"Not being Armenian, I can't vouch for the authenticity of the performance, but it strikes me as being the real thing. The music is mostly subdued with occasional sections of emotional exuberance. Since most of the work is fairly dark, I wouldn't recommend this to those who have immature tastes in music or are looking for some more of that "purty Russian music". I would recommend it, without hesitation, to those who enjoy Eastern Orthodox music and aren't hung up on the purty Russian music stereotype. I think a good test of whether or not this is for you is: If you think the "music" of Jackson Berkey is pure slop then you stand a good chance of liking this recording. The all male choir is not a spit and polish professional group, but they are directed well, do a good job, and convey genuine feeling in their performance. The solo work is quite good. Good listening for your melancholy days."
Disgracefully Underated
Fr.Elia | Ellisville,, MS United States | 06/21/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is a flawless rendition of the eternally famous Komitas Liturgy by an unsurpassed choir. A Cappela renditions of Armenian Church music like this are hard to find, since miserably, organs have been often introduced. That makes this doubly precious. It rates TEN stars! How could you give it two? Must be an error."
Beautifully Moving Music
Early Music Fan | U.S.A. | 04/26/2005
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I just bought this CD and am impressed by its beauty and grace. This choir chants the lovely hymns of the Armenian Liturgy in deep, rich, and resonant voices. Yes, the music is often dark and sad, but that is part of the journey from penitence to celebration.
If you enjoy sacred Russian or Eastern music (or even Early Byzantine Music), you will love this."
Great performance of Gomidas' Sourp Badarak (Holy Sacrifice)
Timothy D. Aznavourian | Providence, RI | 08/31/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Gomidas Vartabed (Komitas in Eastern Armenian) was a great composer/ethnomusicologist in his own right, but this is his crowning achievement. In this work, Gomidas conveyed the eternal suffering, pain, joy and jubilation of the Armenian people. This is enhanced by the fact that it was composed during the turbulent and tragic times of 1915-1923 in Turkish Armenia. This is the musical equivalent of Arshile Gorky's "Mother and Son" in terms of its solemnity, truth and beauty with an equal amount of mythology surrounding the artist-composer (Gomidas would later go insane from what he saw during 1915-1919 and would never compose again).
The performance of the Sourp Gayane Choir is fantastic; I have never heard a better performance in terms of quality, evenness and correctness of tone. They provide a fine interpretation - although of course it is not to be rivaled by the real thing heard in an Armenian church! I would highly recommend this CD to anyone interested in the Liturgies of Orthodox Church and generally to anyone interested in hearing sacred, historical, beautiful music."
Track Listings (3) - Disc #1
