On the album "Chants de Sayat Nova" the Armenian ensemble Kotchnak performs songs by Sayat Nova, who lived from 1722 to 1795. His real name was Aruthin, but he took his stage name after his official appointment as troubadour. Sayat Nova is Persian for "Master of Sounds". For twenty years he was a musician / poet at the court of King Heracli II of Georgia, until he was banished for unclear reasons.
He became a priest in Northern Armenia and from then on was called Ter Stepanos. He was murdered while defending a church from an attack by the Persians. Some of Sayat Nova's songs have been preserved, among other things, through a publication of his work in 1852. Sayat Nova spoke several languages: he wrote 128 Turkish, 66 Armenian and 35 Georgian poems. Kotchnak performs six of his songs, alternated with instrumental improvisations. The music is subdued and poetic, graceful songbirds frame the lyrics in the CD booklet. (SvdP) _more
