be in
New Zealand was a bonus too, given my love for spending time there.
There was lots of correspondence back and forth to try and figure out
what the expectations were on both sides, so that we have a firm
understanding about the event. I then proceeded to start writing the
orchestrations for my songs to be played with the APO.

I.L.: What can you tell us about working with the musicians of the APO?

S.T.: What can I say? They were really great to work with. And I’m
thankful that they possessed the sense of humor necessary to deal with
some of the music’s built-in antics.

I.L.: To what extent were you involved in the rearrangement of the songs?

S.T.: I wrote all the primary cello, viola, violin 1 and 2 and a brass
melodies and then worked with a Kiwi orchestrator, John Psathas, to
flush out all of the arrangements for the full 70 person orchestra. To
do this I had to strip down my tracks back to just piano and vocals or
acoustic guitar and vocals and build everything back on with
orchestral instruments. It took a long time but was well worth it.

I.L.: When you were done, did the orchestral version of Elect the Dead
sound as you had imagined it would or different?

S.T.: It sounded better than our mocked up versions of course since it
was a real orchestra playing the music.

I.L.: Did you find that you had to sing differently or adjust your
voice when singing with an orchestra, as opposed to with a rock band?

S.T.: There were minor changes in projection necessary to sing with an
orchestra. When singing with a rock band, you’re competing for
frequencies with the electric instruments so the vocals can be a bit
more pushed or abrasive. With an orchestra, the clean, strongly
projected vocals are preferred. I think it’s the best I’ve ever sang
those songs.

I.L.: What can you tell us about the previously unreleased songs on the album?

Falling Stars and Blue were released with the premium package of Elect
the Dead but only in acoustic versions. Those songs are arranged with
the full orchestra in full form here. In addition to that, there are 2
songs, The Charade (both orchestral and rock versions available) and
Gate 21 I performed Gate 21 on piano without the orchestra.

The song will be on my new solo record, Imperfect Harmonies, with full
orchestrations.

I.L.: Along with the CD, you released a DVD of the APO performance,
which captures the intensity and passion of the performance by zooming
in, zooming out and fading, often in synch with the music. Were you
involved in the production of the DVD?

S.T.: Only so far as approving the video edits and producing the whole release.

I.L.: How and what did you feel moments before coming on stage in Auckland?

S.T.: I was a bit nervous but mostly excited since I had never
performed with an orchestra before, let alone wrote for one. It was
very exhilarating.

I.L.: So, in essence the APO performance was a dream come true, for
you. Were you surprised that this wasn’t a one-off, but resulted in a
tour?

S.T.: I was thankful that a large number of orchestras around the
world were interested in performing my songs from the Elect the Dead
Symphony with me.

I.L.: On this tour, you’ll be performing with the orchestras of each
city where you’re performing?

S.T.: Correct.

I.L.: How does that work?

S.T.: We send them the sheet music ahead of time, then do a few
rehearsals with them and play the show.

I.L.: Who will you be performing with on July 30, 2010 at the Greek
Theater in Los Angeles?

S.T.: We are looking to push this show to September to coincide with
the release of Imperfect Harmonies, my next solo record, where I’ll be
playing with a full orchestra and the band.

I.L.: Will you be performing at any of the European festivals this summer?

S.T.: Aside from the Elect the Dead Symphony tour in Europe in June,
we’re planning a full assault with the FCC and orchestral elements for
the new record in Europe in August (including Greece and Armenia), and
the U.S. in Sept/Oct. I can’t wait.

I.L.: You usually work with 3 or 4 guys and instruments. What was it
like to work with such a huge amount of instruments and so many
people?

S.T.: The experience allowed me to learn how to better orchestrate for
large ensembles. And that has been instrumental to my current work on
my 2nd solo album.

I.L.: Do you have a release date in mind for that album?

S.T.: We’re looking at the end of August for now.

I.L.: What can you tell us about your next solo album?

S.T.: My second solo album is electronic, orchestral (live orchestra),
jazz and rock all at the same time. It is a sound I’ve never heard
before, and for me, borderless. It will be called. `Imperfect
Harmonies.’ It is a very powerful and intriguing record with many
layers. Yet it’s also memorable in the way good songwriting should be.
Some of my favorite records are so compelling that they require
multiple listens to try to figure out what’s going on. It sports a
huge wall of sound, depth, and the maturity of a seasoned artist, so
I’m told.

I.L.: Will you be releasing snippets of the songs, prior to the album
release date for those of us that can’t wait to hear this new sound?

