The Morning Scent of the Acacia's Song, 2001

Instrumentation:
duduk (reed woodwind), violins (2), viola, cello

Armenian composer Vache Sharafyan's music is informed by post-Soviet compositional techniques, as well as the liturgical and folk music of Armenia and Israel. In his commission for the Silk Road Project, The Morning Scent of the Acacia's Song, Sharafyan features the Armenian duduk as a solo instrument, supported by a Western string quartet and offstage cello. The monophonic line of the duduk, which is typical of Armenian folk music, is juxtaposed here against post-Soviet harmonies. Armenian liturgical and folk music references are also present. For example, the sonorous melodies of the duduk evoke the ancient tradition of sharagan, an Armenian liturgical hymn which dates back to the 4th century. The melodic line is also gradually layered with a rhythmic pattern found in Armenian traditional village dances.