Armenian Dances is a musical piece for concert band, written by Alfred Reed (1921–2005). It is a four-movement suite of which Part I comprises the first movement and Part II comprises the remaining three. The two parts comprise a full-length symphony. Each part consists of a number of Armenian folk songs from the collection of Komitas Vardapet (1869–1935), an Armenian ethnomusicologist.
The Armenian Dances, Parts I and II, constitute a four-movement suite for concert band or wind ensemble based on authentic Armenian folk songs from the collected works of Gomidas Vartabed, the founder of Armenian classical music.
— Alfred Reed, Composer's Notes
Armenian Dances (Part I) was completed in the summer of 1972 and first performed by the University of Illinois Symphonic Band on January 10, 1973, at the College Band Directors National Association Convention in Urbana, Illinois. [1] The piece is dedicated to Dr. Harry Begian of Armenian descent and the director of that ensemble. It consists of five authentic Armenian folksongs drawn from the vast collection of Gomidas Vartabed originally arranged for solo voice with piano accompaniment or unaccompanied chorus.
Armenian Dances (Part II) was commissioned by the Armenian General Benevolent Union Alex Manoogian Cultural Fund after the highly successful premiere of Part I and completed in 1977 as a continuation of Part I and was again dedicated to Dr. Harry Begian. It was premiered on April 4, 1976, in Urbana, Illinois, by the University of Illinois Symphonic Band with Dr. Begian conducting. Part II consists of three movements, each based upon a single Armenian folk song.
Part I is built upon five Armenian folk songs: "Tzirani Tzar" (The Apricot Tree), "Gakavi Yerk" (Partidge's Song), "Hoy, Nazan Eem" (Hoy, my Nazan), "Alagyaz" and "Gna, Gna" (Go, Go). Approximate performance duration is ten minutes thirty seconds 10'30".
Part II has three movements: are “Hov Arek”, “Khoomar”, and “Lorva Horovel”. Approximate performance duration is twenty minutes twenty-three seconds 20'23".
Armenian Dances is a musical piece for concert band, written by Alfred Reed (1921–2005). It is a four-movement suite of which Part I comprises the first movement and Part II comprises the remaining three. The two parts comprise a full-length symphony. Each part consists of a number of Armenian folk songs from the collection of Komitas Vardapet (1869–1935), an Armenian ethnomusicologist.
The Armenian Dances, Parts I and II, constitute a four-movement suite for concert band or wind ensemble based on authentic Armenian folk songs from the collected works of Gomidas Vartabed, the founder of Armenian classical music.
— Alfred Reed, Composer's Notes
Armenian Dances (Part I) was completed in the summer of 1972 and first performed by the University of Illinois Symphonic Band on January 10, 1973, at the College Band Directors National Association Convention in Urbana, Illinois. [1] The piece is dedicated to Dr. Harry Begian of Armenian descent and the director of that ensemble. It consists of five authentic Armenian folksongs drawn from the vast collection of Gomidas Vartabed originally arranged for solo voice with piano accompaniment or unaccompanied chorus.
Armenian Dances (Part II) was commissioned by the Armenian General Benevolent Union Alex Manoogian Cultural Fund after the highly successful premiere of Part I and completed in 1977 as a continuation of Part I and was again dedicated to Dr. Harry Begian. It was premiered on April 4, 1976, in Urbana, Illinois, by the University of Illinois Symphonic Band with Dr. Begian conducting. Part II consists of three movements, each based upon a single Armenian folk song.
Part I is built upon five Armenian folk songs: "Tzirani Tzar" (The Apricot Tree), "Gakavi Yerk" (Partidge's Song), "Hoy, Nazan Eem" (Hoy, my Nazan), "Alagyaz" and "Gna, Gna" (Go, Go). Approximate performance duration is ten minutes thirty seconds 10'30".
Part II has three movements: are “Hov Arek”, “Khoomar”, and “Lorva Horovel”. Approximate performance duration is twenty minutes twenty-three seconds 20'23".