Recital: Astghik Martirosyan '22 MM, Jazz Voice
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.
- Astghik Martirosyan '22 MM, voice
- Dominique Eade, studio teacher
- Frank Carlberg, studio teacher
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 WinstoneAstghik 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 MartirosyanAstghik 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 MartirosyanAstghik 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 AkhmatovaGuinga | 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.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 MartirosyanArmenian 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.
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 WinstoneAstghik 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
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