Komitas Vardapet
Encyclopedia
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 disappeared because of the genocide. His works have been published in the Republic of Armenia in a thoroughly annotated edition by Robert Atayan. Lately, also some nine songs on German poetry, written during his stay in Berlin, have been excavated from the archives in Yerevan and interpreted by soprano Hasmik Papian
.
The Yerevan State Musical Conservatory
is named after Komitas. There also exists a worldwide renowned string quartet named after Komitas
.
On July 6, 2008 and on the occasion of Quebec City's 400th anniversary celebration, a bronze bust of Komitas was unveiled near the Quebec National Assembly (provincial legislature, Auteuil street), in recognition of his great input to music in general and to Armenian popular and liturgical music in particular.
On September 15, 2008, the CD " Firstling Inspired by Gomidas", " Yerakhayrik", Sung by Kevork Hadjian was introduced and released. A 18 track compilation of Gomidas's songs including another track of non Gomidas. The cd is in stores in Armenia.
In September 2008, the CD "Gomidas Songs" sung by Isabel Bayrakdarian
and accompanied by the Chamber Players of the Armenian Philharmonic and pianist Serouj Kradjian
was released on the Nonesuch
label. This CD is nominated for a Grammy Award
in the Best Vocal Recording category. A major North American tour by Ms. Bayrakdarian in October 2008 featured the music of Komitas, with concerts in Toronto, San Francisco, Orange County, Los Angeles, Vancouver, Boston and New York's Carnegie Hall
. She was accompanied by the Manitoba Chamber Orchestra conducted by Anne Manson, and pianist Serouj Kradjian
. The "Remembrance Tour" was dedicated to victims of all genocides and sponsored by the International Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies (a division of the Zoryan Institute
).
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
to 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...
.
Badarak was first printed in 1933 in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
and first recorded onto a digital media in 1988 in 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...
. In collecting and publishing so many folk songs, he saved the cultural heritage of Western Armenia
Western Armenia
Western Armenia is a term, primarily used by Armenians, to refer to Armenian-inhabited areas of the Armenian Highland that were part of the Ottoman Empire and now are part of the Republic of Turkey....
that otherwise would have disappeared because of the genocide. His works have been published in the Republic of Armenia in a thoroughly annotated edition by Robert Atayan. Lately, also some nine songs on German poetry, written during his stay in Berlin, have been excavated from the archives in Yerevan and interpreted by soprano Hasmik Papian
Hasmik Papian
- Biography :Hasmik Papian graduated from High Academy in Yerevan first as a violinist, then as a singer. After her debut at the Armenian National Opera, she was invited as a soloist among others by Opera Bonn and Deutsche Oper am Rhein, Düsseldorf, Germany...
.
The Yerevan State Musical Conservatory
Yerevan State Musical Conservatory
Yerevan State Musical Conservatory or Yerevan Komitas State Conservatory, is a conservatory located in Yerevan, Armenia. It was founded in 1921 as a music studio, and re-founded two years later as a higher musical education institution.-History:...
is named after Komitas. There also exists a worldwide renowned string quartet named after Komitas
Komitas Quartet
The Komitas Quartet is a string quartet musical ensemble founded in Moscow in November 1924, and is the oldest-established string quartet in the world still performing...
.
On July 6, 2008 and on the occasion of Quebec City's 400th anniversary celebration, a bronze bust of Komitas was unveiled near the Quebec National Assembly (provincial legislature, Auteuil street), in recognition of his great input to music in general and to Armenian popular and liturgical music in particular.
On September 15, 2008, the CD " Firstling Inspired by Gomidas", " Yerakhayrik", Sung by Kevork Hadjian was introduced and released. A 18 track compilation of Gomidas's songs including another track of non Gomidas. The cd is in stores in Armenia.
