Grikor Suni
Encyclopedia
Grikor Mirzaian Suni (originally Grikor Mirzaian, given name also transliterated as Grigor) (September 10, 1876, Getabek (now Gədəbəy), at the time a village in Elisabethpol Governorate
of the Russian empire, now part of Azerbaijan
– December 18, 1939, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
) was an Armenian composer
.
The music he wrote—choral works, songs, several operas, and orchestral and instrumental works—is European classical music, but suffused with the tradition of Armenian
folk music
and religious music
, of which he was an avid collector and registrator.
Originating from a line of musicians, he studied music from 1891 to 1895 at the Gevorgian Academy in Echmiadzin
, near Yerevan
, with Soghomon Soghomonian
(later known as Komitas Vardapet), with whom he became friends and a long-time collaborator.
Then he moved to St. Petersburg, where he studied music from 1895 to 1904 with Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov
, Alexander Glazunov
and Anatoly Lyadov
.
Ronald Grigor Suny
, Emeritus Professor of political science at the University of Chicago, is a grandson of Grikor Mirzaian Suni.
Elisabethpol Governorate
Elisabethpol Governorate or Elizavetpol Governorate was one of the guberniyas of the Russian Empire, with its centre in Elisabethpol . Its area was 44,136 sq. kilometres, and it had 878,415 inhabitants by 1897....
of the Russian empire, now part of Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...
– December 18, 1939, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
) was an Armenian composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
.
The music he wrote—choral works, songs, several operas, and orchestral and instrumental works—is European classical music, but suffused with the tradition of Armenian
Music of Armenia
Armenia is situated close to the Caucasus Mountains, and its music is a mix of indigenous folk music, perhaps best-represented by Djivan Gasparyan's well-known duduk music, as well as light pop, and extensive Christian music, due to Armenia's status as the oldest Christian nation in the...
folk music
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
and religious music
Religious music
Religious music is music performed or composed for religious use or through religious influence.A lot of music has been composed to complement religion, and many composers have derived inspiration from their own religion. Many forms of traditional music have been adapted to fit religions'...
, of which he was an avid collector and registrator.
Originating from a line of musicians, he studied music from 1891 to 1895 at the Gevorgian Academy in Echmiadzin
Echmiadzin
Mother Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin is a 4th century Armenian church in the town of Ejmiatsin, Armenia. It is also the central cathedral of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin of the Armenian Apostolic Church....
, near Yerevan
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...
, with Soghomon Soghomonian
Komitas Vardapet
In 1950s his manuscripts were also transferred from Paris to Yerevan.Badarak was first printed in 1933 in Paris and first recorded onto a digital media in 1988 in Yerevan. In collecting and publishing so many folk songs, he saved the cultural heritage of Western Armenia that otherwise would have...
(later known as Komitas Vardapet), with whom he became friends and a long-time collaborator.
Then he moved to St. Petersburg, where he studied music from 1895 to 1904 with Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov
Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov
Nikolai Andreyevich Rimsky-Korsakov was a Russian composer, and a member of the group of composers known as The Five.The Five, also known as The Mighty Handful or The Mighty Coterie, refers to a circle of composers who met in Saint Petersburg, Russia, in the years 1856–1870: Mily Balakirev , César...
, Alexander Glazunov
Alexander Glazunov
Alexander Konstantinovich Glazunov was a Russian composer of the late Russian Romantic period, music teacher and conductor...
and Anatoly Lyadov
Anatoly Konstantinovich Lyadov
Anatoly Konstantinovich Lyadov or Liadov was a Russian composer, teacher and conductor.- Biography :Lyadov was born in St. Petersburg into a family of eminent Russian musicians. He was taught informally by his conductor father from 1860 to 1868, and then in 1870 entered the St. Petersburg...
.
Ronald Grigor Suny
Ronald Grigor Suny
Ronald Grigor Suny is currently director of the Eisenberg Institute for Historical Studies and the Charles Tilly Collegiate Professor of Social and Political History at the University of Michigan, as well as Emeritus Professor of political science and history at the University of Chicago...
, Emeritus Professor of political science at the University of Chicago, is a grandson of Grikor Mirzaian Suni.