“The spiritual beauty of the music provokes a mix of joy and ecstasy” — J-P Brossard, Les Trans Musicales
“A moment of grace and meditation” — The Rolling Stone
With new instruments and new sounds, The Naghash Ensemble’s “Lamentations & Benedictions” explores a much broader emotional range. The album’s signature piece is “Lamentations on the Death of a Child,” a heartfelt lament by medieval Armenian poet Mkritch Naghash after his son fell in battle. This 25-minute-long piece musically reflects his deep sorrow and is a powerful memento of the young man’s life. “Woe to Those Who Keep a Grudge,” is a sermon on the perils of judgment with a sound that is equally ancient and modern. “Advice and Admonitions to the Soul,” contains propelling medieval wisdom with music that interweaves all facets of The Naghash Ensemble’s virtuosity. The closing piece “Ode to the Prophets, Christ and St. Gregory the Illuminator,” reflects hope, encouragement and joy arising from man’s spiritual connection with the world.
This CD comes with a beautifully designed book based on Mkrtich Naghash’s paintings, a brilliant essay about Naghash’s life and times, as well as John Hodian’s thoughts on reimagining Armenian culture through contemporary music. As with the other volumes, all texts are in four languages (English, Armenian, German & French).
The accompanying book features pictures of each of The Naghash Ensemble’s singers and musicians along with thoughts on their contribution to the ensemble’s unique sound.
Tracks:
- Prelude to Lamentations on the Death of a Child
- Lamentations on the Death of a Child
- Woe to Those Who Keep a Grudge
- Prelude to Advice and Admonitions to the Soul
- Advice and Admonitions to the Soul
- Ode to the Prophets, Christ and St. Gregory the Illuminator
