Gurdjieff Ensemble
About Gurdjieff Ensemble
Availability: November 2027 festivals; otherwise on request
Entourage: 10 persons
Venues: Concert halls, ecclesiastical venues
The internationally acclaimed Gurdjieff Ensemble consists of leading musicians from Armenia playing Armenian and Middle Eastern traditional instruments. The Ensemble was founded by Levon Eskenian to play ‘ethnographically authentic’ arrangements of the G. I. Gurdjieff/Thomas de Hartmann piano music, then diversely expanding the repertoire that now includes music by Komitas, music from the Middle East, as well as ancient and medieval Armenian folk and spiritual music, troubadours songs from the Caucasus, and works collected by Bela Bartok and compositions by contemporary composers.
Their “Music of Georges I. Gurdjieff” debut album and “Komitas” album on the famous ECM records were widely acclaimed and won prestigious awards including the Edison Award in the Netherlands. The ensemble has been touring in nearly 150 cities in 26 countries in Europe, Australia, the Middle East, North, and South America, among which are sold-out performances at the Holland Festival, the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg, the Boulez hall in Berlin, the Bozar Center in Brussels, the Morgenland and Rudolstadt festivals in Germany, the Gulbenkian Hall in Lisbon, the Budapest Spring festival in Hungary, the Sala São Paulo in Brazil, the Albert Hall in Canberra, the Chicago World music festival in the USA and many more.
GORANI
Gorani is the Gurdjieff Ensemble’s forthcoming ECM Records release, the fourth album with the label, scheduled for early 2027
Gorani is conceived as a ritual musical journey — moving from inner stillness to collective energy. Rooted in Armenian sacred music and the spiritual works of G. I. Gurdjieff — philosopher, composer, choreographer, and one of the most influential spiritual figures of the 20th century — the program unfolds from meditative hymns and contemplative prayers into rhythmically vibrant ritual dances, culminating in the dynamic Tamzara.
Blending ancient monody, sacred chant, and driving rhythmic patterns, the concert invites audiences into a gradual transformation — from contemplation to movement, from inward reflection to shared vitality.
The repertoire includes:
- Hymns and prayers by G. I. Gurdjieff (some familiar through Keith Jarrett’s recordings)
- Sacred works by Komitas, St. Gregory of Narek (10th c.), Nerses Shnorhali (12th c.), Khachatur Taronetsi (13th c.), Mkhitar Ayrivanetsi (13th c.), and Simyon Yerevantsi (18th c.), some of which may be familiar through recordings by The Hilliard Ensemble
- Traditional Gorani ritual pieces preserved through oral tradition, as well as Sahari, an archaic hymn to the sun.
All works in the program are arranged by Levon Eskenian for the ensemble’s traditional instrumentation, preserving the integrity of the sources.
The program is primarily conceived in its instrumental form, with several works also written for voice and ensemble. Some pieces exist in two versions — as purely instrumental works and in expanded settings for choir and ensemble. While the core project does not depend on choral forces, selected performances at certain venues or festivals could include collaboration with a local choir for approximately 25 minutes of the program, creating meaningful partnership opportunities with UK choirs where appropriate.
In parallel, the project may also be presented in dialogue with Zartir — our ECM release dedicated to three centuries of Caucasian Ashugh tradition — or with a Komitas-focused program drawn from our earlier ECM recordings. These projects continue to tour internationally and offer a complementary, luminous and contemplative dimension that can be thoughtfully paired with Gorani, depending on curatorial vision and venue context.
UPCOMING DATES
2027
March 25, Schouwburg Concertzaal, Tilburg, The Netherlands
March 26, Muziekgebouw Amsterdam, The Netherlands
March 27, De Singel, Antwerp, Belgium
May 26, Kölner Philharmonie, Cologne, Germany
May 28, Boulez Saal, Berlin, Germany