Keiko Shichijo is a Japanese pianist based in The Netherlands. In this album, she interprets the work of the Armenian priest, musicologist, composer, arranger, singer, and choirmaster, Komitas Vardapet.
Armenian Music
[Music] Byzantine Time Machine – Adventure In Istanbul
Byzantine Time Machine are a new discovery, thanks to a darling friend in Italy who hipped me to their mix of ethno-dub music a few months ago.
[Music/Culture] The Bard of the Caucasus: Armenian, Azeri, and Georgian Legacies of Sayat-Nova
It is truly a shame that such a treasure like Sayat-Nova, whose works were written in Armenian, Azeri, Georgian and Russia has been turned into a tool for nationalism.
Kamyar Jarahzadeh writes a wonderful article on the legendary band here for Ajam Media Collective.
[Music] Shoom – Tried To Sing But Couldn’t
Thirteen years ago, I was given an opportunity to work with Shoom, an Israeli band whose sound nestles comfortably within the realm of Mediterranean ethnocore, avant-rock and ethno-rock, a term I’ve not heard in quite some time, but which seems appropriate for this band.
Lots of percussion and guitars flow quite nicely with a duduk making melodies on top. Definitely worth a listen to this album, as well as their back catalog.
[Music] Various Artists – Nightingales & Canaries, Vol. 1: “Oriental” Women on Record, New York & Istanbul, 1928-55
https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=3272306330/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/transparent=true/New York City was home to a vibrant musical scene filled with singers from Anatolia, Istanbul and the region of Roumelia. Christians and Jews joined together in making some rather bawdy music.
This treasure was released by Ian Nagoski’s Canary Records, a label filled with some absolute gems.
[Music] The Gurdjieff Folk Instruments Ensemble – Chant for a Holy Book
No need to comment on this group. Just let the music envelop you.
[Music] Gregory Ayriyan – s/t
After years of having to let this project lie dormant, I’m proud to announce the resurrection of my record label, the Carrera-Linn Cultural Exchange (CLCX). Our first release is from the Russian-based Armenian-American violinist Gregory Ayriyan, who composed all but three of the tracks on this disc. The other composers include Sayat Nova, Komitas, and Niccolò Paganini, so he interprets the cream of the crop.
A Miscellany Of Tasteful Music 