Category: 2023

Aramayis Nikoghosyan, Tigran Hovhannisyan, John Hodian, Harutyun Chkolyan, Hasmik Baghdasaryan, Tatevik Movsesyan and Arpine Ter-Petrosyan (pictured left to right) of the Naghash Ensemble performing during their NYC debut (Photo: Zenop Pomakian)

NEW YORK, NY—On Saturday, March 11, 2023, the Naghash Ensemble made its New York City debut at Carnegie Hall to a sold-out audience at the 38th Musical Armenia concert sponsored by the Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Church. 

The ensemble humbly took the stage in traditional all-black concert dress; its three female vocalists wore decorated sashes around their waists. The ensemble consisted of Aramayis Nikoghosyan on oud; Tigran Hovhannisyan on dhol, daf and dumbeg; John Hodian on piano; Harutyun Chkolyan on duduk, shvi, pku and zurna; and vocals by Hasmik Baghdasaryan (soprano), Tatevik Movsesyan (soprano/mezzo soprano) and Arpine Ter-Petrosyan (alto). Aside from Hodian, all members are born and raised in Armenia. Narration of the poems that inspired each original composition was provided by Garen Hamamjian, a candidate for the priesthood of the Armenian Apostolic Church and a student at St. Nersess Armenian Seminary.

The first half of the concert included pieces based on poems by the ensemble’s namesake, Mkrtich Naghash, an Armenian medieval poet who was born in Bitlis in 1394 and died in 1470. Hodian told Naghash’s story during the first set, explaining that during that time in history, people of multiple religions were living in relative peace in the Ottoman Empire. However, Naghash built a church with a steeple higher than most of the mosques. He refused to take down the steeple and was forced into exile. The poems that inspired the musical pieces are all that are left of Naghash. Hodian felt that writing music based on poems about exile continues to capture the Armenian experience, even today. This portion included live performances of “Meditation on Greed,” “If in this World by Sin You Wander,” “Lamentations on the Death of a Child” and “Woe to Those That Keep a Grudge.”

Naghash Ensemble vocalists (pictured l. to r.) Hasmik Baghdasaryan (soprano), Tatevik Movsesyan (soprano/mezzo soprano) and Arpine Ter-Petrosyan (alto) during the performance (Photo: Zenop Pomakian)

The second half of the concert was a last-minute change by the ensemble and based on theological poems by Kostantin Erznkats’i, who was born around 1250 and died around 1320. These were newer pieces for the ensemble and more experimental than the first half of the concert. They included “Another Answer,” “Futile Judgment,” “The Work of Darkness” and “Agvor Es.” Their excitement, joy and playfulness around performing newer material was palpable.

The ensemble instantly drew the audience in and cut to a deep emotional core. The musicians displayed a strong connection to each other and the music. They impeccably executed tight harmonies and rhythmic changes, with eye contact, body language and synchronized breathing that demonstrated a flow state indicative of true professionals. The general format for many of the pieces began with an ethereal musical presence and built into more concrete rhythmic structures. The variation between these styles allowed for a range of reactions to the music – moments for meditation followed by moments that could encourage movement or dancing. The influence of Hodian’s background as a film composer is evident in his pieces, but he also took the audience on a journey through Armenian music, jazz, medieval sounds, a capella chants, Western folk, modern classical and more. There is an expert use of tension and release, with dedicated moments of silence that allow for processing, for breathlessness and for discomfort while wondering what will happen next. “It made me feel as if Lord of the Rings was set in Armenia,” said Davit Gregorian of New York, who was in the audience. The pastoral elements of the music could evoke both a connection to and longing for the homeland.

Each ensemble member brought a special quality of their unique talent to contribute to the whole. Baghdasaryan angelically floated on her high notes, exemplifying Hodian’s inspiration when he heard her sing in the monastery. Her voice was the catalyst to form this ensemble. Movsesyan displayed an incredible range throughout the pieces and appears to be able to sing anything. She can carry both high soprano notes and low alto parts, often with the most difficult job of holding the middle harmony with precision and ease. Ter-Petrosyan was striking on her alto notes. The depth of her tone seemed to reach to the center of the earth. She is affectionately known as “Arpi Alto” online and has a large following due to her resonant contralto voice. In addition to the three vocalists, each instrumentalist played an important role. Nikoghosyan played challenging and intricate passages with relaxation and ease. Hovhannisyan steadily played the various rhythmic structures that allowed for the ensemble to stay together. According to Hodian, Hovhannisyan will take the parts that were written for the rhythmic instruments and embellish them to make them even better. Chkolyan expertly moved between the various wind and reed instruments, capturing the essence of each, from the gut-wrenching sounds of the oud to the strong horn-like sounds of the zurna. All were held together by Hodian, who not only meticulously composed each piece, but also played the piano and conducted the ensemble at the highest standard.  

