It’s difficult to be objective in assessing music that one has grown up listening to. Being of Greek heritage, I was weaned on folk music akin to the music directed by Levon Eskenian and performed by The National Chamber Choir of Armenia and musicians playing the duduk, oud, tombak, santur, tmbuk and singing bowls.
The songs are traditional themes, with cantoral chants akin to monks on “Azrtir (Wake UP)”, and earthy vocals with the exotic strings on “Dard Mi Ani (Do N ot Fret)”. Flute and strings softly hold hands on the “Oriental Dance” and the village solo dance of “No. 10” is at a perfect pulse for interpretation. There is a somber hovering to “ The Great Prayer” and the reedy duduk cries out on the cantoral “Introduction and Funeral Ceremony”. All that’s missing are the pomegranates and olives.