Arthur Meschian
Encyclopedia
Arthur Meschian ' onMouseout='HidePop("31392")' href="/topics/Yerevan">Yerevan
) is an Armenian
rock musician, singer, composer, artist and architect. He is also known as one of the founders of Armenian rock
. He is the author of different architectural projects, including Guest House
and the new building of Matenadaran
in Armenia
.
Meschian was the leader of the "Apostles" (Arakyalner), an Armenian underground rock-band in the 1960-70's that become the "voice of the generation" during the period of stagnation and Soviet censure. Three students of the Yerevan State Politechnic Institute
were singing about pain and sorrow (they used the lyrics written by Moushegh Ishkhan
and Meschian). General themes in the songs included the philosophy of life's meaning
, pain and mercy or joy and pride.
In 1976 "Apostles" were banned by Soviet censorship, by the end of the 80's, in 1989 before "iron curtain
" fell Meschian moved to the United States
with his family. He formed the "Apostles-90" band and recorded four studio albums featuring both old works from "Apostles" and new songs.
"Catharsis" was very popular with some of the best-known old songs such as "Song of conscience", "Steps", "I used to know", "With the pain of the world" and "Where were you, God?" . In 1996 he returned to Armenia and become the Chief architect
of Yerevan, then he came back to Boston
, and started working as an architect there.
In 2005, Arthur Meschian moved back to Yerevan, where he now works as an architect. He gave a number of concerts throughout Armenia in 2005, 2006, 2009 He is "retired" from music now - fans hope that not for long.
"If we lose the light of art, the darkness will drive us crazy...", says Arthur Meschian.
victims. The album was never released by the Soviet recording studio Melodiya
Yerevan
Yerevan is the capital and largest city of Armenia and one of the world's oldest continuously-inhabited cities. Situated along the Hrazdan River, Yerevan is the administrative, cultural, and industrial center of the country...
) is an Armenian
Armenians
Armenian people or Armenians are a nation and ethnic group native to the Armenian Highland.The largest concentration is in Armenia having a nearly-homogeneous population with 97.9% or 3,145,354 being ethnic Armenian....
rock musician, singer, composer, artist and architect. He is also known as one of the founders of Armenian rock
Armenian rock
Armenian rock describes a wide variety of forms of rock music made in Armenia or by artists of Armenian descent.Among the most recognized groups of Soviet era were Arthur Meschian's Arakyalner, "1+2", "Kaleidoscope", and "Bliki". Following the loosening of state control in the early 1980s, a number...
. He is the author of different architectural projects, including Guest House
Guest House
Guest House is a non-profit, charitable organization dedicated to the treatment of Catholic priests, deacons, brothers, seminarians who suffer from alcoholism, other chemical dependencies and other addictions involving food and gambling...
and the new building of Matenadaran
Matenadaran
The Mesrop Mashtots Institute of Ancient Manuscripts , commonly referred to as the Matenadaran , is an ancient manuscript repository located in Yerevan, Armenia...
in Armenia
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
.
Meschian was the leader of the "Apostles" (Arakyalner), an Armenian underground rock-band in the 1960-70's that become the "voice of the generation" during the period of stagnation and Soviet censure. Three students of the Yerevan State Politechnic Institute
State Engineering University of Armenia
The State Engineering University of Armenia is a technical university located in Yerevan, Armenia. Established as the Yerevan Polytechnic Institute in 1933, it provides educational and research programs in various fields of technology and science related to engineering...
were singing about pain and sorrow (they used the lyrics written by Moushegh Ishkhan
Moushegh Ishkhan
Moushegh Ishkhan was an Armenian Diasporan poet, writer and educator.Orphaned during the Armenian Genocide at the age of two, Ishkhan was raised in Beirut, Lebanon....
and Meschian). General themes in the songs included the philosophy of life's meaning
Meaning of life
The meaning of life constitutes a philosophical question concerning the purpose and significance of life or existence in general. This concept can be expressed through a variety of related questions, such as "Why are we here?", "What is life all about?", and "What is the meaning of it all?" It has...
, pain and mercy or joy and pride.
In 1976 "Apostles" were banned by Soviet censorship, by the end of the 80's, in 1989 before "iron curtain
Iron Curtain
The concept of the Iron Curtain symbolized the ideological fighting and physical boundary dividing Europe into two separate areas from the end of World War II in 1945 until the end of the Cold War in 1989...
" fell Meschian moved to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
with his family. He formed the "Apostles-90" band and recorded four studio albums featuring both old works from "Apostles" and new songs.
"Catharsis" was very popular with some of the best-known old songs such as "Song of conscience", "Steps", "I used to know", "With the pain of the world" and "Where were you, God?" . In 1996 he returned to Armenia and become the Chief architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
of Yerevan, then he came back to Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, and started working as an architect there.
In 2005, Arthur Meschian moved back to Yerevan, where he now works as an architect. He gave a number of concerts throughout Armenia in 2005, 2006, 2009 He is "retired" from music now - fans hope that not for long.
"If we lose the light of art, the darkness will drive us crazy...", says Arthur Meschian.
Discography
In 1975 "Apostles" recorded the "Requiem" album, dedicated to the memory of the Armenian GenocideArmenian Genocide
The Armenian Genocide—also known as the Armenian Holocaust, the Armenian Massacres and, by Armenians, as the Great Crime—refers to the deliberate and systematic destruction of the Armenian population of the Ottoman Empire during and just after World War I...
victims. The album was never released by the Soviet recording studio Melodiya
Melodiya
Melodiya is a Russian record label. It was the state-owned major record company/label of the Soviet Union.-History:It was established in 1964 as the "All-Union Gramophone Record Firm of the USSR Ministry of Culture Melodiya"...
- "The Monologue of an insane violinist" (Khent jutakahari menakhosutyunn), 1992
- "Catharsis", 1991
- "Wander" (Taparum), 1995
- "Communion" (Haghordutyun), 1996
- "Live At Aram Khachatryan Concert Hall", 2005
- "Arthur Meschian Live 2006"