Ethno Dance - Sofi Mikayelyan

Please allow me to introduce you to Armenian #unknowncomposerworthhearing, Sofi Mikayelyan, with a performance of Sofi’s arrangement of her own composition, "Ethno Dance", for violin and piano which I did with her sister, Christine Kharazian for a Friday Morning Music Club recital on September 24th at Greenspring Retirement Community.

Ethno Dance is from Sofi’s CD, "Bronze Age". The piece is built on a rhythmic pattern not found in traditional western “classical” music. The time signature is 4/4 – 4 pulses per measure, with each pulse being represented by a quarter-note. Where common practice Western music would evenly subdivide those 4 pulses, e.g., 4*4, 4*2, 4*1 or even 2*2 or 1*2 notes per measure, Ethno Dance is built on a 14 pulse subdivision – 4*3 + 1*2 and at other times, 4*3 + 2*1. To my ear, this rhythm sounds “crooked”, yet it is what propels the piece on its way. Suffice to say, getting the feeling for that pattern, presumably sourced from Armenian folk music to which I had no previous exposure as an American, was a major challenge for me in being able to play this piece.

Sofi Mikayelyan is an Armenian pianist and composer, known for her virtuosic technique, live performances and vibrant original arrangements and adaptations of classical and Armenian Folk-Fusion music. Her original compositions are written in those styles plus jazz, jazz-fusion, post-bop and rock.

Sofi graduated from the Tchaikovsky Specialized Music School in Yerevan in 1988 and went on to get a degree from Yerevan State Conservatory in 1993 and a graduate diploma in 1995 and eventually became Professor of Piano in the Conservatory Piano Department. She continues there to this day teaching Ensemble and Jazz Improvisation.

Sofi’s distinguished performance career in Armenia includes being pianist for the Yerevan State Conservatory Piano Quintet and piano soloist with the Yerevan State Chamber Orchestra, appearances with the Yerevan State Radio and TV Orchestra and the Sympho-Jazz State Orchestra. Outside Armenia, Sofi has concertized in the UAE,Thailand,Argentina, Lithuania, Ukraine, Egypt, Sweden, Georgia, the Czech Republic and the United States of America. In 2021 Sofi has released her first solo album "Bronze Age".

Purchase Sofi’s “Bronze Age” CD here: https://www.amazon.com/Bronze-Age-Sof...

Hear more of Sofi's work on her YouTube channel:    / @sofimikayelyan1941  

Christine and I hope you find this piece and our playing of it worthy, and find the music of this #unknowncomposerworth hearing indeed, worthy, of your attention.

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