Dan Yessian chose to divide this classical work into three separate movements which depict the mood of the Armenian people circa 1915, as they faced brutality at the hands of a Turkish Ottoman Empire.
The first movement entitled “The Freedom” begins with a melody that Yessian channels from his own distant past when he was in an Armenian band. It describes a time when Armenians were not encumbered by the restraints of a Turkish Ottoman Empire. Life was normal and peaceful, with a focus on family and friendship. The Armenians took pride in a culture that boasted a free spirit of intellectualism, art, and entrepreneurship. The Freedom projects the music and dance of the times with Mediterranean melodies and rhythms including odd time signatures. As the movement comes to its end, there is a foreshadowing of imminent danger.
Special thanks to Project SAVE, The Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute, Ruben Poghosyan, and The 100 Years Project for all the invaluable images.