Vientos & Mi Tango Review, The Flutist Quarterly

WATCH Aaron Larget-Caplan on YouTube perform  Mi Tango by Hayg Boyadjian, Live in Boston 2011 (click on title)

This collection of recent works by Hayg Boyadjian draws form the composer’s diverse musical and non-musical influences for compositional inspiration, and the result is very exciting.  Boyadjian was born in Paris to Armenian parents; he moved to Argentina as a young boy, and he spent most of his life in the United States.  Composed between 2003 and 2009, these six pieces were written for and dedicated to specific musicians, some of who perform on this CD.

Two pieces, “Mi Tango” and “Vientos,” reflect on Boyadjian’s Argentinean roots.  In homage to the modern tango created by Astor Piazzolla, the former utilizes the syncopated rhythms and sudden mood/style changes that are trademarks of Piazzolla’s beloved compositional style.  Boyadjian creates his own brand of concert hall tango by displacing accents and mixing meters, which takes the form further from the dance hall than even Piazzolla explored.  The latter is a reference to how Boyadjian’s music is blown from his diverse influence.  An excellent juxtaposition of Armenian and Argentinean musical elements permeates this work written for guitar, violin and mandolin.  There are moments when the conversation between the guitar and mandolin symbolize an East-West parley.

If your ears are longing for a fusion of sounds, you will be inspired by Boyadjian’s compositions.  Do not, however, expect to be able to dance on the dance-inspired moments or feel like singing along to the songs.  Do, however, be prepared for an interesting excursion into the passion that comes from so many different roots.

– Tess Miller

The Flutist Quarterly, Fall 2011, p. 72

The Flutist Quarterly, Fall 2011

for complete review click on thumbnail.