ST. MESROP MAŠTOC’ Two hymns from the cycle of Great Lent
TRADITIONAL Psalms 71, 1-6 and 72, 11-19
STEP'ANOS SYUNEC'I Three Fragments from the Great Resurrection Blessing
ANONYMOUS MEDIEVAL AUTHOR Lyric Hymn from the cycle depicting the Lord “Christ, King of Glorification”
KOMITAS I. AŁC’EC’I Hymn from the Cycle of Saint Hr°ip’sime, “Humans surrendering” arranged by Komitas Vardapet
SAINT SAHAK PART’EW Hymn from the Maundy Cycle “Today was Erected (the Baptismal Font)” arranged by Komitas Vardapet
MXIT’AR AYRIVANEC’I Songs from the Maundy Cycle arranged by Komitas Vardapet
This Secret has been Fulfilled
Lord, with Your Mercy
Now Liberate us
My Heart Trembles
SAINT GREGOR NAREKAC’I Lyric Resurrection Hymn “The Bird, the Bird”
SAINT NERSES ŠNORHALI Hymn for Sunrise “Light of the Morning” arranged by Ervand Erkanyan
ASCRIBED AŠOT PATRIK BAGRATUNI Hymn from the Cycle for the Exaltation of the Holy Cross “Those made in Your Image” arranged by Daniel Eražišt
SAINT NERSES ŠNORHALI From the Holy Liturgy, Greeting of Peace “Christ has appeared among us” arranged by Komitas Vardapet
ANONYMOUS MEDIEVAL AUTHOR Lyric Resurrection Hymn “Mary Magdalene” arranged by Komitas Vardapet
HAKOB KLAYEC’I From the Cycle of Mary’s Birth, Hymn “Today the Heavens Rejoice” arranged by Ervand Erkanyan
XAČ’ATUR TARONEC’I From the Holy Liturgy (Preparation of the Priest),
Hymn of Assuming Vestments “Profound Mystery” arranged by Komitas Vardapet
HAKOB SANAHNEC’I Hymn from the Canon of the Departed “Before the Eternal Womb of the Father” arranged by Ervand Erkanyan
ANONYMOUS MEDIEVAL AUTHOR From the Holy Liturgy, Sanctus “Holy, Holy, Holy” arranged by Komitas Vardapet
SAINT NERSES ŠNORHALI Good Friday Song “Spread from Hand to Hand” arranged by Ervand Erkanyan
ANONYMOUS MEDIEVAL AUTHOR Lyric Hymn for the Crucifixion “Mother of God”
SIMEON EREWANC’I From the Holy Liturgy, “Lord, have Mercy upon us” arranged by Makar Ekmalyan
ANONYMOUS MEDIEVAL AUTHOR From the Holy Liturgy, Synaxis, Hymn of Incense “Through the intercession” arranged by Komitas Vardapet
ANONYMOUS MEDIEVAL AUTHOR From the Holy Liturgy, Communion Song “Christ has been sacrificed” arranged by Komitas Vardapet
Armenian sacred music is one of the oldest branches of the Eastern Christian musical culture. The main period in its development lasted roughly from the 5th to the 15th century. Christianity penetrated into Armenian reality in the middle of the 1st century, brought by Apostles St. Thaddeus and St. Bartholomew. In 301 AD, Christianity became the sole state religion in Armenia and in 405 AD St. Mesrop Mashtots created the Armenian alphabet. These events, along with the translation of the Bible have created prerequisites for the development of church culture.
The 5th century is considered the first important stage in developing of new independent sacred chants in addition to the existing biblical psalms and hymns. Until that time, the main form of musical organization of the church ceremony was psalmody. The psalms were sung to an Eight-mode system. In the 7th century these independent chants, adjacent to psalms and prophetic blessings, so called ktsurds, were compiled in a separate book, thus becoming a prototype for the Armenian Sharaknots (Hymnarium). Ktsurds served as a foundation for the main genre of Armenian sacred music, sharakan. Alongside of sharakans, later a highly developed type (genre) system of Armenian chants was formed.
By the early 8th century the khaz system – special musical notation for recording of sacred melodies – is beginning to develop. After the 15th century the khaz system was gradually declining. In the 19th the main medieval Liturgical hymns were re-recorded in New Armenian Notation and published, including Sharaknots, composed of more than 1800 sharakans. In the second half of the 19th century the sacred melodies reflecting the monodic thinking, along with Armenian folk songs became a foundation for Armenian school of homophonic/polyphonic music. One of the best examples of that art is Komitas’ Patarag (Liturgy).
Prof. Mher Navoyan, Artistic director of “Geghard” Vocal Ensemble