Work
Memoirs of Armenia
for soprano, bass, flute and cello
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About
There is a tree in China called the Apricot Tree(杏树). More than a thousand years ago, along the Silk Road, Chinese traders brought the seed of the Apricot Tree to the land of Armenia. Later, Armenian musicians used this tree to create their own national wind instrument - Duduk.
This subtle, musical connection between THE TWO countries led me to write this vocal work, Memoirs of Armenian, which combines two poems by Armenian poet Henrik Edoyan (THE RUINS OF ACROPOLIS and TWO STATES), I try to "recall" the experience of this nation, as a "onlooker" identity, to sympathize with its suffering, grief and anger and relief.
Memoir is important for a nation, it can remind future generations, do not compromise threats, do not forget the history.
-1 4th/April/2024
Hanzhong Kang
Text note
THE RUINS OF ACROPOLIS
Time passes over me now
like a blind bird leaving a feather
with which I write
on the gaping call ofmy memory the names of men
things
cities’
This is the image ofa fina; assurance, these are the ruins of Acropolis
among which entangles
the stare ofa casual tourist.
-TWO STATES
I remember some mantras No, I am no Jesus,
Iam no Buddha, either:
I can’ t ressurect anyone,
I can’ t sanctify
Mary Magdalene.
Can’ t even heal an ailing arm.
By Henrik Edoyan (Translated by Samvel Mkrtchian , Karine Patyan amd Lilit Abajyan)