Dutch director Ruben Van Leer brings an ancient Armenian folktale Hazaran Blbul (or The Bird of a Thousand Voices) to life in spectacular fashion to accompany Armenian jazz pianist and composer Tigran Hamasyan's intense jazz-prog instrumental The Quest Begins.

In an ancient Armenian kingdom, a kindly old king mourns the death of a child, before we discover it was the result of his own folly. His grief leads him to plead for the discovery of the mythical Bird Of A Thousand Voices - to restore harmony to the kingdom. The challenge is accepted by his 'weakest son', provoked by his father's lack of faith in him, leading him to undertake a perilous journey.

Shot in stunning Armenian locations - including the 10th century Amberd Fortress, on the slopes of Mount Aragats - with beautiful cinematography by Ezra Reverda, both the scale and the level of craft in the visuals suggest a big budget production - or one that has been a long-term project for those involved.

In fact, the music video it is part of a longer longer theatrical film release, directed and co-written by Van Leer, based upon the Hazaran Blbul folktale, with an extended soundtrack by Hamasyan. It's certainly a terrific taster for the longer film, and a wonderful promo for Hamasyan's music in its own right. 

You can find out more on Ruben Van Leer and Tigran Hamasyan's collaboration on the project here.