Mikael Ayrapetyan - Barkhudarian: 4 Oriental Dances, 12 Armenian Dances & Piano Pieces (2018) [Official Digital Download 24/88]

The Armenian and Georgian composer Sarkis Vasil’evich Barkhudarian is famed for his piano miniatures. Some are among the first piano works to use Armenian folk themes as the basis for a series of original compositions. His colourful and unusual harmonies, created by the sinuous, interweaving modes of Armenian music, are immediately attractive and his miniatures, whether full of grace or pungent dance rhythms, bear out Glazunov’s admiration of his ‘sincerity, elegance and harmony of form’.

“Armenia is famous for its ancient history and cultural traditions that permeate the country's wealth of music. With its depth of expression, lyricism and authentic reflection of national traits, Armenian music retains a special place in the world's artistic heritage. My 'Secrets of Armenia' international music project is the country's leading authority on Armenian classical music. It leads the way in a pioneering development and appreciation of forgotten, yet uniquely significant pieces of Armenia's classical tradition. Art should not remain in oblivion.” (Mikael Ayrapetyan)

"The Armenian-born pianist, Mikael Ayrapetyan continues his invaluable survey of music from his homeland, though in this case the link is a little more tenuous. Sarkis Barkhudarian was born in Georgia in 1887 where he first learned to play the piano as a very young child, before being admitted into the Berlin Hochschule, eventually graduating in St. Petersburg. As a composer he was to meet all of the Communist party diktats following the Revolution, eventually returning to Georgia to head the composition section of Tbilisi Conservatory. He was active in most genres including works for the theatre and concert hall, but today his name largely resides in his works for solo piano, his style belonging in the era of Glazunov, though he was to live through to 1973. It would be difficult not enjoy his music, though, with thirty-six tracks on the disc, you will gather that these cameos are essentially pretty tunes that he leaves largely undeveloped, and most are of folk-inspired origins. As a sampling point try the last three of the Twelve Armenian Dances (tracks 14 to 16). You need clean finger articulation that Ayrapetyan can supply in abundance, and the recorded sound is excellent. Its all makes a pleasing diversion." (David’s Review Corner)

Tracklist:
01. Oriental Dances: No. 1, —
02. Oriental Dances: No. 2, —
03. Oriental Dances: No. 3, —
04. Oriental Dances: No. 4, —
05. 12 Armenian Dances: No. 1, Dance of the Bride
06. 12 Armenian Dances: No. 2, Children's Dance
07. 12 Armenian Dances: No. 3, Dance of Matchmaker
08. 12 Armenian Dances: No. 4, Dance of Rural Girls
09. 12 Armenian Dances: No. 5, Provocative Dance
10. 12 Armenian Dances: No. 6, Maiden's Roundelay
11. 12 Armenian Dances: No. 7, Dance of Friendship
12. 12 Armenian Dances: No. 8, Dance of a Mountain Girl
13. 12 Armenian Dances: No. 9, Dance of Farewell
14. 12 Armenian Dances: No. 10, Masker's Dance
15. 12 Armenian Dances: No. 11, Circular Dance
16. 12 Armenian Dances: No. 12, Festive Dance
17. Piano Pieces, Series 1: No. 1, Naz-Par
18. Piano Pieces, Series 1: No. 2, Fairy Tale
19. Piano Pieces, Series 1: No. 3, Sketch in B Minor
20. Piano Pieces, Series 1: No. 4, Watercolor
21. Piano Pieces, Series 1: No. 5, Smooth Dance
22. Piano Pieces, Series 1: No. 6, Lullaby
23. Piano Pieces, Series 1: No. 7, Maiden Dance
24. Piano Pieces, Series 1: No. 8, Boots-Dragonfly
25. Piano Pieces, Series 1: No. 9, Dance in A-Flat Major
26. Piano Pieces, Series 1: No. 10, Sketch in D Minor
27. Piano Pieces, Series 2: No. 1, Scherzo
28. Piano Pieces, Series 2: No. 2, Circular Dance in B Minor
29. Piano Pieces, Series 2: No. 3, Gulnara's Dance
30. Piano Pieces, Series 2: No. 4, Nanochka's Dance
31. Piano Pieces, Series 2: No. 5, Anoush's Sorrow
32. Piano Pieces, Series 2: No. 6, Prelude in D Minor
33. Piano Pieces, Series 2: No. 7, Prelude in D-Sharp Minor
34. Piano Pieces, Series 2: No. 8, Nocturne
35. Piano Pieces, Series 2: No. 9, Sketch in A Major
36. Piano Pieces, Series 2: No. 10, Lullaby of Shushani

Personnel:
Mikael Ayrapetyan, piano