Music of the Caucasus [Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia etc.]

[caostotale]

As seen elsewhere on this forum, this composer literally wrote the textbook on polyphonic music for the Armenian music community, a volume that pulls a huge amount of examples out of her own country's composers. Here is her own cycle of compositions exploring that territory, while keeping one foot in Armenian folk traditions:

The author's note on the first book translates to:

'When I created my cycle of preludes and fugues, one of my main goals was to draw attention to the modes of Armenian music and their hidden expressive power. The appeal of folk music modes to composers of the modern era is of particular importance, acting as a counter to the modernist tendency towards the destruction of modal foundations. The cycle is all original material with the exceptions of Fugue III, based on the theme from the second part of the Armenian folk song 'Zagormin' ('Mercy'), and Fugue V, which is the main theme of a folk-dance tune 'Chem i chem' ('I cannot'). To facilitate the analysis of all the fugues, they are marked with appropriate symbols.

LEGEND:
T - main theme
(upside down T) - theme in circulation (protivodvizhenii)
(sideways T) - theme in the return (rakokhodnom) motion
(outlined T) - theme increased'

The notes on the second volume are largely the same, except some of the themes in the later set come from different sources, including a play on the B-A-C-H and D-Es-C-H themes of Bach and Shostakovich.

Gayane Moiseyevna CHEBOTARYAN
Preludes and Fugues (12) on Armenian modes, for piano (1984-86)

Chebotaryan - Preludes and Fugues (12) on Armenian Modes, for piano - book 1 (1984).pdf

Chebotaryan - Preludes and Fugues (12) on Armenian Modes, for piano - book 2 (1985-86).pdf

[Jim Faston]

I just came across a recording of a nice little Elegy by Vasif Adigezalov. A quick search doesn't show it here or at the usual haunts--does anyone have a score they could share? Thanks.

[caostotale]

Is it this piece, Jim?:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WpMbzcq8tco

If so, it's the first of the twenty-four preludes shared previously. In that set, it's marked Andante and bears an Azerbaijani title that I can't translate.

[Jim Faston]

Is it this piece, Jim?:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WpMbzcq8tco

If so, it's the first of the twenty-four preludes shared previously. In that set, it's marked Andante and bears an Azerbaijani title that I can't translate.

That's the one--many thanks. The Youtube video you provided a link to seems to be the same performance as the mp3 I downloaded--both are named Elegy. I see in Malcolm's list that there is an Elegy listed as a stand alone piece--is there yet another Elegy to be found? Thanks. again.

[caostotale]

That's the one--many thanks. The Youtube video you provided a link to seems to be the same performance as the mp3 I downloaded--both are named Elegy. I see in Malcolm's list that there is an Elegy listed as a stand alone piece--is there yet another Elegy to be found? Thanks. again.

It's not mentioned on any work lists I've seen, including this one:
http://azer.com/aiweb/categories/magazi ... works.html

I would guess that Adigezalov's prelude set represents a few years worth of different short works, much like similar 'sets of 24' like the one by Armenian composer Eduard Abramian, which was also composed over a considerable period of time. At some point, I may try to translate the titles in that volume.

There might be another Elegy, but I feel like it's just the one work, later repurposed as a prelude.

[Jim Faston]

That's the one--many thanks. The Youtube video you provided a link to seems to be the same performance as the mp3 I downloaded--both are named Elegy. I see in Malcolm's list that there is an Elegy listed as a stand alone piece--is there yet another Elegy to be found? Thanks. again.

It's not mentioned on any work lists I've seen, including this one:
http://azer.com/aiweb/categories/magazi ... works.html

I would guess that Adigezalov's prelude set represents a few years worth of different short works, much like similar 'sets of 24' like the one by Armenian composer Eduard Abramian, which was also composed over a considerable period of time. At some point, I may try to translate the titles in that volume.

There might be another Elegy, but I feel like it's just the one work, later repurposed as a prelude.

I think the translation is First Notebook (heading of No1), Second Notebook (heading of No8), Third Notebook (heading of No11) and Fourth Notebook (heading of No18). I see no indication of the title Elegy in the collection of preludes, but the Youtube video and the file I came across are both recordings of the first prelude entitled Elegy. Interesting.

[Jim Faston]

As for the Nocturne--there is this piano recording on Youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFxEbYr_Mzw
I wonder if there is a published piano solo version--I find recordings of and references to instrumental versions but not for piano solo. Perhaps this is the performer's transcription? Any info?

There is definitely a piano solo version. Notice this comment by Uhlanga:
"Are you still looking for the sheets? I have them, but it's the version for the piano, if it's any use to you, I can send them."
here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDvWTHkNedE

If anyone with a youtube could contact Uhlanga, I would be grateful.

http://www.buy-sheet-music.me4u.biz/ has the version for flute, clarinet and piano, and the violin, cello and piano version under Vajha (Vaja, Waja, Wajha) Azarashvili. I don't see a piano solo version there. I've sent them an email and will keep you posted.



jeremy

I just uploaded a string quartet arrangement of Azarashvili's Nocturne that I came across to the String Quartets section of the Chamber Music discussion forum. This will have to do until a genuine piano solo version surfaces.

[remy]

Thanks very much, Jim. That's a great start.

I got an email from http://www.buy-sheet-music.me4u.biz/ saying that they would search for the piano solo score and let me know. If they can't find it, I'll order one or both of the chamber versions with a real piano part.

Thanks again for all your wonderful scores.


jeremy

[caostotale]

Another web find...

Georgian/Jewish composer Josef Bardanashvili has a number of his works available as free PDFs on his website, including two works for solo piano:

http://www.bardanashvili.com/#!/page_Score

[relative]

Arutiun (Tunik) Oganesyan (Ovannisyan)(1908-1941)

http://www.golos.am/index.php?option=co ... &Itemid=53
http://www.dgh.name/ru/dgh5141o.html

Oganesyan Arutiun (Tunik) Theme with variations.pdf.rar