Composition | ‘Triptych’: Jasper Moss pays homage to Armenia’s religious identity

One look at Jasper Moss’ impressive resume will be enough to convince you that the Canadian-Armenian composer is—well—impressive.

He is a graduate of McGill University and the University of London, where he specialized in Conducting and Composition. He has performed with some of the world’s foremost ensembles, including the Vienna Symphony, the Paris Philharmonic, the Wiener Singverein, the Royal Philharmonic, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, and most recently conducted performances with the New York Chamber Orchestra, Baltimore Chamber Orchestra, and Berlin Sinfonietta.

Oh, and he is only 25.

Recently, Jasper has switched gears and shifted his focus from conducting to composition for screen. “I wish to expand my artistic portfolio to new lengths every day,” he tells h-pem in a recent telephone conversation.

Listen to "Triptych" by clicking on the album art above (Album art courtesy of Jasper Moss)

His submission to h-pem is entitled “Triptych”—a piece, which according to him, was inspired by the cultural significance of religion within the Armenian identity. Recorded in Prague and performed by the Prague String Orchestra, “Triptych” pays homage to this religious connection through music, he explains. The performance was conducted by Afonso Teles along with Jasper and recorded in Nov. 2019.

The term “Triptych” (from Greek adjective "triptukhon" or "three-fold") is most commonly associated with religious works of art on three panels, which are often used as altarpieces in cathedrals and churches. The form, which arises from early Christian art, became a common standard arrangement for altar paintings from the Middle Ages onwards and has even migrated and been used in other religions, such as Buddhism and Islam. “The term, however, can be applied to any medium that fits the narrative—in this case, it has been adopted in musical form,” Jasper says.

According to the young virtuoso, "Triptych"'s music lightly resembles the three symbolical placeholders of the Holy Trinity: the father, son, and Holy Spirit. “The number three holds special meaning within Christianity and this is reflected within the mood of each movement of the entire piece,” he explains.

“I – Andante con Moto” resembles the mysteriousness of the father (in this case, God), and the other-worldly aura that surrounds its persona. In contrast, “II – Adagio” resembles the son, and his plight on earth. The third and last movement, aptly named “III – Larghetto Religioso,” symbolizes the Holy Spirit, with an uplifting theme in the final movement that gives the listener some sort of closure and release.

Although his new-age style does not necessarily reflect traditional Armenian music, the cultural and religious connections of the piece and composer with the Armenian identity are definitely there. You may even catch a few hints of Armenian musical elements peaking through the composition.

In any case, “Triptych” is a piece of music worth listening to over and over again.

"Triptych" is available on your favorite music streaming services, including Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, Tidal, and Deezer.

Check out more of Jasper's work on his official YouTube page.