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Vache Sharafyan, Composer

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Vache Sharafyan, Composer

Biography

Vache Sharafyan, Composer

Hanrapetutyan str. #62, apt. # 82

Yerevan, 0010, Armenia

e-mail: sharafyanv@yahoo.com

site: http://sharafyan.tripod.com

Tel.: 374 10 542231, Mobile: 374 93 574661

Vache Sharafyan born in 1966 in Yerevan, Armenia. In 1990 graduated with distinction from the Yerevan State Conservatory, Composition Department. In 1992 received Post-Graduate education in composition, class of Prof. Eduard Mirzoyan. Prise-Winner, All-Union Composers'Competition in Moscow (1985).

In 1992-96 as a Professor of music theory and sacred music worked in Jerusalem Theological Armenian Seminary (Israel). Authored a Book of Chants for Holy Sepulchre Church, Jerusalem.

As an official composer for the Silk Road Project since 2001, his compositions "The Morning Scent of the Acacia's Song" for duduk and string quartet (as well as version for duduk, soprano and string orchestra) and "The Sun, the Wine and the Wind of Time" for duduk, violin, cello and piano were performed by cellist Yo-Yo Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble in Cologne Philharmonic hall, Brussels Philharmonic hall, Amsterdam's Concertgebouw, in USA: Carnegie (Stern) Hall, Carnegie (Zankel) Hall, Berkeley, Stanford Universities, Seattle Benaroya Hall, Washington National Mall, Chicago Symphony Orchestra Hall, in Rome, Florence, Milan.

Sharafyan is author of a number of chambers, symphonic, choral, vocal compositions. His 2007 world premiers included Viola concerto "Surgite Gloriae" with duduk, descant, baritone and orchestra performed by Yuri Bashmet and "Moscow Soloists" at Elba Isola Festival and Moscow Conservatory Grand Hall philharmonics season opening, "My Lofty Moon" for 5 eastern and 8 western instruments with Atlas Ensemble (cond. Ed Spanjaard) at Amsterdam Muziekgebouw, "11 arrangements & transcriptions by Komitas" with G. Dabaghyan and NCOA at Theatre du Chatelet in Paris, "Quintetto quasi Concerto per pianoforte e archi" with violinist Movses Pogossian and LA Symphony principals at Zipper hall in Los Angeles, "On wings of hymnal" no 3, 4 for two cellos (with singing parts) with Suren Bagratuni and Ling-Yi Ou Yang in Taipei. Sharafyans' 2008 premiers include "Sinfonia 2 un poco Concertante" commissioned by Boston Modern Orchestra Project, cond. Gil Rose (May 23 2008, Jordan Hall, Boston), as well as premiere of the Concerto for Cello and Strings with Suren Bagratuni and NCOA.

Sharafyan's 2009 premieres include "Canticum Dolorosum et Pacificum" for soprano, mix choir and orchestra played by A. Demurchyan, Hover choir, Serenade orchestra and APO soloists cond. E. Topchjan, as well as Lacrymosa for soprano, descant, choir and symphony orchestra written for the film "Maestro" (prod. V. Chaldranyan), as well as "Vi-O-La" (vita, origo, laudis) for solo viola played by M. Novikov.

Sharafyan's compositions were performed in Armenia, Israel, USA, France, Canada, Russia, Ukraine, Georgia, Lebanon, Germany, Belgium, Holland, Italy, Thailand, Hungary, Switzerland, Taiwan, Scotland, Ireland, England and Sweden.

Was nominated to Civitella Ranieri Fellowship in 2006.

Chicago Tribune (12,18,02)wrote about The Silk Road Ensemble at Chicago Orchestra Hall:  "...But the most wonderful piece on the program was "The Sun, the Wine, and the Wind of Time" (1998) by the Armenian composer Vache Sharafyan. The score derived much of its ineffable sadness from the duduk, an oboe-like instrument whose quivery, throaty sounds were framed by piano (Joel Fan), violin (Colin Jacobsen) and cello (Ma). The seamless evolution of moods and textures—from soft, somber lines made up of pained intervals, to more violent outbursts, back to mournful lines—made it entirely absorbing to the ear and mind..."

