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HYE KEYS PERFORM ARMENIAN MUSIC AT CONGREGATION OR AMI
By: Korey Hughes
Midlothian Exchange
Oct 25 2012
VA
Traditional Armenian music might be unfamiliar to most American
audiences, but local listeners will get the opportunity to hear it
live during the Hye Keys' performance at 8p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 27,
at Congregation Or Ami at 9400 W. Huguenot Road in North Chesterfield.
Doors open at 7:15 p.m.
The concert will be presented by the Richmond Folk Music Society. The
organization hosts traditional folk music concerts monthly at that
venue from September through May.
Mary Smith is the director of the Richmond Folk Music Society. She
has been a member of the group since it was formed in 2005, and she
said that all of the members share a love of traditional folk music
from various cultures.
"We're just a group of people that love folk music and love to put on
concerts," Smith said. "We wanted to create a venue where the public
could enjoy performances of traditional folk music."
"We stress traditional because there aren't a lot of venues where you
can hear it, and by traditional, I mean music that has been handed down
and reflects a culture, like the Armenian music that we'll be doing
this time. So, we aim to present folk music in a really nice setting."
The Richmond Folk Music Society has been exclusively hosting its
concerts at Congregation Or Ami, and Smith said it is a great location
for musical events.
"Well, for one thing, it's wonderful acoustically," Smith said. "It's
a nice space, it's handicapped accessible, and it provides a warm and
inviting environment for listening to music because this is strictly
for listening and to really appreciate the music."
Smith said she sought out the Hye Keys for the October performance
after she saw the band play. Each of the performers lives in the
Central Virginia region, and they have appeared locally at other
venues, such as the annual Armenian Food Festival.
"I saw them at a performance during a charity event, and I thought
they would be a good fit for Richmond Folk Music," Smith said.
"They're members of the Richmond community, and they're rooted in
their traditions, and that's the kind of thing that we want."
Perouz Manoujian is the bandleader and a vocalist and instrumentalist
for the Hye Keys. She said the band's adherence to Armenian customs
make its goals similar to the Richmond Folk Music Society's aims of
preserving traditional music.
"We have several different types of music in our culture," Manoujian
said. "Depending on the generation and when they came out of genocide,
(Armenians) brought their customs and music, and the ones that came
to America kept the music strong when they left Turkey."
So, how does the Armenian musical tradition shine through in the
Hye Keys' tunes? Manoujian said that the tempos are unique to the
regions where the music originated and that she will talk about those
geographical areas during the concert.
"Well, it's probably rhythms that are different," Manoujian said. "We
use 10-8, 9-8 and 7-9, and these songs come from the Armenian regions
of Turkey and the western sections of Armenia."
"At the show, I will explain that each song has a dance as well. Some
songs are for folk dancing, and some are used for party dancing,
but it's up to the band to play them so that they are danceable."
Manoujian said that the local Armenian population currently makes
up most of the Hye Keys' fan base, but she is looking forward to the
chance to share the band's songs with new listeners on Saturday.
And, Smith said she hopes that the event will help folk music fans
to broaden their horizons as well.
"Well, our music is very peppy, and we just have a good group of
musicians," Manoujian said. "So, we just keep increasing our repertoire
year after year, and I keep looking for new material for us to play."
"These songs and tunes have been handed down from generation to
generation, and they speak to people," Smith added. "An old song
takes you back, and it's been performed by generations before you,
so it comes from a well-spring of the past."
For more information, or to purchase or reserve tickets, call
804-647-7856 or visit www.richmondfolkmusic.com.
http://www2.midlothianexchange.com/entertainment/2012/oct/25/hye-keys-perform-armenian-music-congregation-or-am-ar-2312333/
By: Korey Hughes
Midlothian Exchange
Oct 25 2012
VA
Traditional Armenian music might be unfamiliar to most American
audiences, but local listeners will get the opportunity to hear it
live during the Hye Keys' performance at 8p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 27,
at Congregation Or Ami at 9400 W. Huguenot Road in North Chesterfield.
Doors open at 7:15 p.m.
The concert will be presented by the Richmond Folk Music Society. The
organization hosts traditional folk music concerts monthly at that
venue from September through May.
Mary Smith is the director of the Richmond Folk Music Society. She
has been a member of the group since it was formed in 2005, and she
said that all of the members share a love of traditional folk music
from various cultures.
"We're just a group of people that love folk music and love to put on
concerts," Smith said. "We wanted to create a venue where the public
could enjoy performances of traditional folk music."
"We stress traditional because there aren't a lot of venues where you
can hear it, and by traditional, I mean music that has been handed down
and reflects a culture, like the Armenian music that we'll be doing
this time. So, we aim to present folk music in a really nice setting."
The Richmond Folk Music Society has been exclusively hosting its
concerts at Congregation Or Ami, and Smith said it is a great location
for musical events.
"Well, for one thing, it's wonderful acoustically," Smith said. "It's
a nice space, it's handicapped accessible, and it provides a warm and
inviting environment for listening to music because this is strictly
for listening and to really appreciate the music."
Smith said she sought out the Hye Keys for the October performance
after she saw the band play. Each of the performers lives in the
Central Virginia region, and they have appeared locally at other
venues, such as the annual Armenian Food Festival.
"I saw them at a performance during a charity event, and I thought
they would be a good fit for Richmond Folk Music," Smith said.
"They're members of the Richmond community, and they're rooted in
their traditions, and that's the kind of thing that we want."
Perouz Manoujian is the bandleader and a vocalist and instrumentalist
for the Hye Keys. She said the band's adherence to Armenian customs
make its goals similar to the Richmond Folk Music Society's aims of
preserving traditional music.
"We have several different types of music in our culture," Manoujian
said. "Depending on the generation and when they came out of genocide,
(Armenians) brought their customs and music, and the ones that came
to America kept the music strong when they left Turkey."
So, how does the Armenian musical tradition shine through in the
Hye Keys' tunes? Manoujian said that the tempos are unique to the
regions where the music originated and that she will talk about those
geographical areas during the concert.
"Well, it's probably rhythms that are different," Manoujian said. "We
use 10-8, 9-8 and 7-9, and these songs come from the Armenian regions
of Turkey and the western sections of Armenia."
"At the show, I will explain that each song has a dance as well. Some
songs are for folk dancing, and some are used for party dancing,
but it's up to the band to play them so that they are danceable."
Manoujian said that the local Armenian population currently makes
up most of the Hye Keys' fan base, but she is looking forward to the
chance to share the band's songs with new listeners on Saturday.
And, Smith said she hopes that the event will help folk music fans
to broaden their horizons as well.
"Well, our music is very peppy, and we just have a good group of
musicians," Manoujian said. "So, we just keep increasing our repertoire
year after year, and I keep looking for new material for us to play."
"These songs and tunes have been handed down from generation to
generation, and they speak to people," Smith added. "An old song
takes you back, and it's been performed by generations before you,
so it comes from a well-spring of the past."
For more information, or to purchase or reserve tickets, call
804-647-7856 or visit www.richmondfolkmusic.com.
http://www2.midlothianexchange.com/entertainment/2012/oct/25/hye-keys-perform-armenian-music-congregation-or-am-ar-2312333/