EARTHDRAWN SKIES

1 Columba aspexit, arr. Alex Fortes Hildegard von Bingen

String Quartet No. 1 Eleanor Alberga
2 I. Détaché et martellato e zehr lebhaft und swing it man.
3 II. Espressivo, with wonder and yearning.
4 III. Frantically driven yet playful

Armenian Folk Songs Komitas Vardapet
arr. Sergei Aslamazian
5    Yergink Ampel A (It's Cloudy)
6    Haprpan (Festive Song)
7  Shoushigi (For Shoushig)
8 Echmiadzni Bar (Dance from Echmiadzin)
9    Kaqavik (The Partridge)

String Quartet in D Minor Op. 56
Voces Intimae Jean Sibelius
10    I. Andante—Allegro molto moderato
11   II. Vivace
12    III. Adagio di molto
13 IV. Allegretto (ma pesante)
14   V. Allegro

Earthdrawn Skies explores deep connections between humankind and the natural world through the distinct lenses of four composers forging personal relationships with the soil and the stars. These works by Hildegard von Bingen, Eleanor Alberga, Komitas Vardapet and Jean Sibelius are rooted in a sense of tradition and connection to the land, even as the composers seek something beyond their reach: an understanding of God, the physics of the cosmos, homeland, happiness.

For Hildegard von Bingen, her relationship to the natural world is part of a religious mysticism. For Eleanor Alberga, it manifests itself through scientific exploration—the vibrant energy of her music reflecting her curiosity for and awe of natural processes that have been ongoing for millennia. The Armenian Folk Songs of Komitas are a window into the powerful and resilient connection between Armenians and their land, both the soil that peasants till and the homeland of which the diaspora dreams. Sibelius’s Voces Intimae, written during a period of psychological crisis and isolation in his rural home Ainola as he tried to escape the alcoholism that plagued him in Helsinki, reflects a shift from the grand optimistic expression of Finnish nationalism that dominated his youth to something more dark and personal. And yet the quartet concludes with a buoyant and virtuosic finale, a suggestion of folk fiddling that seems to be pulled straight out of the Finnish countryside.

The music on this album draws from the earth as it reaches upward and outward. These composers share an impulse to understand the sky, the heavens, the larger things in life. This is music we have kept returning to as a quartet, as it speaks to us in deeply personal ways. We cherish playing this music together, and we hope it resonates as much with you as it does with us.

-Karen Ouzounian

Aizuri Quartet
Emma Frucht and Miho Saegusa, Violins
Ayane Kozasa, Viola
Karen Ouzounian, Cello

Producer and Recording Engineer: Alan Bise

Recorded at Sauder Concert Hall at Goshen College in Goshen, Indiana, Feb. 10-13, 2022 

Interior Photos: Shervin Lainez

Art and design: DM Stith (@vermeerier) 

THANKS AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Our heartfelt thanks to Alan Bise for shepherding this entire recording: your incredible ears, supportive listening, rich perspective, and beautiful vibes made the creation of this album such a joyful experience. Thank you for pouring so much of your time and care into each and every piece. To DM Stith, thank you for capturing and translating the essence of this album so beautifully with your stunning artwork. We loved working with you again. Thank you to Gregory Brown for being our phenomenal manager and teammate in every way, and for helping us get this album to the finish line! Thank you Katy Solomon for your passionate advocacy and marketing expertise. To our families and friends, and to all our listeners, thank you for being a part of the Aizuri journey. We cherish your ears and support with all our hearts!