The New York Times / May 9, 2002, Thursday MUSIC REVIEW:" At a Cultural Crossroads, Yo-Yo Ma Becomes a Spice Trader; By ALLAN KOZINN ..."And the Shostakovich, on Tuesday, seemed to flow naturally from the world of the work performed just before it -- ''The Sun, the Wine and the Wind of Time'' by Vache Sharafyan, from Armenia -- although it quickly established itself on Shostakovich's own terms"...

Pittsburgh Post Gazette (08, 05, 02) wrote: …The evening's gem, though, was the Sharafyan. Without overtly referencing Vivaldi, this "Four Seasons" uses the calendar year as a metaphor for a circle of life...

Pittsburgh Live   By Mark Kanny / TRIBUNE-REVIEW CLASSICAL MUSIC CRITIC / Monday, August 5, 2002   ... Vache Sharafyan's "The Four Seasons" was the significant world premiere, including Armenian poetry as a prelude to each of the four movements… Sharafyan's language includes remarkable solo writing … The composer is not afraid of dissonance, and the furious intensity he achieves serves clear narrative intent, including real satisfaction.

David Harrington (Kronos Quartet) wrote: "I find him (Sharafyan) to be a fascinating and expressive composer whose music unites the ancient with the new and mysterious inner worlds with boldly tangible elements..."

  SAN FRANCISCO CLASSICAL VOCE /   April 30, 2002, Robert Commanday, Senior Editor       The issue with a cross-cultural composition is one of criteria. By what standard and in what aesthetic is the work to be perceived? It must be the product of a real and gifted composer, strong enough a composition to establish its own measure, as Takemitsu's pieces are. To an extent, Vache Sharafyan's The Sun, the Wine, and the Wind of Time (from Armenia, 1998) created its own time and space. The western tradition was reflected in its overall song-form structure and writing for piano, violin and cello.

THE BOSTON GLOBE, by Matthew Guerrieri Globe Correspondent / May 27, 2008 By contrast, Vache Sharafyan's "Sinfonia No. 2 un poco concertante," a BMOP commission and world premiere, takes that essence as its starting point. Melodies erupt into dense, slow-shifting harmonic clouds; a repetitive figure builds into crashing waves of multitudinous, Ivesian dissonance. A solo duduk, the Armenian folk oboe (pre-recorded for this concert), spins periodic arabesques, the instrument's microtonal inflections transmuted in the orchestra. Sharafyan creates complex, deliberate, ultimately captivating grandeur - artistic director Gil Rose led a terrific, vivid performance.

RECORDINGS:

  • "On the Fortieth Day" TRADITIONAL CROSSROADS label (NY) 2002; includes three compositions: "The Sun, the Wine and Wind of Time", Devotion no.1, Devotion no.2; Komitas String quartet, Dabaghyan-duduk, Darbinyan-tar, Khalatyan-kyamancha, Sharafyan-piano, Tam-Tam, Ordinyan-dhol.
  • "Dreams and Thoughts" Albany Records, with Trio no. 2 "Dream of the Dreams", Baird trio. 2006
  • "Blooming Sounds" Albany records, with "Blooming Sounds" for solo violin, Movses Pogossian. 2005
  • "Lost Songs from Eden" with folk arrangements and transcriptions by Komitas for duduk and string quartet; Traditional Crossroads, NY, 2007
  • "The Way" with two choirs based on sacred hymns from 5th C. HOVER choir.
  • "Suite" for cello and chamber orchestra, Alex Chaushian, Serenade Chamber Orchestra, cond. Eduard Topchjan; BIS records (to be released in 2010-2011)

 

                               LIST OF COMPOSITIONS

ORCHESTRA

Sinfonia 2 un poco Concertante for symphony orchestra with duduk (pre-recorded or life) 2007; commissioned by the Boston Modern Orchestra (BMOP), cond. Gil Rose; dur 25 min.

Poem for string orchestra, 1987, /9 violins, 3 altos ,2 cellos ,1 c-basso/ 15,20min.

Symphony for full symphony orchestra/1990/, 17,30min.

