Programmes
Below is a list of sample programmes and repertoire ideas. This is not an comprehensive list but rather an example of the sort of performances we enjoy creating.
This programme is inspired by the sounds of Venice and the island of San Lazzaro degli Armeni, where the rich traditions of Armenian monastic life meet the romance and intrigue of Venetian culture. Since 1717, this small island has been home to the Mekhitarist monastery, a renowned center of Armenian scholarship and artistic exchange. Its monks have played a vital role in preserving and disseminating Armenian, Latin, and Italian works, including musical compositions by Nerses Shnorhali and Grigor Narekatsi.
Fiamma d’Amore
-
Giulio Caccini (1551-1618) Dalla porta d'oriente
Orlando di Lasso (1532-1594) Susanne un jour
Willaert/Bonizzi Jouissance vous donneray
Adrian Willaert (c. 1490–1562) O dolce vita mia
Grigor Narekatsi (c. 950-1007) Havoon havoon
C. Monteverdi (1567-1643) Si dolce è'l tormento
Nerses Shnorhali (1102-1173) Aravot luso
Di Rore/Rognoni Ancor che col partire
Francesca Caccini (1587-1640) Maria, dolce Maria
Barbara Strozzi (1619-1677) Che si puó fare
Armenian trad. Keler Tsoler
Luca Marenzio (1556-1599) In un boschetto
Francesca Caccini (1587-1640) O vive rose
In the heart of winter’s darkness, this Christmas-themed programme seeks out light and hope through music. Folk songs from various traditions invite us to embrace the anticipation of Advent, interwoven with ancient Armenian chants—including a haunting 5th-century hymn on the Annunciation. At its centre lies Tarquinio Merula’s extraordinary Canzonetta spirituale sopra alla nanna, where the tender lullaby of Mary cradling her newborn is pierced by chilling premonitions of his fate.
Ninna Nanna
-
Nerses Shnorhali (1102-1173) Aravot luso
Thomas Morley (1557-1602) Miraculous Love's Wounding
Catalan trad. El Cant dels Occells
Michael Praetorius (1571-1621) Es ist ein Ros entsprungen
Francesca Caccini (1587-1640) Maria, dolce Maria
Armenian trad. Shogher jan
St. Movses Khorenatsi (5th century) Urakhatsir Srbuhi
Tarquinio Merula (1595-1665) Canzonetta spirituale sopra alla nanna
J. Dowland (1563-1626) Time Stands Still
M. Marais (1656-1728) Les Voix Humaines
Tobias Hume (1569-1645) The King of Denmark's Delight
Tobias Hume (1569-1645) A Merry Conceit
L. Musaelian (b. 1997) Morning Light
Welsh traditional All Through the Night
This is an example of a bespoke programme we prepared for a private recital at Lincoln’s Inn, where John Donne was the first prelate of the chapel. The programme is designed like a Baroque suite with five short sets incorporating combinations of spoken and sung poems, which have some thematic or symbolic connection.
While there are breaks between sets, this programme doesn’t contain an interval.
Donne in Love
-
The King of Denmark’s Delight - Tobias Hume (c. 1579-1645)
The Bait - John Donne, William Corkine (fl. 1610-1617)
Love’s Growth - Donne
A Merry Conceit - Tobias Hume (c. 1579-1645)
Break of Day - Corkine
Stay, O Sweet - John Dowland (c. 1563-1626)
Tombeau Les Regrets - Monsieur de Sainte-Colombe (1640-1700)
Gigue La Petite - Marin Marais (1656-1728)
Galliard à 2 - Alfonso Ferrabosco II (c. 1575-1628)
So so, leave off - Ferrabosco
Love Cannot Dissemble - Michael East (c. 1580-1648)
The Flea - Lucine Musaelian (b.1997)
Miraculous love’s wounding - Thomas Morley (c. 1557-1602)
Air and Angels - Donne
Time Stands Still - John Dowland
Inspired by Italo Calvino’s novel “Invisible Cities”, this programme weaves together music from Calvino’s home country of Italy with music of distant traditions and times. This includes 16th century Italian song, traditional Armenian music, an arrangement of a Handel aria, and original compositions by Lucine.
