Djivan Gasparyan – Soul Of Armenia – Double Cd
The title of this well presented 2CD longbox set from the renowned German label Network might seem a little clichéd, but if any musician deserves such an accolade, it’s Djivan Gasparyan. He is the world’s most celebrated player of the duduk – an ancient apricot-wood oboe also found in neighbouring Georgia and Turkey, but most commonly associated with Armenia. Gasparyan has been synonymous with the instrument in world music circles since 1989, when Brian Eno licensed an album of his, releasing it as I Will Not Be Sad In This World. More recently, he has lent the sinuous but mellow tones of his instrument to movie soundtracks such as Gladiator, The Crow and Dead Man Walking. But as the detailed sleeve notes explain, Gasparyan’s career actually stretches back six decades, and judging by the most recent recordings on this collection, he’s still going strong.
It’s tempting to assume that the tragic history of Armenia has coloured the emotional tone of the mostly traditional duduk repertoire Gasparyan plays. Even so, much of it actually predates the country’s woes (catastrophic earthquake, genocide, war) of the last century or so, going back as far as the haunting 12th century church song “Amen Hair Surb” which closes disc 2 with an incredible lump-in-the-throat intensity. The overwhelmingly mournful tone of Gasparyan’s duduk probably has more to do with his use of the mugham modal system. Whatever, those with a love of sad-sounding minor key music or even the blues will find plenty to love here.
The selection opens with the gorgeously austere “Machkal Es” from I Will Not Be Sad In This World, featuring Gasparyan on solo duduk, accompanied only (as in several other places) by a second duduk player on an unbroken drone, achieved by circular breathing. The other tracks are taken from most of the albums he has made since, but nearly half the material was recorded during spring 2007 in LA with a variety of accompanists. These include his grandson, Djivan Gasparyan Jr. on second duduk, harpist Julia Conigham, an ensemble of 3 other duduk players and the LA Classic Ensemble, who provide tastefully restrained string arrangements on the “Komitas-Suite”. The two pieces with the Avedis String Orchestra are a revelation, with even more sensitive string arrangements. Other notable collaborations include an uncharacteristically subdued and melodic performance by Tuvan avant-garde singer Sainkho Namtchylak, an ensemble piece featuring Iranian artist Hossein Alizadeh and one with Turkish baglama (lute) player Erkan Ogur. Gasparyan also sings in several places, and his voice is remarkably similar in tone to the duduk.
Though firmly rooted in tradition, Gasparyan has been famously open to experiments, and inevitably not all of these work. “Take My Heart” (one of two tracks with Canadian guitarist/producer Michael Brook) sounds like the reheated theme tune of an Armenian spaghetti western. But contrast this with the equally innovative 23-minute “Armenian Suite”, performed with a ten-piece ensemble featuring kamantcha (spike fiddle) tar (lute) and kanon (zither) – a spectacular, spine-tingling success that showcases this amazing artist at his very best. –Jon Lusk
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