Chookasian Armenian Concert Ensemble Wins “Best Traditional Folk Album’
The Fresno-based Chookasian Armenian Concert Ensemble took first place for the “Best Traditional Folk Album” in the 2009 Armenian Music Awards ceremony, which was held at the 7,000 seat Nokia Theater in Los Angeles , on Sunday, December 13, 2009. The annual Armenian Music Awards, the equivalent of the “American Grammys” in the Armenian musical world, acknowledges the ‘best of the best’ in 26 varied musical categories.
The Chookasian Ensemble’s fourth album, “Passage to Armenia ,” was chosen, almost unanimously for its superior musical content, outstanding execution, and traditional authenticity in the field of Armenian traditional folk music, by a worldwide panel of judges from Armenia, the Middle East, Europe, South America, the United States , and Canada. Founded in 1994 by clarinetist and musicologist, John Chookasian, along with his wife, Barbara, the primary goal of the Chookasian Armenian Concert Ensemble is to preserve, promote and perpetuate the traditional music of BOTH Eastern and Western Armenia. It is rare, if ever, that the full spectrum of Eastern & Western Armenian music is performed on the same concert and festival stage programs.
Under the artful direction of Mr. Chookasian, this noteworthy ensemble performs the classical, folkloric, and troubadour musical works of the 17th to the 20th centuries. Audiences will hear the music of the 300 year old composer Sayat Nova and other famous Eastern Armenian ‘koussans’ or troubadores such as: “Ashod,” “Sheyram” and “Jivani,” etc; or perhaps they may listen to pieces by Arno Babajanyan Khachatur Avedissyan, or even Aram Khachaturian. Also, during the concert, the listeners of the next song may hear, could be a Western Armenian folk dance such as the Tamzara or Halay, or perhaps the Pampoori or the Sepastia Barr; they may also hear Western Armenian songs composed by Ruben
Sarkissian, Edward Mekjian, or ‘Oudi’ Boghos Kenkulian. The artful interpretation of melodies on the CD album “Passage to Armenia” was presented by the Ensemble’s conservatory-graduate, master performers including: John Chookasian, Director and premier clarinetist; Barbara Chookasian, principal
vocalist; John Tarpinian, from N.Y. ‘oud’ (11stringed fretless lute); Vergine Alimian, ‘kanun’ (72 stringed lap harp); Hendrik Avoyan, ‘dhol’ (cylindrical hand drum); Peter Dorian, ‘oud’ (lute); Valod Grigorian, ‘kemenche’ (4 stringed, spiked folk violin); Surik, ‘tarr’ (double bodied fretless lute), and other stringed instruments; Andranik Mouradian, keyboards; Hayk Nalbandyan, ‘dumbeg’ (hand drum); Sarkis
Petrosyan, ‘santur’ (126 hammered dulcimer); Garen Sarkissian, ‘shvi’ (piccolo-like flute); Hovhannes Shahbazyan, vocals; Sarkis Tousounyan, ‘bass guitar’; Albert Vardanian, ‘duduk’ and ‘zurna’ (Armenian folk flutes); Jirair Vaganian, ‘dhol’ & ‘dumbeg’ (hand drums); and Gevorg Rostomyan, ‘dhol’ (hand drum).
The “Passage to Armenia ” CD also was the first place winner for “Best Traditional World Music CD Album” at the Independent Music Awards, which is a worldwide event encompassing thousands of global submissions. By winning this award, the Chookasian Ensemble brought Armenian music to
the forefront of world music, which serves another of the Chookasian goals, that is, to present traditional Armenian music, played on authentic instruments, to the general public in non-Armenian forums. Chookasian reports, “Non Armenians are so fascinated by our music. Every time we play, they want to hear more. They are amazed that we are using the same type of instruments that date back thousands of years.” The Chookasian Ensemble has performed in many venerated musical venues including: the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. ; the J. Paul Getty Museum in L.A.; the San Francisco World Music Festival (multiple times); also the group has played in a great number of Universities throughout the California State University system, as well as having done multiple concert tours on the East Coast. The group has also given concerts and festival performances in numerous venues
in Armenia and Karabagh during their month long concert tour, at the request of President Robert Kocharian. At their last, standing room-only concert in the Spenderian’s Grand Philharmonic Hall in Yerevan ; the Chookasian’s were presented with Armenia’s National Gold Medal Award by Armenia ’s Minister of Culture. “We want to save traditional Armenian music and preserve our culture,” says Chookasian, “It is a duty which we perform with joy.”
John’s parents were born in Sepastia (historic Armenian homeland) and is native native of New York , has been performing Armenian and Middle East music for 40 years, and founded the “Chookasian Armenian Concert Ensemble.” He has performed from the Eastern Seaboard to the West Coast of the United States , as well as abroad with the Ensemble. A graduate of N.Y.U. College of Music and the University of Nevada, John holds graduate degrees in Music and Education. He also taught Music and Ethnic Studies for three years at U.N. L.V., Las Vegas. John’s parents and grandmother were 1915 Armenian genocide survivors who passed on their love of Armenian culture to John. He, in turn, is passing on the Armenian “cultural torch” to the next generation through his music. Barbara Chookasian, a native of San Francisco, and the fourth generation in America, whose great grandparents came from Moush and Chimishgazak (near Kharpert, ancient historic Armenian homeland), was raised in a family
steeped in the traditions and music of Armenia. Barbara’s life mission has been to preserve traditional Armenian song and dance for future generations. Along with Armenian music and folk dancing, Barbara has shared Armenian fairy tales and Armenian cooking with her fourth grade students throughout her 30 years of teaching. With her rich and resonant Armenian vocal style, Barbara brings to the stage her warmth of spirit, and her great cultural love. Throughout their travels, the Chookasians continue to search for obscure, otherwise forgotten Armenian songs and tunes, with an eye to learning these pieces and re-introducing them to concert audiences. On one such expedition to the Middle East , John and Barbara met a blind musician originally from Sepastia named Mourad, who gave them an Armenian ‘Haleh’ (folk dance) they had never heard before. This piece is included in the groups newly released, fifth CD album, “Visions of Armenia”, which is now available.
Further information on the Chookasian Armenian Concert Ensemble is available on their website: www.Chookasian.com
This article was written and featured in the USA ARMENIAN LIFE Magazine Issue 1187 December 25-31, 2009 www.ArmenianLife.com
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