Friday, October 10, 2008

Isabel Bayrakdarian: Andooni/Without a Home

Yes, this song is on Bayrakdarian's October 19 program. It was written by Armenian composer, singer, ethnomusicologist, choir conductor, and pedagogue, Gomidas Vartabed, who was arrested and deported during the early stages of the Armenian Genocide of 1915. U.S. Ambassador Henry Morgenthau arranged for Gomidas to return to Armenia, where he discovered that he had lost everything - friends, students, and most of his life's work. Gomidas was overcome with anguish, never composed again and ended his life in a mental institution.

I don't know about you, but this performance leaves me absolutely speechless. I will post more of Bayrakdarian's and Gomidas' work in video form if I can find it.  



No comments:

Post a Comment