Over a decade ago, the Tekeyan Cultural Association was sponsoring a literary event dedicated to Zahrad. I took part in it and performed my musical adaptation of his “Christmas tree”.
Later on, this song, as well as Khrakhuni’s “The Magician” were included in my album Hayeren, a selection of songs based on the lyrics of Eastern and Western Armenian poets.
A year ago, the New York Chapter of the Essayan-Getronagan Alumni Organization, in celebration of its anniversary, had organized a series of cultural events honoring the prominent poets from Constantinople: Zahrad, Khrakhuni and the writer, editor and literary critic R. Haddejian. At the closing of the ceremony, I performed three songs for each poet, specifically written for that occasion. Both the audience and the honorees received them warmly, and I decided to give them a chance to live beyond the span of a one-day event. Encouraged by the poets themselves, and especially by Mr. Haddejian, I planned, wrote and completed this album of selected songs on the lyrics of “Bolsahai” poets.
...We first heard the name of Zahrad in early 70s. His poetic characters quickly became integrated with our daily lives. His “Kiko” became a friend. Soon after, another name became familiar in Armenia - poet Zareh Khrakhuni. We were immediately influenced by his poetic symbols. And finally, Ikna Sariaslan emerged, a young man from our generation, practicing medicine and writing poetry. “Lo” was so magnetic that we wouldn’t address our loved ones by any other name.
In those days, it never occurred to us to wonder how these poets, living in the Diaspora were able to achieve such a genuine quality of poetry. We knew little about the Diaspora. Now that I have become, for the second time in my life, a diasporan, I ask myself this question again and again, and strive to understand this phenomenon:—how in an alien world, one becomes a true Armenian intellectual, a humble master of the Armenian language, of its art and poetry and how he manages to preserve his integrity and to keep on going full of dedication and vision.
It is with this feeling of tremendous respect and amazement for their achievements, that I bow before them and sing these songs.

Berge Turabian,
New York, 2003

…Words, melody, message…
Berge Turabian’s three loves

Berge Turabian is truly a modern-day minstrel, a bard who sings to tell a story and to impart a message. Many singers have only vaguely thematic songs ansd melodies to offer, but Berge’s songs contain a clear, powerfully resonating message. Berge sings not just for the sake of making music but to convey to us the beauty of the word entwined with beauty of the melody.
One must say that Berge’s art is exceptionally pleasurable, both the song and the accompanying musical arrangement. His melodies are unique, beautiful and contagious. Berge is unquestionably a master of the melody. He is perhaps one of the few whose songs can be listened to again and again; they inspire you; you want it to go on and on. He knows how to stir our emotions, to give us shudders of pleasure without the facile conventions of popular song.
Yet Berge is not in love with melody alone—he is enamoured of poetry and in particular of the Armenian language. He has nurtured these three loves in his heart from a very early age and created an art form in which the poetry and the song become inseparable. He does not just use the poetry to his own ends but, through a song, he gives it a new life in which to reach its audience. And unlike other performers who tend to obscure the most beautiful verses in music, making them unintelligible, Berge interprets and delivers his songs with the perfect clarity of a bard.

Robert Haddejian, 2003