AB II-08

Description

Albert Brussee

ARMENIA

 SUITE OF POPULAR ARMENIAN TUNES

for piano

Armenia is a keyboard transcription of the Suite of popular Armenian tunes, played by Huri Arakelian (shevi) and Mardin Vartazarian (piano) on the record Arménie – Musique Instrumental (OCR 67). After the music was written out by ear, I arranged it freely. In the slow middle section, one hears imitations of Armenian folk music instruments such as the quanun (a cither-like instrument, similar to the Hungarian cymbalom) and the duduk (a bass recorder with a week-dark timbre). In the final movement, the same descending lines in the accompaniment figures can be recognized as in the first movement; such lines also occur in the Sonatina and the popular Toccata by Khachaturian.
Since the work has not been available for several years – the music publisher XYZ no longer exists – I have worked through the score again thoroughly in 2021, making small improvements here and there and drastically reducing the number of fingerings.

Style: colourful, modal harmonies.
Difficulty: Stage VIII-IX (with a division into XII stages).
Duration: approx. 5 minutes.

REVIEWS
On the first version: “In Armenia, the typical Armenian style with its chromatically descending tones within the minor triad is immediately apparent. The setting is tasteful, sonorous and colourful. The pedal is accurately indicated, including the infamous half-pedal. (…) The middle section is a written-out recitative improvisation, in which quite a few long trills (right) and a tremolo (left) could be obstacles for amateurs. However, it is rewarding to play. The last fast part is by far the most difficult because of the polyrhythmic figures that appear from time to time.
An inspiring and exemplary performance of this special recital piece can be heard on the CD on which the composer plays his own works (AB Music Productions & Editions, AB I-01).”
Joop Albracht in Piano Bulletin 1998-2.

On the second version: “The sound piece Armenia concerns a piano transcription of the Suite of popular tunes, as recorded by Huri Arakelian (shevi) and Mardin Vartazarian (piano). Brussee very effectively translated the sounds of Armenian folk music instruments such as the qanun (a kind of zither) and the duduk (a bass recorder) to the piano, especially in the improvisatory middle section. Subtle half-pedal use makes the piano sound truly Armenian. Great fun to play by yourself or with an advanced student! Again, large hands are a prerequisite for comfortably playing the wide grips and octaves in the right hand. This work places the composer at grade IX. The difficulty here is mainly in the fast final movement.”
Christo Lelie in Piano Bulletin 2022-3.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION
© 2022 AB Music Productions & Editions, The Hague (AB II-08).
10 pages; with a short preface in Dutch and English.
Available: in music shops (distribution by Hal Leonard) or directly from AB Music Productions & Editions.
ISBN: 978-90-830658-3-0