"Studio" is an exciting new series of zoom meetings and workshops about arts and culture. The Music series are Lecture-Demonstrations on different aspects of Armenian music each led by experts in their field, beginning with sacred music. Future sessions include classical, contemporary, folk and popular music. AI is grateful to Arts Council England for their support of the Studio Series.
MUSIC STUDIO - SESSION 1: Musical modes and the Armenian Eight-Mode system
A musical mode is a particular sound environment. It creates a specific auditory sensation resulting in a “state of being”, an ethos. Whereas modern Western music has only the major and minor "modes ", numerous musical modes exist in a very large region from the Balkans to India. Modes are much more than just a series of pitches but rather can be described as " a sound environment ".
In Armenian church music, these different sound environments are organized within a system called the Oktoechos, the Eight-Mode system, which is especially important as a system for organizing the cyclic liturgical calendar, on which the musical aspect largely depends. The Armenian Eight-Mode system operates especially within the sharagan songs, a large repertoire of more than 1300 songs, almost all based on a variation system of melodic patterns according to the text.
During our meeting, we will listen to some examples and try to feel the sound environment created by each mode of the Oktoechos.
Aram Kerovpyan
Aram Kerovpyan, born in Istanbul, has lived in Paris since 1977 and holds a PhD in musicology. Co-founder of the Ensemble Kotchnak, he is also founder/director of the Centre for Armenian Modal Chant Studies of Paris, the Ensemble Akn and between 1990 and 2020, Master-singer of the Armenian Cathedral of Paris. He has published many books and articles on Armenian modal music and transmission and directs workshops with Virginia Pattie Kerovpyan, also working regularly as a concert artist and in theater.
Virginia Pattie Kerovpyan
Virginia Pattie Kerovpyan, born in Washington, D.C., moved to Paris in 1974. She has performed and recorded with various early music ensembles, as well as with contemporary music groups. Soloist of the Kotchnak and Akn ensembles, she has specialised in Armenian song since 1980. Her interpretation brings to the forefront the essence of this music, making its discovery and transmission more accessible.
Our Music Studio Sessions will be presented over 5 Lecture-demonstrations by different artists about various musical styles and directions. More details coming soon.
You can join the meeting with these details on Zoom:
Meeting ID: 818 4400 5280
Join Link https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81844005280
THE EVENT IS FREE BUT BY DONATING BELOW YOU WILL SUPPORT SIMILAR PROGRAMMES, LECTURES AND WORKSHOPS IN THE FUTURE
Email tato@armenianinstitute.org.uk if you have any questions about the sessions.