Press Release

June 13, 2024

For Immediate Release

Includes world premiere recordings by eight composers, including Pulitzer Prize finalist Mary Kouyoumdjian

“An ardent exponent of his people’s music, [Şahan Arzruni] displayed flashy finger work and showed his talent for making the piano sound warm and colorful" – The New York Times

Two of the earliest women composers in the world were Armenian: Sahakdukht and Khosrovidukht in the 8th century. The Armenian pianist Şahan Arzruni has recorded an album celebrating women composers from the region. “By Women: piano works by Armenian women composers” is released on July 26, 2024 (note: updated date, originally set for 6/14/24) on AGBU/Positively Armenian. The album -– almost entirely world premiere recordings – continues Arzruni's exploration of music from his home country, including his 2021 recording of solo piano works by Alan Hovhaness. 

From Lucy (Lusine) Hazarabedian – the first Armenian woman to write specifically for the piano – to 2024 Pulitzer Prize finalist Mary Kouyoumdjian, the music on "By Women" spans 150 years. Hazarabedian composed “The Nightingale of Armenia” when she was 16 years old, and died tragically young six years later. Kouyoumdjian wrote “I Haven’t the Words” in 2020 during the racial reckoning of George Floyd's murder and subsequent protests. The composer describes the composition as a ‘sonic journal entry’.

The album includes music by Koharik Gazarossian, a Constantinople-born student of Paul Dukas. Gazarossian lived across from the founder of the Armenian National School of Music, Komitas. After Komitas’ exile in the Armenian genocide, Gazarossian copied many of his manuscripts of folk songs and used them as the basis of her own works, including the two preludes on this album. 

Alicia Terzian's “Ode to Vahan” was written for Arzruni on a commission by Mr. & Mrs. Vahakn Hovnanian. The work is based on a liturgical chant created by Khosrovidukht in the 8th century, which continues to be sung in the Armenian Church today.

Contact ClassicalCommunications@gmail.com to request a physical CD or digital copy of this recording.

Pianist Şahan Arzruni

BY WOMEN

piano works by Armenian women composers

Release date: July 26, 2024

(note: updated release date)

AGBU/Positively Armenian

TRACK LISTING

World premiere recordings (except as noted)

GEGHUNI CHITCHYAN (b. 1929)

Sonatina

[01] Allegro (2:10)

[02] Moderato cantabile (3:54)

[03] Presto (1:56)

[04] Prelude (4:04)

KOHARIK GAZAROSSIAN (1907-1967)

[05] Prelude: "My Child, Your Mother is Dead" * (3:19)

[06] Prelude: "Your Name is Shushan" (2:40)

MARY KOUYOUMDJIAN (b. 1983)

[07] "I Haven't the Words" (3:26)

SIRVART KARAMANUK (1912-2008)

[08] "Dance-Song" (3:43)

SIRVART KAZANDJIAN (1944-2020)

[09] “The Bells of Ani” (5:40)

GAYANE CHEBOTARYAN (1918-1998)

[10] Prelude in E-flat minor (3:56)

[11] Prelude in G minor (1:52)

[12] Prelude in B-flat minor * (2:35)

[13] Prelude in E-flat minor (1:48)

[14] Prelude in B-flat minor (4:18)

[15] Prelude in F-sharp minor (2:48)

ALICIA TERZIAN (b. 1934)

[16] “Ode to Vahan” (9:58)

LUCY HAZARABEDIAN (1863-1882)

[17] “The Nightingale of Armenia” (2:57)

* Previously recorded by Şahan Arzruni in the 1980s

Suggested tracks for classical radio

[1] - [3] Chitchyan: Sonatina

[6] Gazarossian: Prelude

[8] Karamanuk: Dance-Song

[12] [13] [15] Cheboaryan: Preludes

[17] Hazarabedian: The Nightingale of Armenia

Şahan Arzruni (sha-HAN ardz-rou-NEE) is an Armenian classical pianist, ethnomusicologist, lecturer, composer, writer and producer, residing in New York City. He has toured throughout the Americas, Europe, Asia and Australia, and has given command performances at the White House and the British, Danish, Swedish and Icelandic courts. ßsSß

 Motivated by ethnic awareness in the United States, Arzruni continuously researches the musical roots of his Armenian heritage. He recorded a three-record anthology of Armenian piano music and co-produced an eight-disc set of instrumental and vocal Armenian music. He also delivered papers and organized symposia for Harvard University, Columbia University and University of Michigan. Şahan Arzruni is the author of scholarly books and is a contributor of articles for academic journals, The New Grove Dictionary and the Dictionary of the Middle Ages. 

In 2015, the president of the Republic of Armenia awarded him the Movses Khorenatsi Medal for exceptional achievement in cultural development. Mr. Arzruni holds degrees from The Juilliard School and has pursued doctoral studies at New York University. He has made dozens of recordings for Philips, New World Records, Musical Heritage Society and other labels.