In the early 20th century, Armenian philosopher, mystic, and composer George Gurdjieff traveled widely in the Caucasus, Middle East, Northern Africa, and Asia. He later transformed his experiences of the diverse local musical traditions he encountered into numerous compositions, most of which have only been accessible in piano transcriptions. Led by artistic director Levon Eskenian, the Gurdjieff Ensemble performs these works in new arrangements for traditional instruments, while also highlighting the centuries-old tradition of Armenian ashughs (bards) such as Jivani, Baghdasar Dbir, and Sayat-Nova.