Recital: Astghik Martirosyan '22 MM, Jazz Voice

NEC: Williams Hall | Directions

290 Huntington Ave.
Boston, MA
United States

NEC's students meet one-on-one each week with a faculty artist to perfect their craft. As each one leaves NEC to make their mark in the performance world, they present a full, professional recital that is free and open to the public. It's your first look at the artists of tomorrow.

Astghik Martirosyan '22 MM studies Jazz Voice with Dominique Eade and Frank Carlberg and is the recipient of the Alice and Violeta Ohanasian/Friends of Armenian Culture Society Scholarship.

This performance is open to in-person audiences, and can also be viewed via livestream.

Watch livestream from Williams Hall

Artists

  1. Kenny Wheeler | Everybody's Song, But Not My Own

    Lyrics by Norma Winstone

     

    Text

    Everybody’s Song, But Not My Own

    Somehow the words never fit
    Somehow the song isn’t right
    Although the day may be good
    I’ve learned it ends in the night.

    Everyday I hear a Melody
    Something tells me that my own song is yet to be
    Watching people live their lives
    Finding the sun
    Finding someone
    Wish as much as I may
    Each day you’ll still find me playing
    Everybody’s song but not my own.

    So many roads still to take
    So many plans to be made
    So many tears to be shed
    So many songs in my head

    All I hear is like a memory
    Life intended for some else but not for me
    Sounds and voices from the past
    Quiet and slow
    Tender and low
    Though the sadness may sting
    There’s music there I’ll be singing!
    Everybody's song but not my own

    Norma Winstone

     

  2. Astghik Martirosyan | Same Old

    Based on a painting by Masha Keryan

     

    Text

    Same Old

    I leave now, no matter what you say.
    My ignorance is fed by you -
    That is all that I’ve learned

    Your green is a poison.
    I choose to see the green of life,
    Where sun can make us thrive

    Drunk in those colors of yours
    I was dragged down.
    Elegant moves that disturb -
    What I once found

    I can’t tell you where I will be
    My path is still unclear
    But what is real is that
    I leave now, no matter how you feel.

    Astghik Martirosyan

  3. Astghik Martirosyan | Silence

     

    Text

    Silence

    I face you.
    Will I ever be in peace with the sun?
    Till the end of time
    The beauty of silence is what I recall

    You and I,
    The war in us…
    Will I ever be the same?
    Closing my eyes again and then
    The wind,
    The rain, 
    Warmth within
    Again

    Astghik Martirosyan

  4. Astghik Martirosyan | Song of the Final Meeting

    Poem by Anna Akhmatova

     

    Text

    Song of the Final Meeting

    My breast grew helplessly cold,
    But my steps were light.
    I pulled the glove from my left hand
    Mistakenly onto my right.
    It seemed there were so many steps,
    But I knew there were only three!
    Amidst the maples an autumn whisper
    Pleaded: "Die with me!
    I'm led astray by evil
    Fate, so black and so untrue."
    I answered: "I, too, dear one!
    I, too, will die with you…"
    This is a song of the final meeting.
    I glanced at the house's dark frame.
    Only bedroom candles burning
    With an indifferent yellow flame.

    Anna Akhmatova

  5. Guinga | Bolera de Sata

     

    Text

    Bolero de Sata

    Você penetrou como o sol da manhã
    E em nós começou uma festa pagã
    Você libertou em você a infernal cortesã
    E em mim despertou esse amor

    Atormentado e mal de Satã
    Você me deixou como o fim da manhã
    E em mim começou essa angústia, esse afã
    Você me implantou a paixão imortal e mal sã
    Que se enraizou e será meu maldito final amanhã

    E agora me aperta a aflição
    De chorar louco e só de manhã
    É a seta do arco da noite
    Sangrando-me agora
    São lágrimas, sangue, veneno
    Correndo no meu coração
    Formando-me dentro esse pântano de solidão

    Guinga



    You penetrated like the morning sun
    And in us began a heathen feast
    You freed in you the infernal courtesan
    And love awoke in me

    Satan's tormented and evil
    You left me like the end of the morning
    And in me began this anguish, this eagerness
    You implanted in me the immortal and insane passion
    That took root and will be my damn end tomorrow

    And now grief grips me
    From crying crazy and only in the morning
    It's the arrow of the bow of night
    bleeding me now
    It's tears, blood, poison
    running in my heart 
    Forming me inside this swamp of loneliness    .

  6. Astghik Martirosyan | Spring is On Its Way

     

    Text

    Spring is on its way

    I wonder how you look today
    Does the mountain wind there feel the same way?
    If it’s there than close your eyes
    And let it sway.

    I hope that you’re safe
    Though I dreamed of you last night
    Does this mean that I should call
    To see if you’re alright?

    I wonder how you look today
    Does the sunlight shine on you the same way?
    I hope you hear me whisper
    That spring is on its way

    Morning breeze
    Will brush the leaves
    And we’ll be happy then.

    Astghik Martirosyan

  7. Armenian Folk Song (arr. Astghik Martirosyan) | Summer Night

    The song depicts an old Armenian village where, after the hard day of work, the villagers have gathered in a house or yard and enjoy the peaceful summer night as the moon shines pleasantly. The song spotlights women of the village, praising them and celebrating their work and beauty as they sift the flour and grind the grain with a millstone.
     

  8. Fred Hersch | Song of Life

    Lyrics by Norma Winstone

     

    Text

    Song of life

    Early morning light
    Crystal bright
    Feeling the leafy avenue
    As the sun is breaking through
    Suddenly everything’s alive in the singing air
    Time to stop and stare
    Live the precious day until it’s gone

    Now you hear the song
    Loud and strong echo the pealing of the bells
    As the human spirit swells
    You can just feel your heart take wings like a breathing bird
    Sounds you’ve never heard
    Let the song of life play on and on

    Music that earth makes
    Capture in the meaning
    Heart song
    Beating
    Giving you a glimpse of what’s beyond

    Norma Winstone

  9. Astghik Martirosyan | Where We Lived

     

    Text

    Where we lived

    Out of all the things in my memories
    I’m left with clouds and lights
    I close my eyes and a picture of a road appears.
    How comforting that is, I sigh…

    Out of all the things from those summer nights
    I’m left with sounds and scents.
    A doze of breeze and now I fly.
    Let me stay here for a while.
    I’ll find my way to say goodbye.

    Astghik Martirosyan
     

  10.  

    Vardan Ovsepian, piano
    Seulah Noh, piano
    Aaron Kaufman-Levine, alto saxophone
    Anna Abondolo, double bass
    Austin McMahon, drums
    Katie Knudsvig, violin
    Caroline Jesalva, violin
    Kat Wallace, viola
    Ben Roberts, cello

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