Under-recognized in
most historical accounts, Armenia was a portal between East and West
for much of its history and developed a rich culture of its own. The
Shoghaken Ensemble is among the best contemporary Armenian folk groups,
encompassing a full spectrum of the country’s sonic heritage. Included
are the unearthly piping of the duduk, a wooden flute producing the
most lonesome sounds in the universe; bewitchingly powerful songs for
voice; and the percussive, rhythmic music of weddings and other
festivals. Some of the numbers will sound familiar enough to fans of
Near Eastern music, but other melodies, especially those associated
with the duduk, are probably more ancient in origin than even the
Byzantine and Islamic empires that once surrounded Armenia.
Shoghaken Ensemble performs at 8 p.m., Feb. 20, in the Great Hall of the University of Wisconsin- Madison’s Memorial Union.
Shoghaken Ensemble performs at 8 p.m., Feb. 20, in the Great Hall of the University of Wisconsin- Madison’s Memorial Union.
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