'Mokatz Harsner': Hear all about the brides of Moks

Widely regarded as the most instrumental figure in establishing the genre of modern Armenian national music, Komitas, a priest and martyr of the Armenian Genocide, collected, transcribed, and preserved thousands of songs—in Armenian, Turkish, and Kurdish, which are still cherished today.

The Authentic Light Orchestra (comprised of a dozen musicians from five different countries, including Swiss-Armenian power vocalist, Veronika Stalder) first performed the Komitas-inspired melody, "Mokatz Harsner (Մոկաց հարսներ)," for the Music of Armenia’s Youtube page in 2014, but it was their live gig at a Russian jazz festival two years ago that caught the attention of the wider jazz world.

It has since become one of our favorite renditions of this fun ethno-jazz standard, first popularized by Armenian jazz singer Datevik. (Check out her version, along with Authentic Light Orchestra's, below).

"Mokatz Harsner," translated as “The Brides of Moks” (an ancient Armenian province, located in present-day Van), is about the beauty and grace of these brides. A corresponding dance to this song is often performed by females at weddings.