The Gurdjieff Ensemble & Levon Eskenian - Zartir - 5515436

The Gurdjieff Ensemble & Levon Eskenian - Zartir - 5573844

Zartir

Regular: £13.99

Sale
Regular: £13.99

Sold Out

Unit Price: per

Cat No: 5515436

Release Date: 24 November 2023

Label: ECM

Packaging Type: Jewel Case

No of Units: 1

Barcode: 602455154361

Genres: Jazz

Release Date: 26 January 2024

Label: ECM

Packaging Type: Slip Sleeve (CD or Vinyl)

No of Units: 1

Barcode: 602455738448

Genres: Jazz

Description

The third album from Levon Eskenian's remarkable ensemble is its most adventurous to date. As well as reclaiming the music of esoteric teacher G. I. Gurdjieff for folk instrumentation, Zartir situates Gurdjieff in a tradition of Armenian bards and troubadours including Ashugh Jivani, Baghdasar Tbir and the legendary Sayat-Nova. In parallel, an emphasis on pieces for sacred dance reaches its apex in The Great Prayer, an entrancing collaboration between the Gurdjieff Ensemble and the National Chamber Choir of Armenia, which draws upon ritual music of multiple faiths. Arranger Eskenian says, "I believe The Great Prayer is more than a mere 'composition'. It is one of the most profound and transformative pieces I have encountered in Gurdjieff's work."

Zartir was recorded in Yerevan in 2021 and mixed and completed in Munich in November 2022 by Levon Eskenian, Tigran Kuzikyan, and Manfred Eicher.

Gurdjieff Ensemble
Levon Eskenian: artistic director, arranger
National Chamber Choir of Armenia (NCCA)
Robert Mlkeyan: artistic director

Description

The third album from Levon Eskenian's remarkable ensemble is its most adventurous to date. As well as reclaiming the music of esoteric teacher G. I. Gurdjieff for folk instrumentation, Zartir situates Gurdjieff in a tradition of Armenian bards and troubadours including Ashugh Jivani, Baghdasar Tbir and the legendary Sayat-Nova. In parallel, an emphasis on pieces for sacred dance reaches its apex in The Great Prayer, an entrancing collaboration between the Gurdjieff Ensemble and the National Chamber Choir of Armenia, which draws upon ritual music of multiple faiths. Arranger Eskenian says, "I believe The Great Prayer is more than a mere 'composition'. It is one of the most profound and transformative pieces I have encountered in Gurdjieff's work." Zartir was recorded in Yerevan in 2021 and mixed and completed in Munich in November 2022 by Levon Eskenian, Tigran Kuzikyan, and Manfred Eicher.

Gurdjieff Ensemble
Levon Eskenian: artistic director, arranger
National Chamber Choir of Armenia (NCCA)
Robert Mlkeyan: artistic director
Tracklisting
Tracklisting