John Hodian and Harutyun Chkolyan (Photo: Zenop Pomakian)

Perhaps one of the most impactful pieces in the program was “Lamentations on the Death of a Child.” Naghash wrote the poem after his son fell in battle. The piece began with just female voices and piano, like the sound of mothers in mourning. The grief was palpable, especially in light of the devastating Artsakh War. A more modern vocal placement rather than round operatic tones was also implemented in this piece, further reinforcing a connection to modern times. The use of all women vocalists in the ensemble provides an interesting platform for the feminine voice to be amplified, as it is often silenced in the traditional patriarchal Armenian society. It was reminiscent of how slaves utilized the blues for self-_expression_ of their work and hardships; some of the same techniques such as call-and-response were implemented here as well. 

“I was very happy it was a sold-out hall, and the crowd was half Armenian and half non-Armenian,” he told the Weekly. “So far, all of the concerts we have played (except for one), have been sold out, and I am hoping we come back to North America again sometime in the next two years.” 

Ter-Petrosyan shared her feelings about performing and visiting New York for the first time. “It was astonishing, especially because it was the first time in New York and in the beautiful Carnegie Hall. I am so excited, and it’s so important that I am here. It’s the first time, but I hope it’s not the last time!”

During intermission, audience members shared their impressions of the ensemble with the Weekly. “I feel every song in my body. I feel like I am crying, dancing and having chills, and I feel like their songs are coming up from the earth,” enthused Christopher Janigian of New York City.  

“I thought the whole ensemble was quite beautiful, and it was very spiritual,” said Lori Messerlian of New York. “It had parts of Armenian culture but also modernized with today’s music – timeless but timely.” 

The ensemble has now concluded its North American tour, but the group has more performances scheduled in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and Luxembourg in April and May. The tour schedule and further information can be found at www.naghashensemble.com.

Askeran, Artsakh (Photo: Vahagn Khachatrian)

The country is love; the land is life. Life? Better to say, it’s a holy world. In its arms are sleeping thousands of innocent Armenian sons. The motherland has been nourished by their blood and sweat for centuries. The Armenian holy land is the symbol of our duration. We exist as long as our land exists, because our roots are deep in this rocky land. This stony land is our home, our heaven, our essence and our homeland.

We are forced to quench the thirst of our land with blood, while it misses water, soil, sow and the caressing hands of its farmer.

The people of Artsakh have been living in Artsakh, flourishing and building it for centuries as the enemy attacks, destroys and demolishes the region at will. But every time, after all this, the people of Artsakh love their land even more and deepen their roots even more into their land.

Armenian land has been rocked by many wars, captured many times and now it’s screaming in a frenzy waiting for its Armenian farmer.

Artsakh continues to be in blockade. Spring has arrived, which means that growers who are in love with their Armenian land must transfer their warmth and love to their motherland. They have to mix their sweat with the earth in order to receive life from it.

The people of Artsakh find strength in their country. The country is strong with its sons.

Alyosha Gabrielian (Photo: Weekly contributor Vahagn Khachatrian)

Alyosha Gabrielian loves his homeland. Along with his long-term career, he has also had a shovel in his hand, besides a pen.

Gabrielian is a member of the Artsakh movement and the initiative group of Askeran. He studied at the faculty of Physical Culture of the Armenian State Pedagogical University named after Khachatur Abovian. He taught in many schools and served in the Soviet army. When he married Lyudmila Grigoryan, he moved to Askeran. During the Soviet years, when the Artsakh movement was starting, he was the head of the district department of education, but for the sake of the activity of the movement, he left his position to avoid submitting to pressure from the leadership.

