"The Most Versatile Classical Music Organization in the Bay Area!"

The Seemorgh Ensemble


                                                                                                                                   
Seemorgh (also Simorgh, Simurgh) is a legendary bird in Persian literature. Literally translated “Thirty-Birds,” it has been cleverly used by Fareed Eddeen Attaar (1142–1220), one of the greatest Persian Sufi mystic poets, in his Mantegh Attayr, The Conference of the Birds, to explain how the group effort of thirty birds led them to a superior destiny, becoming a Seemorgh. Attar’s ingenious interpretation, the symbolic association of birds with beautiful singing, and the obvious collaborative nature of a chorus, among others, were the motivations for choosing “Seemorgh” as the name for this ensemble.


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A Collaboration of The Seemorgh Ensemble with Oakland East Bay Symphony

(January 22, 2010)

Reviews:
The evening concluded spectacularly with two short but spirited choral works... The Seemorgh Ensemble and “select singers from various Bay Area choral groups” sang lustily the proud lyrics:
"But we did not fall, we always exist. We did not vanish and will still come."
  • Oakland Tribune, Mercury News, and Contra Costa Times [Link]
Artin Der Minassians' Seemorgh Ensemble (a mixed chorus of singers) created a panoply of stirring sounds in two contrasting patriotic songs —"Yerevan Erebooni" and "Sardarapat" — by Edgar Hovhannisyan.

  • San Francisco Chronicle

The Armenian novelties on the second half culminated with the appearance of the Seemorgh Ensemble to raise the rafters... These proved to be undeniably stirring.

Audience feedback:

  • "We immensely enjoyed the music and the choral pieces on Friday evening. We also felt very proud."

  • "The symphony program Friday night was pure pleasure. The chorus was astonishing... They sang with much feeling and clarity. You are to be congratulated on the excellent portion of 'Notes from Armenia.'"

  • "I really enjoyed the performance. The a cappella sections were great. I could really feel the weight of the text then."

  • "I enjoyed the evening very much! It was amazing, bringing back the memories of Armenia."

  • "Beautiful evening on Friday - the choral pieces were amazing!"

  • "I just wanted to let you know that the choir had an excellent performance on Jan 22nd. I am so grateful for all the hard work all of you put into it. It was truly a pleasure to hear you along side the symphony. Also I enjoyed the description of the songs and music prior to the performance. The talk was very informative... I really enjoyed it and I look forward to your next performance."

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The Ever-Ringing Belfry: The Legacy of Komitas
(November 21-22, 2009)



Year 2009 commemorates the 140-year anniversary of the birth of Komitas (1869-1935), the founder of the Armenian classical music. The Seemorgh Ensemble will honor this occasion by bringing to life some rarely performed sacred and secular choral masterpieces by Komitas and his renowned student, Barsegh Kanachian. Program features Komitas’ two unseen jewels, Lord’s Prayer and Vespers Hymn, along with An den Wassern zu Babel, the only choral music he composed in German. Kanachian’s Nanor will take you on a pilgrimage to St. Karapet monastery and a complete cycle of Komitas’ Wedding Songs, together with other surprises, will call to mind the beauty of Armenian tradition.

Artin Der Minassians, Conductor
Vahan Mirakian, Guest Soloist

Audience feedback:
  • "May I just say how much my wife and I enjoyed the performance... I was proud to see Komitas’ work given the attention it deserves and as a fan I was floored by the quality, and tone of the performance. My many thanks to you, and all the singers who lent their tremendous talents."
  • "Congratulations on a beautiful concert last night. It was a privilege to hear that music. It was very moving. We really enjoyed it. Beautiful sound in a beautiful church. I loved Nanor especially."
  • "It was a spectacular performance."
  • "What a wonderful performance, under the spell of the beautiful architecture and mosaics. Thank you for continuing to give us beautiful art!! I know it requires alot of energy that anything beautiful requires! That was the most beautiful version of Hayr Mer [Lord's Prayer] I had ever heard."
  • "Splendid concert last night. Thanks for making Komitas accessible to the Bay Area!"
Program Notes: Click here


Music Samples: Coming Soon...


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From Constantinople to Tbilisi: An Armenian Legacy
(November 21-23, 2008)




After movingly sublime and enthusiastically received performances of Armenian choral repertoire in June and July, Bay Area Classical Harmonies is proud to present a full program of rarely-performed Armenian classical music. Audiences will experience Sarkis Aslamazian's unparalleled arrangements for string quartet as well as choral masterpieces by Komitas, M. Yekmalian, B. Kanachian, G. Syuni, and the late S. Aghajanian. These best-kept secrets of Eastern classical music promise to be an experience music lovers will not soon forget.

Artin Der Minassians, Conductor
Berverly Nalbandian, Guest Soloist

Program Notes: Click here


Music Samples: Coming Soon...


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