The Naghash Ensemble

The Naghash Ensemble is a cross between Armenian folk music, minimalist piano music and contemporary polyphony. Three sparkling female voices breathe new life into texts from the medieval mystic and priest M’krtich Naghash. A whole series of Armenian instruments add an almost spiritual musical experience. The Naghash Ensemble combines the spirituality of traditional Armenian singing with contemporary minimal music and the energy of rock and jazz. The foundations for this project lie in the compositions of the Armenian-American pianist John Hodian. In ‘Songs of Exile’ he responds to the contemporary Armenian diaspora. Subtle polyphony and the refined melancholy of the traditional range of instruments is spiced up with incendiary rhythmicity and a strong piano part.