Alyosha Gabrielian represented the ARF in Artsakh’s National Assembly (Photo: Facebook)

Gabrielian has been serving in the ranks of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation since 1989. He was a deputy of three convocations of the Artsakh National Assembly. Today, at the age of 75, his main occupation has turned to farming.

Gabrielian has been farming since he was a young boy. He learned from his father, who was a great tiller of the land.

“Since the Soviet times, I’ve been engaged in agriculture, mainly in greenhouses. I have a pomegranate and pineapple garden,’’ shared Gabrielian.

He mainly grows vegetables, tomatoes, cucumbers and eggplants. His income is obtained from working with the land in early spring and late autumn, gathering the harvest.

Inside Alyosha Gabrielian’s greenhouse

“After the war, the government had a program for the establishment of greenhouse farms, which I took part in. Today I have two, 730-square-meter greenhouses. In the absence of electricity and gas, I do not have a heating system, but I try to use solar energy. Under these conditions, I am able to bring the crop grown in the greenhouse to the market one to two months earlier than the harvest obtained in the main open field,” he explained.

At this time, the preparatory work has already started. Gabrielian’s garden is bustling; all his family members participate. Gabrielian has been preparing to grow seedlings since January.

Alyosha Gabrielian’s family working in the garden (Photo: Vahagn Khachatrian)

Seedlings are grown in special conditions so that they do not freeze. “These are seeds. They are hybrids, which I acquired and grew with difficulty in the conditions of the blockade. On March 20, I have to transfer the already grown seedlings to greenhouses.”

Seedlings ready to be transferred to Alyosha Gabrielian’s greenhouse

Gabrielian’s garden is also full of trees, which he says require special care. “The climate of Askeran is quite favorable for growing tropical fruits. I prefer using organic fertilizers. I have a good irrigation system, which is the basis of obtaining a bountiful harvest,” described Gabrielian.

Today, many gardens in Artsakh have become borderlands and targets of the enemy. The people of Artsakh cultivate their land in front of the enemy’s eyes. Gabrielian says the people should not live in fear and should continue to create in their own homeland. He says the will and persistence of the people on their rightful lands should be visible in plain sight.

“Their positions are very close. We are under the target of the enemy. Five hundred meters from Askeran, the gardens are already under the target. There hasn’t been shooting toward this area, yet there was shooting toward Khramort and Nakhijevanik recently. Farming is very important under any circumstances, because obviously they want to scare us knowing that tomorrow’s harvest is from today’s work; thus, they want to disrupt our work in any way,” says Gabrielian.

The blockade has forced people to understand that the lack of products is the result of not farming the lands. Gabrielian says the farmer can’t suffer from hunger. “I love my land and farm it. It keeps you. Similarly, you must keep and protect your land,” he says.

During the blockade, working with the land has been like salvation for Gabrielian, when many people are losing hope.

“It seems you are cut off from the world when you grow something with your hands. How can I leave this land and move out? I invested here. This is my property. My family’s roots are deep in this land. My children and grandchildren live here. Land has a pull feature. It asks me to farm it and keep my family here. It is inadmissible to lose these lands, these fragile lands,” he expressed.

This is Gabrielian’s second time living under blockade. “The blockade of the 1980s was severe, but at that time, the products and weapons were imported by helicopters. There were collective farms, which had animals and food products. At that time, the people of Stepanakert used to go to villages to find food, as villages were more alive. There was no electricity or gas. We used firewood. We were literally cut off from the world,” recalled Gabrielian of the first Artsakh war.

Gabrielian says today there are a lot of people who are guided by self-interests and fail to take into consideration the fact that this nation came through war and deprivation. We lost our best sons for this land. Many families mourned. Many children were orphaned. He quoted the words of Aram Manoukian that we must fight alone both on the external and internal fronts, because the Armenian is strongly tied to his homeland.

“There was unity and a common ideology. Armenia was united: Armenia-Artsakh-Diaspora. Armenians from Armenia and Diaspora were fighting here, as a result of which we were able to win,” he recalled. “Now, it is a little different. There is still unity, but it is not pan-Armenian in nature. It can be said that the people of Artsakh are left alone in front of the enemy and are facing all difficulties alone. We have to face it. We have no other option. We cannot abandon our ancestral land that has been inherited to us for centuries. Our descendants will not forgive us. They will curse us if we go,” insisted Gabrielian.