S.T.: Yes. We’ll have a single out by late June and some other
snippets on our sites.

I.L.: When creating this unusual and unique sound do you consider how
your fans will react?

S.T.: I write all the time, when the muse comes to me. I don’t think
at all in those moments. I really don’t consider anyone outside of the
inspiration generally when it comes to making music.

I.L.: So, you’re writing more orchestral music?

S.T.: Besides using an orchestra for my next solo record, I’m writing
a full classical-jazz symphony (instrumental) for orchestra to release
in 201I.L.:

I.L.: Will fans see Serj, the rock/metal musician, ever again or has
he evolved into something new?

S.T.: I have a huge archive of unreleased songs in all genres that
will eventually creep its way into the ears of the interested,
including more rock.

I.L.: You’re quite vocal and politically driven on the issue of the
Armenian Genocide. This past year we saw the Genocide front and center
as the Armenia-Turkey protocols were signed. How do you think the
protocols will affect the work you and so many others have done toward
the international recognition of the Armenian Genocide?

S.T.: I think the majority of Armenians are unconvinced of the Turkish
intentions regarding the protocols given their simultaneous
continuation of disinformation and denial while talking about
rapprochement, coupled with the addition of the Karabakh issue to
appease Azerbaijan. So far, the so-called protocols have not yielded
any positive effects except for it being used as an excuse for
Congressmen to vote against the genocide recognition bill. No borders
have been opened nor any real diplomacy succeeded. True diplomatic
rapprochement begins with positive steps. How about Turkey dismantles
its disinformation and denial campaign in the world for a start?

I.L.: Do you believe the Protocols are a viable way of addressing the
Armenia-Turkey issue?

S.T.: Not as they are presented or executed at this time. I believe in
the diplomatic resolution of conflict between nations where justice
and good intentions are placed as the top priorities of that
developing relationship. Otherwise, it’s just a photo-op for ulterior
motives.

I.L.: Are you planning anything for the special opening night event at
MOCA for the Arshile Gorky: A Retrospective exhibit?

S.T.: Yes. We’ll have some traditional Armenian instruments, a DJ, and
a few other players entertaining the crowd and paying tribute to
Gorky.

Eurovision 2010: Second rehearsal – Eva Rivas sets the stage on fire

13:53 22/05/2010 » Society

The Armenian rehearsal today saw some changes compared to the first
one. Shining bubble chains were hanging above the stage, and more
pyrotechnical effects were used to enhance the performance.

The Armenian delegation had made some changes in the choreography to
Apricot Stone: During the song, the three backing vocalists approached
the artificial waterfall on stage and took water from it with their
hands. There were also some notable changes in the staging. This time,
shining white bubbles were hanging from the ceiling, and only when the
large apricot stone in the back opened and the tree started growing
out of it, the bubbles were lifted up. During the last chorus, all
artists moved close to each other and raised their hands, according to
Eurovision song contest official website.

The pyrotechnical effects, orange flames in the background, were used
every time the chorus started. Before the last chorus, single shots in
different colours were added. All artists were wearing their
Semi-Final costumes today. While Eva Rivas wore an long
apricot-coloured dress and white trousers underneath, the backing
artists were dressed in black and dark shades of brown.

Looking onto the TV screens, the Armenian entry started with a
close-up on the duduk player, who was again replaced by an extra as
the famous 83-year-old Jivan Gasparyan had still not arrived in Oslo.
Then the camera moved to another close-up on Eva Rivas, showing a
pendant in the shape of an apricot stone which she held on her palm.
The warm and elaborate stage act really told a whole story in itself!

Remind that Eurovision 2010 is due May 25-29, featuring
representatives from 39 countries. Eva Rivas will perform May 27.

Source: Panorama.am

Aysor, Armenia
May 22 2010

`The 2216 resolution can have no consequences’

`Formally the 2216 resolution can have no consequences if it is not
reinforced by other acts and actions, the documents signed by the
Armenian side in that number,’ the political scientist Armen Aghayan.

According to the political scientist it is Armenia and the other
countries of the region, that are members of the European Union, that
gave the right to the European Parliament to make up such decisions.

`This is rather similar to the precondition of continuing the European
integration, but not more, and this in this case is presented to
Armenia,’ A. Aghayan mentioned and added, `Those who desire to be
integrated to Europe should think about it.’

According to the political scientist, `We have seen many such
documents connected with the Karabakh conflict settlement, however
they didn’t have any actual influence.’

