Armenian Chamber Music Khachaturian, Babadjanian, Arutiunian, Kradjian, Ganatchian Amici Chamber Ensemble ACD2 2609 Armenian classical music traces back its roots to the rich tradition of Armenia's unique folk music and the sacred choral music of the nation, which was the first to adopt Christianity as its state religion.   Music, both vocal and instrumental, plays an important part in Armenia's artistic heritage.   The folk songs - both melancholic and joyous melodies - some of them going back to the pagan period of this 4000-year-old civilization, cannot be classified either as merely Oriental or Occidental, but a mixture of the two, mirroring Armenia's geographic position as a meeting point between East and West.   While the rhythms of these songs include simple, compound, mixed, and free meters, they are primarily monodic and characterized by a delicate structure and an expressive melody. … Serouj Kradjian AMICI CHAMBER ENSEMBLE JOAQUIN VALDEPEÑAS • CLARINETTE :: CLARINET DAVID HETHERINGTON • VIOLONCELLE :: CELLO SEROUJ KRADJIAN • PIANO BENJAMIN BOWMAN • VIOLON :: VIOLIN ISABEL BAYRAKDARIAN* • SOPRANO WINONA ZELENKA* • VIOLONCELLE :: CELLO ROBERTA JANZEN* • VIOLONCELLE :: CELLO AMY LAING* • VIOLONCELLE :: CELLO ARNO BABADJANIAN (1921-1983)         Trio pour violon, violoncelle et piano [23:39]         Trio for violin, cello, and piano   1 :: Largo e Allegro espressivo [9:25]   2 :: Andante [7:56]   3 :: Allegro vivace [6:18] SEROUJ KRADJIAN (1973)   4 :: Élégie pour les âmes agitées pour clarinette, violon, violoncelle et piano [14:42]         Elegy for Restive Soûls for clarinet, violin, cello, and piano PARSEGH GANATCHIAN (1885-1967)   5 :: Oror* [4:05]         Berceuse pour soprano, clarinette et quatre violoncelles         Lullaby for soprano, clarinet, and four celli         ARANGEMENT : SEROUJ KRADJIAN ARAM KHACHATURIAN (1903-1978)         Trio pour clarinette, violon et piano [15:2 ]         Trio for clarinet, violin, and piano   6 :: Andante con dolore, molto espressione [4:13]   7 :: Allegro [4:11]   8 :: Moderato [7:04] ALEXANDER ARUTIUNIAN (l920-)         Suite pour clarinette, violon et piano [16:15]         Suite for clarinet, violin, and piano   9 :: Introduction [6:16] 10 :: Scherzo [2:28] 11 :: Dialog [2:50] 12 :: Finale [4:41] ATMA Classique is distributed in Australia by Rockian Trading PO Box 44, Briar Hill, Vic, 3088, Australia Telephone +61 (0)3 9432 4149 ~ Facsimile +61 (0)3 9444 6879