He explained that because of the communist party’s propaganda, the people were ideologically immature during the Soviet times, yet they wished to live freely and rule their homeland and destiny on their own. The people believed that it is possible to implement this plan under the guise of reconstruction, because they upheld elements characteristic of democracy, such as human rights and freedom of speech. But they encountered a challenge.

“The USSR decided that the nationalities must live together and that the Nagorno Karabakh issue must be solved under the name of social-economic problems. They provided some money to solve these so-called problems, but as you can see, it was impossible. We understood that we had to take action and solve our problems by ourselves. At first, we went on strike with the idea to reunify with Armenia, but we got distracted. First, we had to be joined to Armenia with the decision of the Regional Council of Nagorno-Karabakh, but Levon Ter-Petrosyan and the authorities found that reunification should be achieved through independence, which brought us to today, when our right to self-determination is being questioned. The government of the Republic of Armenia does not talk about it at all; they see us as part of Azerbaijan,” said Gabrielian.

“Our demand is that our authorities do not play games, negotiate normally and do not cross red lines; otherwise they will be called betrayers and receive a deserved sentence,” concluded Gabrelian.

The struggle continues for the people of Artsakh. “Our right of independence must be accepted, and for that we have to struggle. The issue of Artsakh has a history of centuries and can’t be solved in one day,” said Gabrielian.

“Why are the people of Artsakh suffering deprivation for the sake of this land? Because this land is fertile. Even if we don’t look after it, our woods will look after us. You won’t find such an area anywhere else. Artsakh is like an oasis, God’s grace. That’s why the fight for this land has intensified. We have cultivated this land for centuries and felt its sweetness while working. I can’t imagine that I can go anywhere and find another land close to my heart. This land feeds us, sustains us, gives us oxygen, inspires us with hope and asks us not to leave it alone,” he described of his beloved Artsakh.

Gabrielian ultimately expressed optimism and the belief that there are many patriots in the new generation who understand the value of this land and who are ready to fight for it like our sons who sacrificed their lives during our 35-year struggle.

Armenian and Azerbaijani observers have been sounding alarm bells of an imminent military escalation in Artsakh. 

Mutual accusations of ceasefire violations have been increasing in recent weeks. On March 22, Armenian soldier Arshak Sargsyan was killed by Azerbaijani fire near the Yeraskh village on the border of Nakhichevan, according to the Ministry of Defense of Armenia. 

On March 21, two Russian peacekeepers were injured by Azerbaijani gunfire near the Ishkhanasar village in the Syunik province of Armenia. The peacekeepers were assisting in a search-and-rescue operation for an Armenian soldier who went missing after accidentally entering Azerbaijani-controlled territory while driving through foggy weather. The soldier was found on March 22. The Russian soldiers were treated at the Goris hospital.

Attacks on civilians in Artsakh have also been growing. On the morning of March 22, officials in Artsakh say Azerbaijani soldiers fired on civilians working in their vineyards near the town of Chartar in the Martuni province of Artsakh. Civilians working in their fields in the Amaras valley and Taghavard village in Martuni previously came under Azerbaijani fire on March 15 and March 19. No casualties were reported. 

Azerbaijani armed forces have killed six civilians and 15 military officials in Artsakh since the end of the 2020 Artsakh War, according to a report released by the office of Artsakh’s Human Rights Defender on March 8. 

The Azerbaijani Defense Ministry has also accused the Armenian armed forces and the Artsakh Defense Army of ceasefire violations in recent weeks. The Defense Ministry said that Azerbaijani positions came under fire on March 13, 15 and 20. The Armenian side denied these reports. The Artsakh Defense Ministry said that Azerbaijani armed forces fired on the northern section of the line of contact on March 10. 

Tensions have been escalating since three Artsakh police officers were killed in an ambush by a dozen Azerbaijani soldiers on March 5. Two Azerbaijani soldiers were also killed in the fighting.  

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev also sparked fear of a military offensive when he threatened during a speech on March 18 that if Armenians want to “live comfortably on an area of 29,000 square kilometers” (the size of Armenia), “Armenia must accept our conditions, officially recognize Karabakh as the territory of Azerbaijan, sign a peace treaty with us and carry out delimitation work according to our conditions.”