OFFICIAL OPENING OF ARGENTINE EMBASSY TO ARMENIA

ARMENPRESS
MAY 21, 2010
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, MAY 21, ARMENPRESS: The official opening of the Argentine
Embassy to Armenia took place today in Yerevan. RA Foreign Minister
Edward Nalbandyan, Argentine Minister of Foreign Affairs and
International Trade and Worship Jorge Taiana and other high officials
were present at the opening ceremony. They made the rounds of the
Embassy and got acquainted with the working conditions at the Embassy.

Jorge Taiana mentioned that ‘it is a great honor for his country to
have its embassy to Armenia’. ‘We have been planning this long ago,
but our plan did not fail only due to the efforts of Argentine-Armenian
businessman Eduardo Ernekyan. The Armenians play a great role in the
life of Argentina. They contribute to the development of Argentina. The
Armenians’ devotion to work is an instructive experience for is. We
hope that the opening of the Embassy will promote the deepening of
the relations between the societies of the two states,’ Argentine
Foreign Minister Jorge Taiana said.

According to Mr. Edward Nalbandyan, figures like Eduardo Ernekyan will
promote the development of relations and ties between the two states.

‘Though there is a great distance between Armenia and Argentina, the
strong friendly relations connect the states,’ Edward Nalbandyan said.

The Argentine Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Armenia
is Miguel Angel Cuelios.

STATEMENTS ON NEW ROAD MAP AN ABSOLUTE LIE, SAYS NALBANDIAN

Aysor
May 21 2010
Armenia

Armenia’s Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian has denied the statements
made by the Turkish side that Armenia and Turkey are negotiation on
the new ‘road map’ aiming at normalisation of relations.

"This is an absolute lie, and I don’t think there is a need to
comment these false statements," said Edward Nalbandian at the press
conference, held with Argentina’s Foreign Minister Jorge Taiana.

The false statements come as a member of the running Turkish party
of the Justice and Development, Suyat Kiniglioglu said that Armenia
and Turkey had agreed to keep silence as there is a new ‘road map’
on the table of talks aiming at normalisation of relations.

AHMET DAVUTOGLU: "LIBERATION OF OCCUPIED TERRITORIES OF AZERBAIJAN WILL BRING LASTING PEACE TO THE REGION"

APA
May 21 2010
Azerbaijan

"Liberation of occupied territories of Azerbaijan will bring lasting
peace to the region", said Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu
at the meeting of the Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly in
Istanbul, APA reports quoting AzerTAC state agency.

According to him, official Ankara is confident upon the realization
of normalization process with Armenia in the future and this policy
remains unchanged: "Solution to Nagorno Karabakh conflict and
liberation of occupied territories of Azerbaijan will bring lasting
peace to the region".

Davutoglu also touched upon the agreement signed with Iran. To him,
this document meets the interests of the international community
and it is the most important step Tehran has taken over the last
three decades.

UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY’S UPCOMING 65TH SESSION GOING TO HAVE TWO NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT RELATED ISSUES

APA
May 20 2010
Azerbaijan

Washington. Isabel Levine – APA. The Resolution project on the
Nagorno-Karabakh will remain on the agenda of the 64th and even next
65th UN General Assembly, APA’s Washington DC correspondent was told
at the Information center of the UN Headquarters, New-York.

According to the information office, UN General Assembly’s upcoming
65th session is going to have two Nagorno-Karabakh conflict related
issues.

Those are the resolution projects named "Protracted conflicts in the
GUAM area and their implications for international peace, security
and development" (issue number 34) and "The situation in the occupied
territories of Azerbaijan" (issue number 39), the centre said.

According to the UN HQ information office, these items have not yet
been considered by the General Assembly at its 64thsession, and remain
on the agenda of that session.

Their inclusion in the provisional agenda of the 65th session is
subject to any action the Assembly may take on it at its 64th session.

The HQ information office notices, that the exact time when these
resolution projects are to be discussed during the GA session, will
be specified in the end of September.

The sixty-fifth session will convene at UN Headquarters on 14
September 2010.

However, US based expert on Eurasian countries, Doctor Robert Cutler
believes that the so far UN has not been able to make any real
contribution to the solution of protracted conflicts in the Caucasus
region. "This is not necessarily the UN’s fault but just a fact ",
– he told APA’s Washington correspondent commenting on UN’s role in
solving frozen conflicts.