Full programme and lyrics here.
Italian Sounds
-
C. Simpson (1602-1669) - Divisions for Two Viols in G major
G. Caccini (1551-1618) arr. Musaelian - Dalla porta d’oriente
Di Rore/Dalla Casa (1515-1565/1543-1601) arr. Musaelian - Ancor che col partire
Armenian trad. - Keler Tsoler
Armenian trad. arr. Musaelian - Hov Arek
Radiohead arr. Musaelian - Videotape
INTERVAL
D. Ortiz (1510-1570) - Recercada Segunda
Sigismondo d’India (1582-1629) arr. Musaelian - Intenerite voi
Armenian trad. arr. Musaelian - Chinar es
M. Marais (1656-1728) - Le Badinage
Armenian trad. arr. Musaelian - Sareri hovin mernem
C. Monteverdi (1567-1643) arr. Musaelian - Si dolce è il tormento
G. F. Handel (1685-1759) - Piangerò la sorte mia
M. Marais - Les Voix Humaines
L. Musaelian - Morning Light
This programme is made up of music which has inspired us from a wide range of styles and traditions, combined with some of Lucine’s own compositions. It features music by Marin Marais, Thobias Hume, François Couperin, Radiohead, The Beatles, The Killers, and Randy Newman, as well as traditional Armenian and Welsh folk music.
Full programme and lyrics here.
A Song I Heard
-
Marin Marais — Dialogues (Book V, Pièces de Viole)
Tobias Hume — What Greater Griefe
Tobias Hume — Spirit of Gambo
Armenian trad. — Keler Tsoler
The Beatles — Michelle
The Killers — Read My mind
Marin Marais — Le Badinage (Book IV, Pièces de Viole)
Randy Newman — I think it’s gonna rain today
Lucine — Morning Light
Radiohead — Videotape
Lucine — Mars
François Couperin — Le Dodo
Welsh trad. — All Through the Night
This programme showcases the rich, intimate, and vocal sound that two bass viols can create. It features music original to this combination, a few of our own arrangements of Armenian folk music, Irish music, a Radiohead cover, and some new music by Lucine. The progression of this programme reflects phases of sleep, and ends with the return of the morning.
All Through the Night
-
“Chinar Es", Armenian traditional folk song attributed to Komitas (1869-1935): (arr. Musaelian) (4 mins)
Marin Marais (1656-1728): “Le Badinage,” from Pièces de Violes IV (1717), arr. Musaelian & Giorgetti (7 mins)
Marin Marais: “Les Voix Humaines,” from Pièces de Violes II, (1701), arr. Musaelian & Giorgetti (4 mins)
Anon. Aux Marches du Palais, arr. Musaelian & Giorgetti (4 mins)
Anon. Ar Hyd y Nos (All through the Night), arr. Musaelian & Giorgetti (4.5 min)
Radiohead (released 2007): Videotape, arr. Musaelian (4 mins)
Ruaidhrí Dall Ó Catháin (c. 1650): “Da Mihi Manum”, arr. Musaelian & Giorgetti (3 mins)
Lucine Musaelian (b. 1997): Mars (4 mins)
François Couperin (1668-1733): “Le Dodo ou L'amour au Berceau” from Troisième livre de pièces de clavecin (1722), Ordre 15, arr. Musaelian & Giorgetti (4 mins)
Lucine Musaelian (b. 1997): Morning Light (4 mins)
Trad. The Banks of Severn, arr. Musaelian & Giorgetti (2 min)
C. Simpson (c. 1602-1669): Bodleian Library MS Mus. Sch. C. 77 a and 77 b, no. 7 (5.5 mins)