In September 2008, the CD "Gomidas Songs" sung by Isabel Bayrakdarian
Isabel Bayrakdarian
Isabel Bayrakdarian is a Grammy Award-nominated Armenian Canadian opera singer.-Early life:Born in Lebanon in 1974, she moved to Canada as a teenager. Bayrakdarian graduated in 1997 from the University of Toronto with an honours B.A.Sc...
and accompanied by the Chamber Players of the Armenian Philharmonic and pianist Serouj Kradjian
Serouj Kradjian
-Early life and education:At fourteen earned a scholarship to study in Vienna, and was gaining allocades by the age of seven. He moved to Vienna at fourteen to pursue his training on a scholarship. He later studied with Marietta Orlov at the University of Toronto's Faculty of Music, where he...
was released on the Nonesuch
Nonesuch Records
Nonesuch Records is an American record label, owned by Warner Music Group and distributed by Warner Bros. Records.-Company history:Nonesuch was founded in 1964 by Jac Holzman to produce "fine records at the same price as a trade paperback", which would be half the price of a normal LP...
label. This CD is nominated for a Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
in the Best Vocal Recording category. A major North American tour by Ms. Bayrakdarian in October 2008 featured the music of Komitas, with concerts in Toronto, San Francisco, Orange County, Los Angeles, Vancouver, Boston and New York's Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States, located at 881 Seventh Avenue, occupying the east stretch of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street and West 57th Street, two blocks south of Central Park....
. She was accompanied by the Manitoba Chamber Orchestra conducted by Anne Manson, and pianist Serouj Kradjian
Serouj Kradjian
-Early life and education:At fourteen earned a scholarship to study in Vienna, and was gaining allocades by the age of seven. He moved to Vienna at fourteen to pursue his training on a scholarship. He later studied with Marietta Orlov at the University of Toronto's Faculty of Music, where he...
. The "Remembrance Tour" was dedicated to victims of all genocides and sponsored by the International Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies (a division of the Zoryan Institute
Zoryan Institute
The Zoryan Institute was established in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1982, and The Zoryan Institute of Canada, was merged in Toronto in 1984, as a non-profit research institute...
).
Legacy
- Central square of Ejmiatsin city is named after Komitas.
- Yerevan State Musical Conservatory is named after Komitas Vardapet.
- Komitas Avenue, the main thoroughfare of Yerevan's Arabkir DistrictArabkir DistrictArabkir District is a neighborhood that used to be a separate village in Yerevan, Armenia. At the census in 2001, it had a population of over 132,000. It is bordered by Hrazdan River to the north and west, the Kentron to the south, and Kanaker-Zeytun to the east. Its main thoroughfare is Komitas...
, is named after Komitas Vardapet. - The writers' and poets' pantheonKomitas PantheonKomitas Pantheon-Park is located in Yerevan's Shengavit district, on the right side of the main Arshakunyats Avenue. Many outstanding figures of Armenia's artistic world are buried here, including Komitas , one of Armenia’s great composers...
in Yerevan is named after Komitas.
Works, editions and recordings
- Gomidas - songs Isabel BayrakdarianIsabel BayrakdarianIsabel Bayrakdarian is a Grammy Award-nominated Armenian Canadian opera singer.-Early life:Born in Lebanon in 1974, she moved to Canada as a teenager. Bayrakdarian graduated in 1997 from the University of Toronto with an honours B.A.Sc...
, Serouj KradjianSerouj Kradjian-Early life and education:At fourteen earned a scholarship to study in Vienna, and was gaining allocades by the age of seven. He moved to Vienna at fourteen to pursue his training on a scholarship. He later studied with Marietta Orlov at the University of Toronto's Faculty of Music, where he...
(arrangements and piano), Chamber players of the Armenian Philharmonic OrchestraArmenian Philharmonic OrchestraThe Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra is the national orchestra of Armenia. It was founded in 1925 as a symphony orchestra of the Yerevan State Conservatory. Now it performs in Khachaturian Hall, Yerevan....
, conducted by Eduard TopchjanEduard TopchjanEduard Topchjan is the principal conductor and artistic director of the Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra.Topchjan studied violin at the Yerevan Komitas Conservatory and went on to study conducting with Armenian conductor Ohan Durian followed by consultations from Sir George Solti, Claudio Abbado and...
. Nonesuch, 2005 - The Voice of Komitas Vartapet, Komitas Vardapet. Traditional Crossroads, 1995, recorded in 1908/1912
External links
- Virtual Museum of Komitas Vardapet
- Isabel Bayrakdarian:Gomidas Songs on Nonesuch
- Biography #1
- Biography #2
- Biography #3
- Some songs in .rm format
- New release of 36 Komitas-songs on SACD by the German independent label AUDITE
- Rita Soulahian Kuyumjian, Archeology of Madness: Komitas, Portrait of an Armenian Icon
- A short movie about Komitas Vartabed