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Gulf Times, Qatar
Sept 28 2012
Armenian kanun virtuoso to play solo at Katara today
Armenian kanun virtuoso Karine Hovhannisyan will be the guest soloist
in Khachatur Avetisyan's Second Kanun Concerto at the Qatar
Philharmonic Orchestra's concert today, in the Katara Opera House.
Music director Michalis Economou will conduct the programme, which
also includes Ludwig van Beethoven's Egmont Overture and Antonin
Dvorak's Eighth Symphony.
An ancient instrument of Middle Eastern origin, the kanun may be
described as a lap-harp that sits across the player's knees or on a
small table. It has four sides and is trapezoid in shape.
Most instruments have approximately 72 strings, arranged in groups of
three, and tuned by raising or lowering levers that control the
tension of each string.
The levers create subtle changes in pitch that accommodate the tuning
practices in various regions of the Middle East. The strings are
fitted into a wooden frame with a flat sound box that is usually made
of rosewood.
The strings of the kanun are plucked with fingerpicks made of tortoise
shell or horn plectra which extend from each index finger and are held
in place by circular metal bands. The tone of the instrument is
reminiscent of that of the harpsichord, and is characterised by an
unmistakable incisive quality.
A student of Avetisyan, Hovhannisyan has been a tireless advocate for
his music, performing and recording his most important works for
kanun.
Most recently, she has performed with the Glendale Symphony and
Philharmonia New York and at such prestigious venues as Carnegie Hall,
New York Symphony Space, Skirball Center Los Angeles, Museum of Art in
Cleveland, Philadelphia Kimmel Center, Smithsonian and Kennedy Center
in Washington DC. She has conducted master classes at Dartmouth,
Harvard and Cornell Universities.
QPO executive director Kurt Meister said the distinctive sound of the
kanun fits well with a symphony orchestra. `Indeed, we're continually
bringing Middle Eastern and western musical culture together in line
with our mission to bridge the world's traditions.'
The Philharmonic's next public concert is a chamber music programme on
October 17 which includes Arnold Schoenberg's Transfigured Night.
Tickets for today's concert are available at Virgin Megastore, and
full information is available at qatarphilharmonicorchestra.org
http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=534127&version=1&templ ate_id=36&parent_id=16
Sept 28 2012
Armenian kanun virtuoso to play solo at Katara today
Armenian kanun virtuoso Karine Hovhannisyan will be the guest soloist
in Khachatur Avetisyan's Second Kanun Concerto at the Qatar
Philharmonic Orchestra's concert today, in the Katara Opera House.
Music director Michalis Economou will conduct the programme, which
also includes Ludwig van Beethoven's Egmont Overture and Antonin
Dvorak's Eighth Symphony.
An ancient instrument of Middle Eastern origin, the kanun may be
described as a lap-harp that sits across the player's knees or on a
small table. It has four sides and is trapezoid in shape.
Most instruments have approximately 72 strings, arranged in groups of
three, and tuned by raising or lowering levers that control the
tension of each string.
The levers create subtle changes in pitch that accommodate the tuning
practices in various regions of the Middle East. The strings are
fitted into a wooden frame with a flat sound box that is usually made
of rosewood.
The strings of the kanun are plucked with fingerpicks made of tortoise
shell or horn plectra which extend from each index finger and are held
in place by circular metal bands. The tone of the instrument is
reminiscent of that of the harpsichord, and is characterised by an
unmistakable incisive quality.
A student of Avetisyan, Hovhannisyan has been a tireless advocate for
his music, performing and recording his most important works for
kanun.
Most recently, she has performed with the Glendale Symphony and
Philharmonia New York and at such prestigious venues as Carnegie Hall,
New York Symphony Space, Skirball Center Los Angeles, Museum of Art in
Cleveland, Philadelphia Kimmel Center, Smithsonian and Kennedy Center
in Washington DC. She has conducted master classes at Dartmouth,
Harvard and Cornell Universities.
QPO executive director Kurt Meister said the distinctive sound of the
kanun fits well with a symphony orchestra. `Indeed, we're continually
bringing Middle Eastern and western musical culture together in line
with our mission to bridge the world's traditions.'
The Philharmonic's next public concert is a chamber music programme on
October 17 which includes Arnold Schoenberg's Transfigured Night.
Tickets for today's concert are available at Virgin Megastore, and
full information is available at qatarphilharmonicorchestra.org
http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=534127&version=1&templ ate_id=36&parent_id=16