ԱՐԵՒ ՀԱՅԿԱԿԱՆ ԺՈՂՈՎՐԴԱԿԱՆ ՀԱՄՈՅԹ

Arev Armenian Folk Ensemble Boston The Arev Armenian Folk Ensemble was established in 1989 by its artistic director Martin Haroutunian and has since been performing traditional Armenian music for a large variety of audiences. The goal of the ensemble is to present the musical traditions of the Armenian people to the world community by incorporating traditional folk instruments with contemporary vocal styles, a union that reflects the ever-evolving nature of music in the Armenian Diaspora. The Arev Ensemble diverged from the traditional avenues once sought for artist relationships. In 1999 the ensemble increased its membership and began to gather at the Hamazkayin Hamasdegh Library of Armenian Cultural and Educational Center in Watertown, MA. The success of the ensemble has coincided with this avant-garde relationship formed with the Boston chapter of the Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and Cultural Society.

Ani Zargarian, Vocals - Tamar Melkonian, Vocals - Martin Haroutunian, Duduk, Shvi, snd Zurna John Kozelian, Ud - Markos Shahbazyan, Dhol - Tigran Avetisyan, Duduk - Zori Babrudi, Duduk

Մարթին Յարութիւնեան Martin Haroutunian a highly regarded musician and a student of Armenian folk music, performs and teaches traditional Armenian wind and percussion instruments, including dap, dhol (kopal), duduk, parkapzuk, pku, shvi, sring (blul), and zurna. Martin has studied at the Komitas State Conservatory of Yerevan, Folk Instruments Department under Khachatur Avetisian in the Wind Instruments Division under Jivan Gasparian and the University of Massachusetts, Boston. He has also received private instruction from Professors Ohannes Salibian, Georgi Minasov, Ararat Petrosian, Gevorg Dabaghian and Norayr Kartashian. His critiques and reviews have been published in the Armenian Forum, Armenian Mirror-Spectator and Armenian Weekly.

Martin has performed in Armenia, Australia, Canada, Cyprus, Holland, Italy, Lebanon, Switzerland, Syria, and Turkey. He was a guest artist with the Navasart Armenian Folk Ensemble of Paris, France during their United States tour with performances in Boston, New York, Fresno, San Francisco and Los Angeles. Martin has also toured with the Erebouni and Garni Armenian Folk Ensembles as principal soloist performing at various prestigious international festivals including the Festival of Nations in Albany, New York and the Wolf Trap International Children’s Festival in Vienna, Virginia. He has also has toured with Kurdish folk singer Şivan Perwer. Martin arranged and performed the music for New Repertory Theater’s 1998 production of Richard Kalinoski’s “Beast on The Moon” as well as acted as a consultant and recorded for the play’s 2005 Off-Broadway production.

In 1989 Martin founded and has since directed the Arev Armenian Folk Ensemble performing extensively in the United States and Canada, including performances with the 2002 Christmas Revels. The ensemble’s first recording in 2003 received two nominations at the Armenian Music Awards. Martin is featured on various recordings including “An Anthology of Armenian Patriotic Songs”, “Portable Planet”, “Lullabies From The Cradle Of Civilization” and various film and television soundtracks, including the “Everything is Illuminated” original motion picture soundtrack. In 2007 Martin was invited to be recorded by Academy Award winning composer Gustavo Santaolalla for a film soundtrack. He is also featured on recordings by Raffi Adourian, Janette Khalarian, The Vardan Ovsepian Chamber Ensemble and The Komitas Project and Musaner, both directed by Ara Sarkissian. In 2006 Martin founded the Lusin Armenian Experimental Improvisation Group. He developed and taught a music appreciation program at St. Stephen’s Armenian Elementary School. Martin has been invited to play with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Boston Pops Orchestra as well as with legendary folk singer Hasmik Harutyunyan and the Cornell Middle Eastern and Mediterranean Music Ensemble. Most recently he was involved in the production of Musaner’s second CD "Once Upon A Time". Martin currently serves on the Executive Committee of the Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and Cultural Society of Greater Boston.