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CHOOKASIAN ARMENIAN CONCERT ENSEMBLE GETS THE OUD OUT
Fresno Bee
Feb 21 2013
By Donald Munro - The Fresno Bee
Do you know what an "oud" is?
If you answered an 11-string lute, then you know your pear-shaped
string instruments.
And if you aren't familiar, you can get a great introduction to the oud
at Friday's performance of the Chookasian Armenian Concert Ensemble
at the Pilgrim Armenian Congregational Church. Here's a rundown on
the concert:
The ensemble: Led by Fresno clarinetist John Chookasian, the group
includes conservatory-trained musicians playing the kanun (72-string
lap harp), d'hol (cylindrical hand drum), dumbeg (hourglass-shaped
hand drum), deff (large-frame drum), duduk (Armenian flute) zurna
(village flute) and violin along with vocals.
Guest artist: New York musician John Tarpinian will perform on the oud.
The repertoire: The ensemble plays traditional Armenian songs and
dances of Eastern and historic Western Armenia.
The awards: The ensemble's many honors include a first-place award for
Best Traditional Armenian Folk Music Album at the 2010 International
Armenian Grammy Awards and a National Gold Medal awarded by the
government of Armenia.
The dedication: The concert is dedicated to the late Rev. Bernard
Guekguezian. Proceeds will go to the new Bernard Guekguezian
Scholarship Fund.
The details: 7 p.m. Friday, Pilgrim Armenian Congregational Church,
3673 N. First St. Information: (559) 229-2915, chookasian.com
http://www.fresnobee.com/2013/02/21/3183017/chookasian-armenian-concert-ensemble.html
Fresno Bee
Feb 21 2013
By Donald Munro - The Fresno Bee
Do you know what an "oud" is?
If you answered an 11-string lute, then you know your pear-shaped
string instruments.
And if you aren't familiar, you can get a great introduction to the oud
at Friday's performance of the Chookasian Armenian Concert Ensemble
at the Pilgrim Armenian Congregational Church. Here's a rundown on
the concert:
The ensemble: Led by Fresno clarinetist John Chookasian, the group
includes conservatory-trained musicians playing the kanun (72-string
lap harp), d'hol (cylindrical hand drum), dumbeg (hourglass-shaped
hand drum), deff (large-frame drum), duduk (Armenian flute) zurna
(village flute) and violin along with vocals.
Guest artist: New York musician John Tarpinian will perform on the oud.
The repertoire: The ensemble plays traditional Armenian songs and
dances of Eastern and historic Western Armenia.
The awards: The ensemble's many honors include a first-place award for
Best Traditional Armenian Folk Music Album at the 2010 International
Armenian Grammy Awards and a National Gold Medal awarded by the
government of Armenia.
The dedication: The concert is dedicated to the late Rev. Bernard
Guekguezian. Proceeds will go to the new Bernard Guekguezian
Scholarship Fund.
The details: 7 p.m. Friday, Pilgrim Armenian Congregational Church,
3673 N. First St. Information: (559) 229-2915, chookasian.com
http://www.fresnobee.com/2013/02/21/3183017/chookasian-armenian-concert-ensemble.html