‘We Sing Armenian Church Songs’ Album Released on Oct. 18

NEW YORK—On Fri., Oct. 18, award-winning artist Nvair officially released her latest album, “We Sing Armenian Church Songs (Badarak Hymns for Children).” Her latest compilation is an innovative educational tool that teaches the hymns of the Armenian Divine Liturgy to the younger generation.

“We Sing Armenian Church Songs"
“We Sing Armenian Church Songs”

Produced by Nvair Kadian Beylerian, the creator of the HYEfamily children’s song series, and co-produced by educational consultant Andrea Arpiarian Carden, the superintendent of the St. Leon Armenian Sunday School in Fair Lawn, N.J., the album serves to make the Armenian Divine Liturgy more accessible to children and their families. Each song is recorded in both Armenian and English and includes liner notes explaining the significance of each hymn during the church service.

“This album is about bringing our Armenian Church life into our daily lives,” said Beylerian, who has a master’s degree in education and has been involved in “edutainment”—combining both education and entertainment elements for children—since 2001. “It’s a reminder of who we are.”

“We want the kids to feel comfortable in church,” said Carden, who holds a master of arts degree and is a special education specialist in the New Jersey public school system. “Feeling that connection and experiencing that familiarity gives them a reason to want to be there.”

The album, consisting of seven hymns including “Hayr Mer/Our Father,” “Hamenaynee/In All Things,” “Soorp Soorp/Holy, Holy,” “Marmeen Deroonagan/The Body of the Lord,” “Kreesdos Ee Mech/Christ in Our Midst,” “Amen Yegheetsee/Blessed Be,” and “Ohrnetseets Uz Der/I Will Praise the Lord,” are sung in both English and Armenian by the HYEfamily Children’s Chorus. The vibrant singers, most of whom are students of the St. Leon Armenian Sunday School, and whose ages range from 4 to 10 years old, include Sophia Ashbahian, Victoria Ashbahian, Alexa Siran Farah, Liana Sarine Farah, Arpineh Halajian, Devan Vartan Regas, and Nickolas Ara Regas.

“These children brought remarkable focus, almost no self-consciousness, and a wonderful sense of fun. They’re an example for performers of all ages,” said Joseph Halajian, the recording engineer of the album. “The sound they make together is truly uplifting.”

“We Sing Armenian Church Songs” is the product of a 10-year journey that Beylerian and Carden embarked on when they began collaborating together to teach primary-grade Sunday School students spiritual, Christian music along with Armenian church hymns. After observing how well the children grasped the hymns and their interest in knowing what the songs meant, Beylerian and Carden decided to dedicate an album solely to Armenian Church hymns that could be used as a learning tool in Sunday School classrooms and at home—placing a teaching tool directly in the hands of parents and grandparents who can sing along not only in Sunday School but any day of the week.

“Once again Nvair has understood that the continuation of our culture and faith depends upon our youth’s involvement,” said Ara Dinkjian, a renowned musician who arranged “Kreesdos Ee Mech/Christ in Our Midst” and played the guitar, lafta, and oud on the track with a solo accompaniment from Nvair.

“‘We Sing’ presents our Armenian youth with Armenian sacred music, for the first time in Armenian and English. For my ears, there is very little which is more pure, innocent, and sincere as a child’s voice.”

About Nvair & HYEfamily

Nvair Kadian Beylerian holds a bachelor’s degree in history and a master’s degree in education.  She is a third-generation Armenian American who has had the privilege of growing up within a culturally rich, Armenian-speaking household rooted in the active and energetic Armenian-diasporan community of the New York region.  She has been on stage performing Armenian song and dance with her family since childhood. She continues in that vein, performing for children and their families across the country, connecting them to their roots with joy and laughter.

Since 2001, Beylerian has released three children’s CDs in Armenian (“2Mayrer,” “Donadzar,” and “Ari Mer Doon”). She performs interactive bilingual concerts for Armenian and non-Armenian children and their families in the U.S. and Canada.  Each CD has been nominated for the Annual Armenian Music Awards in the category of Best Children’s Album in their respective years.  “Donadzar” was awarded a Big Apple Music Award in 2003, in the Best Children’s Album category. For more information and updates, visit www.hyefamily.com.

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5 Comments

  1. I listened to samples on Amazon.com. This is beautifully done. I wish there were more hymns in Armenian rather than the English ones. I will download the Armenian hymns and share it with all the children in my family.

    • Kohar, I love the Armenian, too, but the English versions help the children understand what they are learning in Armenian, a gateway to draw them in, not a replacement. I can’t help believing that Mesrob Mashdotz would be pleased to know that his goal—providing a way to understand the scriptures—is valued still today.

  2. How wonderful. I have not heard the music yet, but I am sure this will be very helpful to all families with children and something that is much needed. Congratulations and good luck with your project.

  3. Hrashali e. I sing at the armenian choir every sunday and my kids accompany me. Now after I brain wash them every night with this CD, I cant wait to watch their mouths mumbling also :)

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