Vem Radio: Analyses & News from Armenia, Christianity & Culture, Classical & Sacred Music: Vem Radio - Music

Vem records Armenian sacred music (sharakans) at Vem Recordings Studio, with the purpose of creating a comprehensive compilation of Armenian spiritual music. The recordings are done with the best choirs and soloists. In 2005, Vem released “The Way” album of Armenian sharakans, performed by the acclaimed Hover Chamber Choir of Armenia, and “De Profundis”, with soloists Anahit Papayan, Lusine Ghazarian and the Hover Chamber Choir. In 2007, Vem Recordings published the album of the renowned Komitas State Quartet, including masterpieces by the leading contemporary Armenian composers.

Vem has recorded a high quality CD of Armenian sharakans performed by the legendary Hilliard Ensemble in Saghmosavank, an historic Armenian 12th Century Monastery. Vem was instrumental in bringing this world renowned ensemble of the UK to Armenia in 2003.

Komitas Secular and Sacred Songs

In 2009, in commemoration of Komitas’s 140th anniversary of birth, the Armenian Chamber Choir with Robert Mlkeyan as its Artistic Director and Principal Conductor, released a double CD – “Komitas: Secular and Sacred Songs.” The project was sponsored by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Armenia and Vatche and Tamar Manoukian Benevolent Association. The recordings were made at Saghmosavank.

The recordings include choral arrangements of peasant and spiritual songs by Komitas. That is to say, the core areas of the Armenian music are represented in one project side by side. The section “Secular Songs” consists of series of wedding songs, Armenian folk songs and dance melodies, choral arrangements of labor and love songs.

The “Sacred Songs” section embraces excerpts from the Divine Liturgy (Patarag), hymns for the Washing of Feet and the Water Blessing. The enclosed booklet contains musicologist and art critic Dr. Mher Navoyan’s brief summary of Komitas’s life, as well as background information about the Armenian Chamber Choir and Robert Mlkeyan.

The graphic design of the booklet includes photographs of Komitas, Saghmosavank, the Armenian Chamber Choir and Robert Mlkeyan.

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