The Sky is Cloudy

ARMENIA - Authentic Light Orchestra: The Sky is Cloudy

The Authentic Light Orchestra was founded in 2009 by the Swiss multi-instrumentalist with Armenian roots, Valeri Tolstov. His idea is to combine ancient Armenian folk songs and mix them with classical influences, jazz, rock and a touch of electronica to create a new musical form. In this fusion of styles, all of the elements supplement each other harmonically, producing a unique sound and an original interpretation of Armenian folk—the defining musical language of the Authentic Light Orchestra. In 2014, the band won the Grand Prix at the Armvision contest for Best Arrangement and Performance of a Folk song, and in 2016 they received the first Russian World Music Award.

Authentic Light Orchestra is an international music project that brings together musicians from different backgrounds—jazz and classical—to perform music based on Armenian folklore. This album is a kind of Armenian song book based on the ancient melodies that have inspired the composer Valeri Tolstov to create new musical forms and meanings. The main theme of the album is one of the most popular Armenian folk songs—‘The Sky is Cloudy’.

1. Prologue (arr. V. Tolstov for duduk) 00:58
2. Yarimo (arr. E. Lebedev and R. Monasypov for voice and chamber ensemble) 03:51
3. Monologue 1 (arr. V. Tolstov for piano) 01:56
4. The Red Shawi (arr. V. Tolstov for voice and chamber ensemble) 06:37
5. Monologue 2 (arr. V. Tolstov for chamber ensemble) 01:15
6. The Sky is Cloudy (arr. V. Tolstov for voice and chamber ensemble) 06:26
7. Monologue 3 (arr. V. Tolstov for oud) 01:49
8. Kanchum Em Ari Ari (arr. V. Tolstov for voice and chamber ensemble) 04:33
9. Monologue 4 (arr. V. Tolstov for bass guitar) 01:16
10. Shogher Jan (arr. V. Tolstov for voice and chamber ensemble) 05:34
11. Monologue 5 (arr. V. Tolstov for voice) 00:39
12. Kaqavik (arr. V. Tolstov for voice and chamber ensemble) 05:43
13. Monologue 6 (arr. V. Tolstov for piano) 01:06
14. Khio Khio (arr. V. Tolstov for voice and chamber ensemble) 06:23
15. Monologue 7 (arr. V. Tolstov for chamber ensemble) 01:28
16. Monologue 8 (arr. V. Tolstov for piano) 01:40
17. Monologue 9 (arr. V. Tolstov for guitar) 00:55
18. The Sky is Cloudy (arr. V. Tolstov for voice and chamber ensemble) (reprise) 05:21
19. Epilogue (arr. V. Tolstov for piano) 01:46

Total Playing Time: 59:16