"Khostovank" for chamber orchestra (flute, oboe, horn F, percussion/1/, piano, violins 9, violas 3, v-cellos 3, c-basso 1) 1991/ 14min.

Concerto for string orchestra/1992/ 9violins, 3 violas, 3 cellos, c-bass. 12,30 min.

Concerto-grosso for orchestra /2 Pianos, 4 violins, 2 violas, 2 v-cellos, c-basso / /2002/16min.

SOLOIST/s/ WITH ORCHESTRA

"Concertoserenata" for violin and string orchestra/1998/ 19min.

Concerto-sonata for alto saxophone, piano and string orchestra./2000/16 min.

 «The Morning Scent of the Acacia's Song» /orchestral version/ for duduk, voce/soprano/ & string orchestra. 2003. 17 min.

Concerto for Tenor Saxophone and Full Symphony Orchestra.  /dedicated to James Houlik/ 2003. 18' min.

Concerto for Violoncello and Orchestra (chamber and symphony orchestra versions), dedicated to Suren Bagratuni,  2004, 23'min.

"Surgite Gloriae" Viola Concerto with duduk, descant, baritone, Fr. horn, and strings; dedicated to Yuri Bashmet; dur. 20 min. 2005

"CON-COR-D-ANCE" concerto for violin and chamber orchestra (flute, oboe, Fr. Horn 1,2 trumpet Bb, harp, percussion, strings), dur. 28 min. 2008

"Luminous Silhouette of a Song" for clarinet & orchestra (flute 1,2, Oboe 1,2, Fr. Horn 1,2, Trumpet, harp, percussion-2, strings)  dur. 11 min. 2008 (commissioned by CDMC France, publisher Editions BIM)

"Luminous Silhouette of a Song" for clarinet & orchestra (version with ensemble of winds: flute 2, oboe, clarinet 2, bass clarinet, alto sax, tenor sax, baritone sax, horn 2, trumpet 2, trombone, euphonium, tuba, percussion 2). 2008 (commissioned by CDMC France, publisher Editions BIM)

Suite for Viola and chamber orchestra (oboe, strings) 1. Mattinata, 2. Waltz, 3. Sarabande-Courante, 4. Postero die; 21 min. dedicated to Yuri Bashmet. 2009    

(also version with solo cello)

CHAMBER

Heralding Dawn music for 15 instruments /1990/ /Flute, Oboe, Clarinet in Bb, Fagot, Horn in F, Trumpet Bb, Trombone,Percussion/2/,Piano,Violin1,Violin2, Viola, V-cello, C-basso/   11min.

Five songs for soprano and piano by Metsarents/1993/ 15,20min.

String quartet/1997/ 19,20min.

Sonata No1 for violin and piano/1997/ 11,30min.

Sonata No2 for violin and piano/1998/ 12 min.

"The sun, the wine and the wind of time" for doodouk, violin, violoncello and piano./1998/ 16,5min.

"To Autumnal Leaves and to Stars" for alto saxophone, violin, violoncello , percussion and  piano./1999/ 8min./later included in "The Four Seasons"/

"Two Devotions" for Tar, Kemanche, Dhol, Tam-Tam, Piano and string quartet./1999/  25min.

"The Eclipse" for alto saxophone , violin and piano./1999/ 14,10min.

Trio N1 for violin, violoncello and piano. /2000/ commissioned  for Pittsburgh    Trio 15,10min.

Sonata for alto saxophone and piano/2000/ 15,30min. /commissioned by John Sampen/

"The Morning Scent of the Acacia's Song" for doodouk and string quartet./commissioned for Yo-Yo Ma's the Silk Road Project Inc./2001/ 16min. Publisher - G. Schirmer

"By Kouchak" for voce, flute, clarinet and piano./2001/ 6min.

"The Four Seasons" for twelve musicians/4 soloists/ and reader /2001/./commissioned by PNME. Flute, alto saxophone, percussion/3/, piano, soprano, violin 1,violin 2, viola, violoncello, c-basso, reader. 35' min

"Ascending Kemancha" for doudook/zurna/,V-cello,Piano. /2002/15min/Dedicated to Yo-Yo Ma/.

