Name/Title
State Ensemble of Armenian Folk Song and Dance, Es Puchur Em, Tsolaki, Barak Es Bardi Tsar Es, Erku Quyr, Oy Nazani Yares / other side Inch Inch Asem, Kele Kele, Sareri Hovin Mernem, Opina #2Description
This is a Soviet-era vinyl record from the state-owned label Melodiya, specifically pressed at the Aprelevka plant. Based on the state standard code GOST 5289-68, this particular release dates from the late 1960s or early 1970s. The record features a performance by the State Ensemble of Armenian Folk Song and Dance under the artistic direction of Tatul Altounian, a highly influential Armenian conductor and ethnomusicologist. Founded in Yerevan on March 5, 1938, the ensemble was a groundbreaking initiative designed to elevate traditional, regional folk arts into a structured, professional stage art.
The tracklist consists of traditional Armenian folk songs transliterated into Russian Cyrillic. The first side, cataloged as ND-1887, contains "Es puchur em" (I am small), "Tsolaki" (a traditional dance tune), "Barak es, bardi tsar es" (You are slender, you are a poplar tree), "Yerku kuyr" (Two Sisters), and "Oy Nazani yares" (Oh, my lovely beloved). The second side, cataloged as ND-1888, features "Inch, inch asem" (What, what shall I say) and continues with the iconic folk song "Kele, kele" (Walk, walk), followed by "Sareri ovin mernem" (May I die for the breeze of the mountains) and finishes with a lively traditional melody titled "Opina."
Interestingly, on the first side, there is a handwritten signature at the bottom in Armenian script that spells out “Sayat Nova."Audio Format
33 RPM RecordRecording Type
MusicAlbum Detail
Contributors
Contributor
Tatul AltounianRole
ConductorRecord Label
MelodiyaPlace Recorded
* Untyped Place Recorded
Soviet UnionTrack Details
Title
TsolakiTitle
Barak es, bardi tsar esTitle
Erku KuyrTitle
Oy Nazani YaresTitle
Inch inch asemTitle
Kele keleTitle
OpinaTitle
Sareri hovin mernemProvenance
Provenance Detail
Bezigian CollectionPlace
* Untyped Place
Providence, RICreate Date
June 13, 2026Update Date
June 13, 2026