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Sydney Morning Herald (Australia)
December 15, 2012 Saturday
First Edition
Armenian: cd reviews
by John Shand
HESPERION XXI JORDI SAVALL
Armenian Spirit(Alia Vox/Fuse)
Rating: 5/5
It is a glum truth that most of Australia's political leaders have
been philistines, unable to grasp the part a creative culture plays in
engendering identity and cohesion in a society.This miraculous album
is testament to the vital place music occupied in the psyche of
Armenia, as that land suffered centuries of invasions and oppression.A
collection of mostly traditional pieces, it is the latest project from
Jordi Savall, surely among the busiest people alive. He records about
two albums a year that require massive preparation and loving
presentation, and involve augmenting his Hesperion XXI group with
musicians specialising in the projects.Perhaps because this is his
first recording after the death of his wife, the divine soprano
Montserrat Figueras (the album is dedicated to her), Savall has opted
for an all-instrumental program, even though some pieces were
originally songs.Several of the more stately melodies are carried by
his bowed instruments or the Armenian kamancha. Otherwise, the key
instrument is the stunningly versatile duduk, a double-reed flute
capable of being eerily voice-like, and ideal for making the laments
ache with deep sorrow. Yet this is music that speaks of rising from
that sorrow, rather than wallowing in it. LIKE THIS? TRY THESEDjivan
Gasparyan, Heavenly Duduk; Hesperion XXI/Jordi Savall, La Sublime
Porte.
December 15, 2012 Saturday
First Edition
Armenian: cd reviews
by John Shand
HESPERION XXI JORDI SAVALL
Armenian Spirit(Alia Vox/Fuse)
Rating: 5/5
It is a glum truth that most of Australia's political leaders have
been philistines, unable to grasp the part a creative culture plays in
engendering identity and cohesion in a society.This miraculous album
is testament to the vital place music occupied in the psyche of
Armenia, as that land suffered centuries of invasions and oppression.A
collection of mostly traditional pieces, it is the latest project from
Jordi Savall, surely among the busiest people alive. He records about
two albums a year that require massive preparation and loving
presentation, and involve augmenting his Hesperion XXI group with
musicians specialising in the projects.Perhaps because this is his
first recording after the death of his wife, the divine soprano
Montserrat Figueras (the album is dedicated to her), Savall has opted
for an all-instrumental program, even though some pieces were
originally songs.Several of the more stately melodies are carried by
his bowed instruments or the Armenian kamancha. Otherwise, the key
instrument is the stunningly versatile duduk, a double-reed flute
capable of being eerily voice-like, and ideal for making the laments
ache with deep sorrow. Yet this is music that speaks of rising from
that sorrow, rather than wallowing in it. LIKE THIS? TRY THESEDjivan
Gasparyan, Heavenly Duduk; Hesperion XXI/Jordi Savall, La Sublime
Porte.