Led by Tatul Altunyan, the group Armenia (founded in 1938 in Yerevan) gave performances until the 1980s. As its name suggests, it was devoted essentially to the performance of Armenian folk songs and dances, but also to popular songs in the Armenian language written by living composers. The group is remembered as a perfect illustration of the beauty of traditional Armenian music.

An original CD presenting the rare opportunity to possess a recording of Armenian Liturgy. The Holy Apostolic Church of Armenia is one of the oldest churches in the Orient. The chants of three composers mainly are included in the service Most frequently the liturgy of Ekmalian created in the last decade of the 19th century is used. The chants are beautifully harmonized for mixed choir performance, some of them with a soloist. Included are twelve church chants in all, in which widely sung-out jubilation parts in expression of man's homage to God and Jesus Christ alternate with melodic-and-recitative episodes which have originated from the psalmodic singing. The programme strikes with the virtuosity of the hymns, the variety of the richly ornamented melodies and the interesting harmonic devices. The music brings the atmosphere of peace and concentration, of contemplation and deep thought of God the Creator and the sacrifice of His Son. Patarag, as the liturgy is called, is performed by the Sofia Armenian Choir with soloists Father Karapet Benlian, Marie Krikorian, the famous opera singer, Marie Basmadjian and Alice Bovarian under the baton of Bedros Papazian.

The Yerevan Women's Choir of Armenia, a 30 member musical chamber group, has a distinctive fresh, exuberant sound and a repertoire that ranges from 5th Century Armenian sacred music to works of the Western choral tradition, to contemporary Scandinavian and Russian music.The Choir, which has performed more than 300 concerts throughout Armenia, the former Soviet republics and Western Europe, has won 8 international awards at European competitions. Their repertoire is drawn from the a cappella tradition of Armenian vocal art--folk melodies, sacred music and patriotic songs. This excellent CD features works by 10 Armenian composers/arrangers. Some of our favorites are 'Kutanerg' by Komitas, 'Abaran' by Robert Petrossian, 'Amen Hair Surb' by Shnorhali, 'Madrigal' by Gabrieli, and the dramatic 'Metamorphoses' by Sidelnikov. The YWCA enriches the Armenian vocal tradition while at the same time exposing in to a wide new audience.

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