“If Armenia does not recognize our territorial integrity, we will not recognize their territorial integrity either,” Aliyev said. 

Armenian and Azerbaijani analysts have pointed to signs of a new military escalation in Artsakh. Independent Azerbaijani news outlet Mikroskop Media reported on March 13 that Azerbaijani media have been preparing the public for the outbreak of fighting. The outlet said that Azerbaijani TV channels have been warning of an Armenian provocation that would trigger an anti-terrorist operation by Azerbaijan. 

Yerevan-based political scientist Tigran Grigoryan tweeted on March 17 that the “risk of a new Azerbaijani attack in Nagorno-Karabakh is extremely high.” “Baku has been actively preparing ground for the new escalation for weeks,” Grigoryan said. “There are reports about Azerbaijani troops concentrations on the frontline.” 

Warnings of a new military escalation come as the ongoing blockade of Artsakh by Azerbaijan passed its 100-day mark on Tuesday. 

Government-sponsored Azerbaijani protesters posing as environmental activists have blocked the Lachin Corridor, the sole route connecting Artsakh with Armenia and the outside world, since December 12, 2022. Artsakh is facing a critical humanitarian crisis and severe shortages of food, medicine and other basic necessities.

Artsakh typically imports 90-percent of its food from Armenia and other countries, according to a report released by the office of Artsakh’s Human Rights Defender on March 21. Since the closure of the Lachin Corridor, all imports have come to a halt, except for the delivery of almost four-thousand tons of humanitarian aid by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Only ICRC and Russian peacekeeping vehicles have been permitted to use the Lachin Corridor.

Artsakh authorities have rationed pasta, buckwheat, rice, sugar, oil, fruits, vegetables, eggs and laundry detergent through a coupon system. Soap, cleaning products, toilet paper, diapers and feminine hygiene products have consistently been in short supply in grocery stores and pharmacies. 

Surgeries in Artsakh have come to a halt. The ICRC has transported 194 patients from Artsakh to Armenia to receive medical treatment. At least one person has died since the start of the blockade, because he could not be transferred in time for treatment. 

Gas and electricity supplies have also been periodically disrupted since the start of the blockade. Artsakh receives its natural gas from Armenia through a single pipeline that runs through Azerbaijani-controlled territory. Artsakh authorities say that Azerbaijan has deliberately disrupted the gas supply for a total of 34 days since the start of the blockade. The high-voltage power line that provides Artsakh’s electricity supply has been damaged since January 9. The Artsakh government says that Azerbaijan has prohibited specialists from accessing the power line. 

Before the blockade, half of Artsakh’s electricity was supplied by local hydroelectric power plants. Water resources in the Sarsang reservoir are in rapid decline, since the reservoir has been operating at its full capacity. 

“The ongoing blockade of Artsakh and disruption of vital infrastructure by Azerbaijan, as well as the regular and consistent armed attacks, aim at subjecting Artsakh to ethnic cleansing through physical and psychological intimidation, creating unbearable conditions and destroying the indigenous Armenian population of Artsakh,” the report from the Artsakh Ombudsman’s office says. 

Rally marking 100 days of the Artsakh blockade,

The ongoing blockade of the only road of life connecting Artsakh to Armenia has been obstructed for 100 days already. It has been 100 days that Artsakh has been surrounded and cut off from the rest of the world, as a result of which the entire population, including 30,000 children, has been isolated. The people of Artsakh have been deprived of food, medicine, fuel and other necessities under conditions including frequent disruption of the electricity and gas supply during severe winter. For 100 days, the people of Artsakh have been living in a state of limbo, with pain, loss of relatives and longing for family members on the other side of the road; however, a sense of solidarity has been born whereby people with their limited resources are trying to help each other, to share what they have, to stand behind each other and to wait with hope.

STEPANAKERT—On March 21, the 100th day of the blockade, the Artsakh Youth Organization of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) organized a protest with other youth non-governmental organizations in Artsakh in Renaissance Square.

“Man does not live by bread alone, but also by the word that comes from God,” said Rev. Fr. Vachagan Gyurjyan, quoting the Gospel in his opening remarks, noting that the people of Artsakh have survived this truth with the many difficulties they have endured during these 100 days. “Nobody can deprive us of God’s grace, from our motherland, because we are bound by the love of our land,” he added.

