Watch the Trailer
An Armenian Trilogy
The Documentary Film
Follow the journey to Dan’s ancestral homeland of Armenia as he explores his own past and rediscovers Armenia’s rich history, culture, and music – featuring the world renowned Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra.
Praise
“Dan, your evocative, dramatic and emotional music deeply touches me. Not only due to its sheer beauty, but because it shines a light on one of history’s greatest atrocities.
Congratulations on composing An Armenian Trilogy. It’s a remarkable achievement!”
“We go back a long way as friends and colleagues. ‘An Armenian Trilogy’ is sure to affect us all with the heart and soul you’ve always put into your work. Proud of you for creating something that will inspire us… as you’ve done throughout your terrific career. Very best on this great project.”
“Like Dvorak, who passionately longed for his homeland with his New World Symphony, Mr. Yessian longed for his land of origin in his own unique fashion. His Armenian Trilogy is a hybrid of the tonality of his beloved Armenia, mixed ever so gently with the harmonies of his America.
Kimberly Kennedy Honors An Armenian Trilogy with ‘The Freedom’
An Armenian Trilogy debuted in Yerevan, Armenia October 14th 2017.
The composition was performed by the Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra and conducted by Maestro Eduard Topchjan.
THE COMPOSER
Back in 2014, the priest at Yessian’s church — St. John’s Armenian Church in Southfield — asked him to write a piece of music to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Armenian genocide. Between 1915 and 1923, more than 1.5 million Armenians were killed by the armies of the Ottoman Empire. “Armenia has called out to me all my life and writing An Armenian Trilogy has allowed me to explore my roots through music. While my early musical years were spent writing jingles, this is my musical legacy,” he explained.
THE CONDUCTOR
Debuting in 2000, Maestro Eduard Topchjan was quickly appointed Artistic Director and Conductor of the Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra. He has led the APO across the globe, performing works such as Aida and Madama Butterfly. He has also appeared with orchestras in Europe, including the Frankfurt Opera, The National Philharmonic Orchestra of Russia, as well as the Pasadena Symphony. His repertoire spans all genres from baroque to contemporary music.
THE SINGER
THE ORCHESTRA
Established over 90 years ago, the Armenian National Philharmonic Orchestra has always been considered one of the leading orchestras of the former Soviet Union. Today, the 100+ member ensemble makes its home in Aram Khachaturian Concert Hall in central Yerevan. The orchestra draws its members from the ranks of graduates of the Yerevan Komitas Conservatory and from the leading conservatories in Moscow and St. Petersburg.
History
Armenian Genocide
Then on April 24, 1915, during World War One, leaders of the Turkish government set in motion a plan to double down on the cleansing of the Ottoman land.
Most historians agree that over 2 million Armenians were systematically killed during the genocide.
When the genocide was over in 1922, only 388,000 Armenians remained living there.
1.5 MILLION
The massacre of 1.5 million Armenians has been disputed by many, but the events of 1915 still resonate to the present day
FORCED
Entire families were lost in forced marches and brutal violence was imposed upon innocent people.
DIASPORA
Those who escaped were forced to seek new lives in the Diaspora, finding themselves across Europe, the USA and Central America.
INSPIRATION
It is documented that these events inspired Hitler’s Final Solution. “Who, after all, speaks today of the annihilation of the Armenians?” – Hitler, 1939
Meet Dan Yessian
Dan Yessian is an award-winning American composer, producer, musician, and founder of Yessian Music Inc., an internationally-renowned music, production and sound design company which serves motion picture, television and advertising industries around the globe.
Yessian’s “An Armenian Trilogy” was written to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide of 1915.
Now, his own musical journey, intertwined with his heritage, the tragedy of the Armenian massacre and his first visit to Armenia’s capital Yerevan where his fully orchestrated trilogy was performed in 2017, is told in a new documentary An Armenian Trilogy.
“Alrighty then, you got me. Beautiful tune in movement three. Far out Dan. You must be very happy.
Congratulations! Very inspiring.”
“Many congratulations on the upcoming debut of your ‘An Armenian Trilogy!’ I really enjoyed the sound world you create…and the rhythmic trajectory of everything. I hope that Detroit will find a way to program the work.”