"Ancient Anthem" for Soprano and Violin /2002/  7'min.

 Piano Trio N2 «The Dream of Dreams» [for violin, cello and piano] 2003. 14 min.

/commissioned by Baird trio/to be premiered in Carnegie Hall on April 9, 2003.

"Adumbrations of the Peacock" for Piano Quartet/Violin, Viola, V-cello & Piano/ / 2003/. ~14min/ Written for the "Apple Hill Chamber Music Players"/.

"Voices of the invisible blue butterflies" for piano, 2004, 7' min.

 Offertorium  for solo clarinet, flute, trumpet, percussion, piano, violin, cello , c-bass 10 min.

Canticum Gratiosum for baritone, flute, clarinet, trumpet, percussion, piano, violin, cello, c-bass 12 min.

Blooming Sounds for solo violin 2005, 10 min (commissioned by AGBU)

Another tale for solo piano; 3 min. 2007

Luminous Silhouette of a Song for clarinet with orchestra /reduction version for clarinet with piano/ (commissioned by CDMC France, publisher BIM) 2008

"Vi-O- La" no. 1 for solo viola (3 movements) 10 min. 2008

"Vi-O-La" no. 2 for solo viola (3 movements) 14 min. 2009

Light-Drop Peals 6 songs for soprano & viola by poetry of M. Basho 20 min. 2009

Golden Apricot for kyamancha and violin 3 min. (written for Golden Apricot Film Festival opening ceremony 2009

Sonata-Fantasy for viola and piano; 22 min. 2009

"Verses" for violin and vibraphone; 15 min, 2009

"Stanza" for solo Harp, 6 min. 2010

CHOIR WITH INSTRUMENTS

"Ter vor i mej lerinn" for mix choir a capella by Mashtots /1996/5,15min.    

"Tsov Kentsaghuis" / "the sea of our life troubling me"/  by sharakan of St.Mesrop Mashtots /Vth Century/ For Counter-Tenor, Tenor, Baritone, Bass and three duduks / 2003/ ~5min.

"Magnificat" for mix choir, flute, d trumpet, percussion, harp, violin, viola, cello; 2009; 4 min.

CHOIR WITH ORCHESTRA

CANTICUM DOLOROSUM et CANTICUM PACIFICUM for soprano, mix choir and chamber orchestra (D trumpet, bass drum, piano, strings)  23 min. 2007,

Lacrymosa for cello, descant, soprano, mix choir and symphony orchestra 12 min. 2008 written for the film "MAESTRO" (producer Vigen Chaldranyan)

PUBLISHED SCORES:

  • Morning Scent of the Acacias' Song for duduk and string quartet G. SCHIRMER 2003
  • Morning Scent of the Acacias' Song for duduk, offstage soprano and string orchestra G. SCHIRMER 2003
  • The Sun, Wine and Wind of Time for duduk violin, cello and piano.

Viola Concerto "Surgite Gloriae" with duduk, descant, baritone, Fr. horn, bell and strings.

"My Lofty Moon" for 5 eastern and 8 western instruments.

"11 Folk tunes arrangenents and transcriptions from Komitas" for duduk and strings.

"The Sea of Our Life…" for choir and three duduks

(UNESCO Publication 2007)

  • "Luminous Silhouette of a Song" for clarinet and orchestra; (also version with solo viola) Editions BIM, Switzerland.

Performances by Vache Sharafyan

Composer Title Date Action
Vache Sharafyan Waltz from Suite for Cello and orchestra 12/24/2011 Play
Vache Sharafyan "Have Mercy on me, O God" for tenor and string quartet 12/24/2011 Play
Vache Sharafyan "Adumbrations of the Peacock" for piano quartet 01/07/2011 Play Add to playlist

Performances composed by Vache Sharafyan

Composer Title Date Action
Vache Sharafyan "Adumbrations of the Peacock" for piano quartet 01/07/2011 Play Add to playlist
Vache Sharafyan "Have Mercy on me, O God" for tenor and string quartet 12/24/2011 Play
Vache Sharafyan Waltz from Suite for Cello and orchestra 12/24/2011 Play

Vache Sharafyan Concerts

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