In her speech, ARF Artsakh Youth member Heghinar Grigoryan recalled the struggle back in 1988 and noted that our people have been facing an existential crisis for 35 years. She said that during these uncertain times, people must regain the will to fight and understand that Armenia and Artsakh can only survive together. “The motherland needs us, and we also need the motherland,” she continued. “Two years after the war, we are still digging graves, where we are burying the remains of our policemen who were victims of a terrorist attack carried out by Azerbaijan. Struggle is written on our forehead to preserve our Armenian homeland, because the homeland is not just land,” concluded Grigoryan. 

Heghinar Grigoryan

Gev Iskajyan of the Armenian National Committee (ANC) of Artsakh emphasized all the hardships that the people of Artsakh have endured during these 100 days and stressed that the purpose of the protest is to illustrate the strength and will of Artsakh. “We have heard many words from various international organizations during this time, but we call on them to turn those words into real actions, be it through sanctions or other pressures, because that is the only way we can achieve the opening of the corridor,” urged Iskajyan.

Gev Iskajyan

Artsakh State University lecturer Iskuhi Avanesyan, who joined the protest with her students, also believes that the various resolutions, appeals and the decision of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) are welcome, but until concrete actions are taken, Azerbaijan is emboldened to continue its provocations and threats, psychological and physical pressures. This was also expressed by the recent threats made by Ilham Aliyev from the occupied Talish village of Artsakh. “However, despite those threats, we are not going to leave our homeland. We are  uncompromised in protecting it,” insisted Avanesyan.

Iskuhi Avanseyan

Asya Aharonyan, a student of Avanesyan, stressed that Azerbaijan’s goal is depopulation and repatriation of Armenians from Artsakh, but the future of Artsakh depends on the youth, who are determined to resist these physical and psychological pressures.

Asya Aharonyan

ARF Artsakh Youth member and Weekly contributor Vahagn Khachatryan, one of the organizers of the protest, told the Weekly that the goal is to remind the international community once again that despite the fact that Artsakh is in a difficult situation, this is not the first time. “My generation has proven that they are the owners of this country, that they are ready to sacrifice even their lives. But we must be united, not indifferent.” He mentioned that this is also a call to action for youth in Armenia and around the world, who these days are holding demonstrations in different corners of the world in support of Artsakh. The youth of Artsakh once again show their determination to live and create in this land, despite these difficulties and the apathy of the international community.

Vahagn Khachatrian

The following remarks were delivered by ANC Artsakh’s Gev Iskajyan at the AYF Artsakh rally, held on March 21st in Stepanakert, marking the 100th day of Azerbaijan’s brutal blockade.

It has been 100 days since the blockade in Artsakh began.

100 days without access to the rest of the world.

100 days without vital supplies like food and medicine.

100 days without heat.

100 days without access to education.

100 days in the dark.

Through it all, the people of Artsakh have withstood the pressure, the hardships, and all the human rights abuses committed by Azerbaijan under their imposed blockade.

At times, it has felt as if the people of Artsakh have been alone in this crisis, with major world powers turning a blind eye to Azerbaijan’s humans rights abuses, even in light of rulings from the International Criminal Court and condemnations from organizations like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.

But Artsakh has never been alone, from Stepanakert to Washington DC, from Canada to the European Union, from Australia to South America and across the middle east — the ANC throughout the world, powered by diasporan Armenians with an unrelenting love for Artsakh and its people, have been working day and night, to raise awareness and spark action by global powers.

In this time we’ve heard statements by many nations, calling out Azerbaijan for their crimes — but the time has now come for more than words, the time has come for action, for tangible, punitive measures and sanctions against Azerbaijan. Because only then will they think twice, only then will they stop.

Through all of this, the people of Artsakh are ready to do whatever it takes, as they have time and time again. Because today Artsakh doesn’t just represent this small corner of the world; Artsakh represents all people throughout the earth who believe in freedom, who believe in the right to self-determination, who believe in human rights, who believe in a better future.

My compatriots, I know there are times that we feel alone.

But we are not alone.

Your compatriots around the world are with you.

Hai Tahd is with you.

The diaspora is with you.

With its mind, its heart and all its might.