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Ari Mer Doon - it means "come to our home" in Armenian - is a fun compilation of some of the artist's favorite children's songs. Many of these songs were passed down through the generations of Nvair's family and some reflect back to her days in Armenian school. These rich traditions are brought into a contemporary setting, making Ari Mer Doon with Nvair a melodious mix of songs for today's children to enjoy.
The exceptional hospitality of Armenians, who traditionally open hearth and home to old and new friends alike, is well-known. With this CD, Nvair opens the doors of her HYEfamily (HYE means Armenian in Armenian) and welcomes the listener to partake with song, dance and merriment.
Ari Mer Doon with Nvair is a selection of songs that goes on a journey never before taken. It can be valued as a fun and exciting educational tool for children, but also has a strong entertaining value for parents and friends. Songs adapted for children include the title track Ari Mer Doon (come to our home), the hantes khunjouyk dance, Khundzori Dzari Dagin (underneath the apple tree), and Ov Ooni (who has it) which describes the lovely landscape of Armenia and questions the listener, "Who has it?" The response, "We have it!" With such traditional village treasures as Egeh Doogeh (eenie meenie minee mo), a rhythmic rhyme which village children from historic Armenia used to determine who goes first, Ari Mer Doon with Nvair offers more than just any children's CD. It can be placed within a historic context, as it reflects on the treasures brought to the US by the generation of survivors of the Armenian Genocide of 1915, and imparted to their children, grandchildren and in this case, great-grandchildren.
The CD includes Doon Im Arevn Es, a translation of one of Nvair's favorite songs, You are My Sunshine. There is also an original composition, Eshligin Yerguh (song of the little donkey), written in collaboration with her mother, Sosy. To make this labor of love a true HYEfamily endeavor, Nvair's daughters, Tamar (8) and Lucine (5), sing along with her. They are featured singing throughout the CD, sprinkled with short recitations and brief, little conversations.
Having grown up in the New York/New Jersey Armenian-American community, Nvair feels fortunate to have been exposed to a rich Armenian cultural heritage throughout her life. She has been on stage performing traditional Armenian song and dance with her family since childhood, and she continues in that vein, performing for children and their families across the country, connecting them to their roots with joy and laughter.
"Throughout my life, I return to the joyful spirit of Armenian song and dance time and time, again" Nvair says. "I've found it's now even sweeter when I sing with my daughters as I once did with my mother. I so enjoy sharing and perpetuating our rich Armenian heritage with children of all ages, from all different backgrounds."
This is Nvair's third Armenian children's CD, following 2Mayrer: children's songs in Armenian (2001) and Donadzar: New Year's and Christmas songs for children and their families (2003). Each has been nominated for the Annual Armenian Music Awards in the category of Best Children's Album in their respective years. Donadzar has most recently been nominated in the Big Apple Armenian Music Awards 2003 in Best Children's Album category.
Ari Mer Doon with Nvair is Nvair's first collaboration with Raffi Bandazian of Bandaz Productions. This project follows Bandaz Production's release of Old Street by Cascade Folk Trio, and is quite a departure from the avant garde cutting edge style of Cascade. Yet Raffi also felt strongly about this project, as he records and engineers the entire project, and performs nearly all the instrumentation.
Bandaz shares that "This was a great project to work on. Nvair has a great positive energy about her and it comes through her music. We had a lot of fun creating this CD, knowing that children will be listening and enjoying it as much as we enjoyed making it."
Nvair is also honored to feature world-renowned oudist Ara Dinkjian, who accompanies her on the CD's closing number, Hyreni Oror (Native Lullaby). She has a strong emotional connection with this particular selection, as the lyrics were written by her maternal grandfather, author/poet Anoush Krikorian, who in turn was inspired by Aram Khachaturian's moving composition of the Lullaby in the Gayane Suite Ballet. Ara's arrangement and sensitive performance balances an old world sound with a timeless lullaby.
Rounding out the team effort of the CD is the first time pairing of talented artists, illustrator, Nishan Akgulian and graphic designer, Arpie Gennetian Najarian. With Nishan's brilliant, lively illustrations, Arpie creates a flow to the layout which successfully presents the full contents of the lyrics of all the songs in both transliterated and Armenian type. A special acknowledgment goes to Narine Hamalian, who so graciously assisted by typing in Armenian.
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