The Gurdjieff Ensemble

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 Manfred Eicher and Levon Eskenian.

PERSONNEL:

• THE GURDJIEFF ENSEMBLE

• Vladimir Papikyan - (voice, Santur, Burvar, Tmbuk, Singing Bowls)
• Emmanuel Hovhannisyan - (Duduk, Pku)
• Meri Vardanyan - (Kanon)
• Armen Ayvazyan - (Kamancha, Cymbal)
• Gagik Hakobyan - (Duduk)
• Norayr Gapoyan - (Duduk, Bass Duduk, Pku)
• Avag Margaryan - (Blul)
• Aram Nikoghosyan - (Oud)
• Astghik Snetsunts - (Kanon)
• Davit Avagyan - (Tar)
• Mesrop Khalatyan - (Dap, Tmbuk, Bells, Triangle)
• Orestis Moustidis - (Tombak)
• Levon EskenianArtistic - (Director)
• National Chamber Choir of Armenia)
• Robert Mlkeyan - (Director)

December 2021, Radio Recording Studio Yerevan

TRACKS:

• 01. Pythia
• 02. No. 10
• 03. Sayyid Chant and Dance No. 41
• 04. Introduction and Funeral Ceremony
• 05. Oriental Dance
• 06. Kankaravor Enker (Friend of Talents)
• 07. Dard Mi Ani (Do Not Fret)
• 08. Thirty Gestures
• 09. Prayer and Despair
• 10. Sayyid Chant and Dance No. 42
• 11. Ashkharhes Me Panjara e (The World Is a Window)
• 12. Trembling Dervish
• 13. Zartir (Wake Up)
• 14. The Great Prayer