THE BANCROFT LIBRARY ACCEPTS GIFT OF WILLIAM SAROYAN ARCHIVES

UC Berkeley
05/19_William_Saroyan.shtml
May 19 2010
CA

BERKELEY — The Bancroft Library at the University of California,
Berkeley, has received a spectacular gift of hundreds of books,
drawings, correspondence and other personal communications to and
from one of America’s best-known writers, the Armenian-American author
and playwright William Saroyan.

William Saroyan (Photo courtesy of The Bancroft Library)The rich
collection includes approximately 48 cartons with 1,200 books and
other archival materials assembled by his niece, Jacqueline Kazarian,
of San Francisco, who also is the founder of the William Saroyan
Literary Foundation International. A celebration of the gift is set
for noon on Friday (May 21) at The Faculty Club on campus.

"UC Berkeley is such an incredible place of learning and growing
and intellectual exploration," said Kazarian, who earned degrees in
communication and decorative arts at UC Berkeley in the early 1950s.

"I know that my uncle wanted his library, manuscripts and galleys to
go to Berkeley. Students will be inspired by the collection."

Apart from this gift, The Bancroft Library already retains significant
holdings of Saroyan’s work that it collected over the course of his
life and career, and it continues to add to that collection. Most
of the latest materials come from Saroyan’s home on San Francisco’s
15th Avenue that is now a Saroyan museum directed by Kazarian. Those
materials were supplemented by Kazarian’s extensive personal
collection, as well as by items of Saroyan’s that she acquired through
a prominent Boston archivist and via a Saroyan friend.

"Jacqueline Kazarian’s new gift is the largest and most substantial
augmentation to the Saroyan collections at Bancroft that we have ever
received," said Peter Hanff, Bancroft’s deputy director.

Saroyan, born in Fresno, Calif., in 1908, drew extensively on
his Armenian-American heritage and childhood experiences for his
books, plays and short stories. Much of his writing was considered
impressionistic and reflected a hearty optimism often hard to find
during the gritty Great Depression. He died in 1981 at the age of 72,
with his niece at his side.

The author’s classic manual typewriter, as displayed at his San
Francisco home. (Photo courtesy of The Bancroft Library)When Story
magazine editors Martha Foley and Whit Burnett printed Saroyan’s "The
Daring Young Man on the Flying Trapeze" in 1934, it was an immediate
success, triggering Saroyan’s fame and standing as one of his many
literary achievements.

"Uncle Bill’s writing revolutionized the short story," said Kazarian,
adding that she has always found his work "almost spiritual and
fable-like."

His five-act play, "The Time of Your Life," is the only American
play to have won both the New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award and
the Pulitzer Prize. Saroyan’s work as a screenwriter with Hollywood
director Louis B. Mayer on the film "The Human Comedy" won an Academy
Award in 1943, and Saroyan later wrote a widely acclaimed book with
the same title.

Kazarian’s gift to The Bancroft Library includes multiple first
editions of Saroyan’s works, such as "The Daring Young Man on the
Flying Trapeze," "My Name is Aram" (1940), "The Human Comedy" and
"Obituaries" (1979), and many materials personally inscribed by the
writer. Also among the new items according to Steven Black, the head
of acquisitions for Bancroft, are letters, telegrams and notes written
by Saroyan to relatives and others close to him, mostly during the
1930s and 1940s.

"He personalized a lot of what passed through his hands," Black said,
noting that much of the material features marginalia reflecting
Saroyan’s thoughts and interests.

Antiquarian book dealer Peter Howard of Berkeley, poring through
Saroyan materials. (Photo courtesy of The Bancroft Library)There also
is a copy of Henry Miller’s "Aller Retour New York," an 80-page journal
about a 1935 visit by Miller to New York City and his journey aboard
a Dutch ship back to Europe. It is inscribed by Miller to Saroyan.

And a Saroyan scrapbook in the collection contains press announcements
about the Pulitzer Prize for his book, "The Time of Your Life." He
scoffed at the award, contending that the arts should not be judged
by commerce.

The new Bancroft collection also contains a pre-publication proof of
"Burnt Norton," the first poem of T.S. Eliot’s "Four Quartets," which
Black said the publisher may have given to Saroyan "when he crossed
the pond" on a trip from his temporary home in France to England.

There also is a wide range of magazines, including issues of Horizon
and the Partisan Review, a leading publication of the Anglo-American
intelligentsia during the 1930s and ’40s, Black said.

