Grikor Mirzaian Suni: Revolutionary and Musician
Organized by the UCLA Armenian Music Program, this evening of music dedicated to composer, conductor, song collector, and musicologist Grikor Mirzaian Suni will highlight the efforts to document, preserve, and revive his legacy. The concert will feature the VEM Ensemble under the directorship of Prof. Movses Pogossian, AMP mentors Vardan Baghdasaryan (kamancha), Hasmik Harutyunyan (voice), and Antranig Kzirian (oud), AMP voice fellow Lori Der Sahakian, AMP oud fellow Dr. Anoush Tamar Suni, and Dr. Sevan Suni (violin), the great-granddaughters of the composer. Prof. Ronald Grigor Suny, historian and the grandson of the composer, will deliver an introduction on Suni's life and work.
CONCERT PROGRAM
In loving memory of renowned pianist and piano teacher Armena Marderosian (1949-2012)
Տույ-Տույ / Tooy Tooy / Tooy tooy
Օյ նազանըմ / Oy Nazanum / Oh My Dear Coy Love
Հունձք / Hoontzk / Harvest
Դիլ լիւ լիւ / Dil Lyoo Lyoo / Uncle Come to Our Backyard (Children’s song)
Ցորեն եմ ցաներ / Tsoren Em Tsaner / I Have Sown Wheat
Աղկէկ ես / Aghgeg Es / You’re Lovely
Կեանքն անոյշ / Kyankn Anush / Sweet the Life
(Medley)
Sevan Suni, violin
Վանայ էսքիզներ / Vana Eskizner / Sketches of Van
arr. Niall Tarō Ferguson
Նէննի բալա / Nenni Bala / Sleep My Child
arr. Niall Tarō Ferguson
Լորիկ / Lorik / Quail
arr. Niall Tarō Ferguson
VEM String Quartet: Ally Cho and Movses Pogossian, violins; Damon Zavala, viola, Niall Tarō Ferguson, cello
Գացէք ամպեր / Gatsek Amper / Go Away Clouds and Take a Message to My Love
Աղկէկ ես / Aghkek es / You’re Lovely
Աղջի արի / Aghji Ari / Girl, Come
Հա կլոր / Ha Klor / Round Dance
Հորոմ Հորոմ / Horom Horom
Anoush Tamar Suni, voice, oud; Antranig Kzirian, voice, oud
Պապալ, պապալ / Papal, Papal / Children’s Play Song from Artsakh
Lori Der Sahakian, voice
Դիլ լիւ լիւ / Dil Lyoo Lyoo / Uncle Come to Our Backyard (Children’s song)
Hasmik Harutyunyan, voice; Lori Der Sahakian, voice
Ինձ մի խնդրիր / Intz Mi Khndrir / Beseech Me Not
Հոգիս մրմուռ / Hogis Mrmur / My Tormented Soul
Vardan Baghdasaryan, kamancha
Սարերը հովել ա / Sarere Hovel A / It is Cool in the Mountains
Կալի երգ / Kali Yerg / Treshing Song
Սարէն կու գայ ձիաւոր / Saren Kooga Tziavor / From the Mountains Comes a Horseman
Սարերը ման եմ եկել / Sarere Man Em Yekel / In the Mountains I Have Wandered
Սարերի հովին մեռնիմ / Sareri Hovin Mernim / For the Mountain Breeze I’d Die)
Նէննի բալա / Nenni Bala / Sleep My Child
Ցորեն եմ ցաներ / Tsoren Em Tsaner / I Have Sown Wheat
Հոյ նար / Hoy Nar
Hasmik Harutyunyan, voice; Vardan Baghdasaryan, kamancha
Հա Կլոր / Ha Glor / Round Dance
Կրկն․ Հա, կլորի վար ի վարի,
Հա, կլորի պար ի պարի,
Հա, կլորի վար ի Սեյրան,
Իմ ջան քո ջանին հեյրան։
Համբարձման հինգշաբթին կռվան էրկու տեքերկին,
Առին փոցխ ու կերընդին՝ իջան վըր ձորու ափին։
Կրկն․ ․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․
Ծորեցին-ծորթըփեցին, մանրիկ-մանրիկ խորմեցին,
Գեմիկ չէղավ՝ օլրեցին, շամբա ուռով կապեցին,
Կրկն․ ․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․
Եզնիկ չէղավ՝ բըռնեցին ջուխտըմ լայլակ լըծեցին,
Մաճկալ չէղավ՝ դըրեցին կռունկ մաճկալ էրեցին։
Կրկն․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․
Ես ալ փառոք բազմեցի, սև օձ խարզան էրեցի,
Հուշիկ-հուշիկ քշեցի, յարոջ դռնով անցուցի։
Կրկն․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․
HA KLOR
Refr. Ha, klori var i vari,
Ha, klori var i vari,
Ha, klori var i Seyran.
Im jan, ko janin heyran.
1. Hambartsman hingshaptin grvan erku tekergin,
Arin potskh oo gerndin, ichan vr dzoroo apin
Refr…..
2. Tsoretsin, tsortpetsin, manrik - manrik khormetsin,
Gemik cheghav olretsin, shamba oorov gabetsin.
Refr…..
3. Yeznig cheghav brnetsin jookhdm laylag ldzetsin,
Majgal cheghav dretsin, groong majgal eretsin.
Refr……….
4. Es al parok bazmetsi, sev otz kharzan eretsi,
Hooshig - hooshig kshetsi, yaroch drnov antsootsi.
Refr………….
Performers
Lori Der Sahakian
See Bio
Lori Der Sahakian is a PhD student in Ethnomusicology at UCLA and a fellow of the Armenian Music Program, studying Armenian folk singing with Hasmik Harutyunyan since 2024. Lori received her Bachelor’s degree in Music from Reed College and worked as a research assistant with Dr. Shohei Kobayashi. She has several years of experience singing in choirs and a cappella groups and introduced the music of Komitas Vardapet (1869-1935) to Reed College’s choral program. Lori’s ongoing research project focuses on popular music in the Armenian diaspora.
Niall Tarō Ferguson
See Bio
Niall Tarō Ferguson is a cellist, composer, and orchestrator. He received his bachelor’s degree in 2017 from the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music, where he studied cello performance with Antonio Lysy and music composition with Ian Krouse and Bruce Broughton. Niall has participated in many international music festivals and performed on many of LA’s premiere contemporary music series. His concert works have been performed throughout California and overseas. As of 2019, Niall is a Program Associate with the Asia / America New Music Institute (AANMI), a collective that pursues cultural exchange through modern music. In April 2019 he participated in his first AANMI tour and contributed to lectures at institutions throughout Asia. Niall is of Japanese descent on his mother’s side and of Scottish and Irish descent on his father’s. He goes by both his Gaelic and Japanese names, Niall or Tarō, respectively.
