By Hasmik Marukyan
Mount Khustup, Syunik, 2022
Under the hypnotizing presence of the mountain Khustup, Tigran Hamasyan played its piano concert, a unique experience in the history of Armenian music. His fingers were sliding on the grand piano transported to Kapan specifically for this rare occasion – Kapan International Music Festival.
The hill was chosen as a natural stage for the composer, the backdrop was the glorious jewel of Zangezur Mountains. The composer’s fingers were sliding on the keyboard of the piano to the tune that sounded like an Armenian church song “sharakan” – only the notes of the song found their echo not in the walls of the church but in the majestic hills and mountaintops.
The concert aimed to create not only an auditory experience through piano and resonance it found in nature, but also a visual and spiritual one.
At one point, Hamasyan began to hum to the melody with his husky voice. The piano performance suddenly turned into a liturgy led by the famous pianist resembling a priest in his black attire. The pianist was soon joined by the choir – the audience gathered around the stage. The melody spoke about loss, yearning, and hope – collective revival through surrender.
One cannot but notice that the whole experience is a meditation – when sound, spirit and silence become one.