"Sasun" ensemble's VCDs to be distributed in military units in Armenia and Karabakh

“Sasun” ethnographic ensemble of song and dance will deliver its new video CDs, titled “Narot Homesickness” to military units in Armenia and Karabakh.

At a news conference today, Andranik Manukyan, the art director of the ensemble said that “narot” is the white-and-red thread used in christening.

“And homesickness is the symbol that we have been bereft of our christening. Today, I am living on the slopes of Aragats [Armenia’s highest peak], and I regret that I have been cut off the land of my forefathers,” said Manukyan.

“And I must always take care of, fight for the truth, for the preservation of the real world,” he said, speaking about the title of the CD.
The CD includes six patriotic songs and as much traditional dances. The texts of the songs are provided in subtitles in three languages – Armenian, Russian and English.

The videos were shot in Van, Mush, Sasun, Armenian-populated areas in Turkey’s current territories before the Armenian Genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman Turks in 1915.

“The song dedicated to [Gevorg] Chavush [an outstanding Armenian freedom-fighter in Turkey] was shot in Western Armenia, where he passed away.”

“There is a clap dance, that used to be performed by the people of Sasun, Taron [districts], and they danced it before going to fighting,” he said. “There is also the Kertsi dance, which is also a military dance. I wanted the Armenian soldiers to understand that to preserve the state it is important to be the purest person possible.”

The multiplication of the CDs in 2000 copies and their distribution to military armies in Armenia and Karabakh has been sponsored by MPs Melik Manukyan and Manvel Ghazaryan.