"We are all living on the threshold of a terrible apocalyptic judgement", wrote Armenian composer Avet Terterian (1929-94). "It has always seemed to me that my symphonies are a cry of the soul for salvation and for the forgiveness of sins." Kirill Karabits and the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra perform Terterian's Third and Fourth Symphonies. Alongside Khachaturian, Terterian – whose influences include Giya Kancheli and Armenian folk and liturgical music – is considered Armenia's greatest 20th-century composer.
Featuring
Tigran Aleksanyan
Vahe Hovanesian
Kirill Karabits
Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
Avet Terterian
Komitas Vardapet
Anonymous (Traditional)
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Instruments
The duduk, an ancient double-reed instrument made of apricot wood, is native to Armenia and is a symbol of the nation, known for its 'otherworldly sound'.
Historical Context
Terterian's music is deeply imbued with the spirit of Armenia, including its traditions, landscape, and the legacy of the Armenian genocide perpetrated by the Ottomans.
Cultural Impact
The unique sound of the Armenian duduk has led to its inclusion in film scores like Gladiator and television adaptations such as Game of Thrones.
Composer Biography
Avet Rubeni Terterian is considered a giant of 20th-century Armenian music, alongside Aram Khachaturian, and the founder of his nation's progressive school of composers.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Terterian's symphonies, eight of which form the backbone of his achievement, were described by the composer as 'a cry of the soul for salvation and for the forgiveness of sins'.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Terterian believed his compositions were 'a way, a road to God', reflecting an extrasensory world where music lives and allows one to hear the 'vibrations of the Earth and the Cosmos'.
Compositional Technique
Terterian's Third and Fifth Symphonies include folk instruments, while the Eighth is scored for two sopranos, tape, and orchestra, showcasing the individuality of each symphony.
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Giya Kancheli: Mourned by the Wind
Kirchner: Sinfonie "Totentanz" / Requiem "Messa di Pace"
