19 September 2011

When Michael Sabounjian decided to work on his senior project at Holliston High School in Holliston, Mass., he was inspired by the hymns he grew up with at the Church of the Holy Translators in nearby Framingham. In a unique undertaking, he would spend the next year arranging and adapting the music of the Armenian Church for English speakers.

Working from translations of choir songs completed by Archbishop Tiran Nersoyan and revised by the Very Rev. Fr. Daniel Findikyan, Michael rearranged the placement of lyrics and the breakup of individual notes while preserving the melody of each piece.

"I felt that having this as a tool for the church would be beneficial," he said, adding that it might help young non-Armenian speakers become better acquainted with the hymns of the badarak.

Michael focused specifically on the Yegmalian Divine Liturgy, which is commonly used in parishes in the Eastern Diocese. Among the hymns he adapted are "Khorhoort Khoreen" (Deep Mystery), "Sourp Sourp" (Holy Holy), "Krisdos Ee Mech" (Christ in our Midst), and "Der Voghormya" (Lord Have Mercy).

"It was a very complicated process," said Stuart Britton, Choral Director at Holliston High School who supervised Michael's project. "He really stretched himself as a student."

Elise Durgarian, the choir director at Holy Translators Church, was also supportive of the project. She helped assemble four singers to record some of Michael's adaptations and offer feedback.

Mr. Britton was so impressed with Michael's work that he invited him to conduct Holliston's choral group. Michael's classmates learned and sang "Sourp Sourp" in Armenian and in the English language adaptation during a concert last December.

"I was amazed at how quickly a non-Armenian choir learned the Armenian lyrics and truly grasped the authentic Armenian feel of the hymn," Michael said. "It was a pleasure to work with such a cooperative and versatile choral group."

Following their performance at the school, Michael's father, the Rev. Fr. Krikor Sabounjian, who serves as the pastor of Holy Translators Church, invited the group to give a performance for the parish. The young people sang in Armenian during the Christmas Eve liturgy in January and at the Christmas dinner that followed, with Michael conducting all performances.

"He had enough conducting chops that he was able to learn how to lead the choir," said Britton, adding that Michael's classmates were enthusiastic about learning the new pieces.

A dedicated member of the Armenian Church, Michael is a graduate of his parish Sunday School, who has served as a sub-deacon and helped train young acolytes to serve on the altar at Holy Translators Church. Michael has also participated in various Diocesan programs, including St. Vartan Camp and the summer conferences at St. Nersess Armenian Seminary.

This fall, Michael began coursework at Boston College where he will continue studying music. In the meantime, he is working on adapting the priest and deacon's chants of the Divine Liturgy.