The first major deposit at The Bancroft Library of Saroyan’s papers
was recorded in October 1980, and the library agreed to organize the
collection and give Saroyan a general description and an index. After
Saroyan died in 1981, the Saroyan Foundation paid the library to
continue assembling the papers for official archives, which the
foundation ultimately decided to place at Stanford University. That
happened in 1996.

Kazarian’s donation is in honor of Berkeley antiquarian book dealer
Peter Howard, who has provided appraisal assistance to Bancroft on
Saroyan materials and other collections for decades. While director
of The Bancroft Library, the late James D. Hart also developed strong
professional and personal ties to Saroyan over the years, according
to Kazarian and Black.

William Saroyan’s niece, Jacqueline Kazarian, surveys materials in
his home. (Photo courtesy of The Bancroft Library)"Now, the Saroyan
family materials come to a place that Saroyan himself would have
been happy to see accepting them," Black said, noting that Bancroft
is proud to have so much of Saroyan’s "intellectual remains" to be
able to share with the public.

Scheduled to speak about the acquisition at Friday’s event are
Jacqueline Kazarian; David Calonne, vice president of education for
the Saroyan Literary Foundation International and a Saroyan scholar;
San Francisco novelist Herbert Gold; theater director Val Hendrickson
reading Saroyan’s short story, "Common Prayer," and the credo to
"The Time of Your Life"; and Charles Faulhaber, director of The
Bancroft Library.

UC Berkeley already is home to an Armenian Studies Program, which
is focused on contemporary Armenian history, politics, language and
culture. And Bancroft, a rich, special collections library containing
historical and literary documents and other materials relating to
California, the West, Mexico and Latin America, is known for its
strong collections on California writers, including Jack London,
Robinson Jeffers, Bret Harte, Frank Norris and others.

More information about The Bancroft Library is online. Bancroft is
celebrating its 150th anniversary this year.

YAP SENDS LETTER OF PROTEST TO OSCE MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRS

APA
May 19 2010
Azerbaijan

Baku. Elnur Mammadli – APA. New Azerbaijan Party (YAP) sent letter to
the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs in a protest against the "parliamentary
elections" scheduled by the Armenian separatist regime of Nagorno
Karabakh on May 23.

YAP said conducting elections by an unrecognized separatist group in an
occupied zone was against the norms and principles of international
law and couldn’t be recognized as legitimate. The existence of
a separatist regime which was not recognized by any country or
international organization is a result of occupation of 20 percent
of Azerbaijani lands by Armenia.

YAP regrets that despite resolutions of the UN Security Council, the
Council of Europe and OSCE, as well as Minsk Group efforts. Aggressive
Armenia keeps the Azerbaijani lands under the occupation for more than
20 years. "The so-called election campaign organized by the Nagorno
Karabakh separatist regime is an attempt to gain legitimacy for
the separatist regime before the international community. This is an
aggressive action against the sovereignty of the Republic of Azerbaijan
and it is seriously preventing peace talks and good will goals".

YAP said in its letter that the "elections" would have negative
impact on the negotiation process over the conflict solution:
"New Azerbaijan Party is resolutely condemning the next "election"
sabotage and considering it as a serious obstacle to the negotiation
process and expecting from the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs’ objective
reaction to that".

TROIS PARTIS SERONT REPRESENTES DANS LE PARLEMENT DU KARABAGH DISENT LES SONDAGES
Stephane

armenews
18 mai 2010
KARABAGH

Environ 60 % de la population du Nagorno Karabakh est interesse par
les elections parlementaires prevues pour le 23 mai, tandis que 20 %
est indifferente envers les processus electoraux et 20 % ne s’est pas
prononce. Le chef de l’organisation sociologique Sociometer Aharon
Adibekyan dit que c’est un bon niveau d’activite politique.

Les specialistes de Sociometer ont conduit un sondage dans le Nagorno
Karabakh du 8 au 10 avril qui a poursuivi un objectif politique de
reveler le niveau reel de democratie dans le Karabagh qui est le plus
haut dans la region.

Les resultats de l’etude montrent que trois partis sont en tete
aujourd’hui. 39 % des electeurs prefère le parti " Azat Hayrenik "
(la Libre Patrie ) du Premier ministre. 36 % dit etre affilie au parti
National Democratique menee par le president de l’Assemblee nationale.

La FRA Dashnaktsutyun vient en troisième position avec 25 %. Les
sociologues prevoient que les trois partis formeront une coalition
politique