Vartan Adjemian
Encyclopedia
Vardan Adjemian is an Armenian composer of orchestral, operatic and chamber works whose works have been performed worldwide.
) at the Yerevan Komitas State Conservatory
from 1973–81.
In 1987 Adjemian was awarded the National Prize of the Armenian SSR
(for this Symphony No. 1). His music has been performed in Armenia
, Bulgaria
, the Czech Republic
, Finland
, Georgia
, Iceland
, Poland
, Russia
, the UK, Switzerland
and the USA. In 2007 six of his major works have been commissioned by BIM Edition (Switzerland
). He has been a member of SUISA
since 2008.
Adjemian has taught composition at the Yerevan Komitas State Conservatory
since 1987, and was appointed a professor in 2001. He has been Head of the Composition Department since 2002.
(1905–1977) was the General Stage Director of the National Theatre of Armenia and his grandmother was Arus Asryan (1904–1987), one of the leading actress of the same theatre. His father, Alexander Adjemian (1925–1987), was a composer, author of seven symphonies, chamber works and popular songs. His daughter is a prominent Armenian pianist.
Career
Adjemian studied composition with prominent Armenian composer Ghazaros Saryan (son of Martiros SaryanMartiros Saryan
Martiros Saryan was an Armenian painter.He was born into an Armenian family in Nor Nakhijevan . In 1895, aged 15, he completed the Nakhichevan school and from 1897 to 1904 studied at the Moscow School of Arts, including in the workshops of Valentin Serov and Konstantin Korovin...
) at the Yerevan Komitas State 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:...
from 1973–81.
In 1987 Adjemian was awarded the National Prize of the Armenian SSR
Armenian SSR
The Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic The Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic The Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic The Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic The Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic The Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic The Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic The Armenian Soviet...
(for this Symphony No. 1). His music has been performed in Armenia
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
, Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
, the Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
, Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
, Georgia
Georgia (country)
Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
, Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, the UK, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
and the USA. In 2007 six of his major works have been commissioned by BIM Edition (Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
). He has been a member of SUISA
SUISA
SUISA is the collecting society for Swiss songwriters, composers and music publishers. It undertakes collective rights management for its members in order to collect license fees when their musical works are performed in public, broadcast or transmitted, and to pay out performing royalties.It was...
since 2008.
Adjemian has taught composition at the Yerevan Komitas State 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:...
since 1987, and was appointed a professor in 2001. He has been Head of the Composition Department since 2002.
Family
His grandfather, Vardan AjemianVardan Ajemian
Vardan Mkrtchi Ajemian was a Soviet Armenian theatral director and actor, People's Artist of USSR . Hero of Socialist Labour .He studied in Yerevan and Moscow. In 1928 he founded the Second Armenian State Theatre , in 1939 he moved to Yerevan Sundukian Theatre and became its artistic director...
(1905–1977) was the General Stage Director of the National Theatre of Armenia and his grandmother was Arus Asryan (1904–1987), one of the leading actress of the same theatre. His father, Alexander Adjemian (1925–1987), was a composer, author of seven symphonies, chamber works and popular songs. His daughter is a prominent Armenian pianist.
Orchestral
- Symphonic Poem, 1976;
- Concerto (vocalise), soprano, mezzo-soprano, big orchestra, 1981;
- Concerto for Orchestra, 1981;
- Symphony No. 1, 1986;
- Symphony No. 2 (in memoriam of Alexander Adjemian), big orchestra, 1989;
- Piano Concerto No. 1 (vocalise), 33 mixed voices, piano, big orchestra, 1991;
- Concerto for cello and big orchestra, 1993;
- Festive Overture, 1995;
- Concerto, flute, big orchestra, 1996;
- Overture in C Major, 22 strings, 2000;
- “Faith” (song) for big symphonic orchestra and choir, 2001;
- Symphony No. 3 (dedicated to Edward Mirzoyan), 22 strings, 2002;
- Chants of Spring and Love, soprano and orchestra, 2003;
- Piano Concerto No. 2, piano, big orchestra, 2005
- Adventure for alto saxophone solo, piano and string orchestra, 2008
Chamber music
- Sonata No. 1, flute, piano, 1975;
- Sonata for alto flute and cello, 1983;
- Sonata No. 2, flute, piano, 1984;
- Trio No. 1, violin, cello, piano, 1987;
- Sonata Fantasy for cello and piano, 1993;
- Sonata for violin and piano, 1995;
- Fantasy for tuba, piano, 1998;
- Eternity poem for voice, violin, cello, piano, 1996;
- Quintet, piccolo, tuba, double bass, piano, vibraphone, 1998;
- String Quartet (in memoriam of Lazarus Saryan), 1998;
- Overture C Dur, 2000;
- Trio No. 2, violin, cello, piano, 2004;
- Sonata Novella for alto and piano, 2007
Vocal
- Five Songs (texts by Gurgen Mahari, Vahan Teryan – Armenian poets) for mezzo-soprano and piano, 1979;
- Ballade (text by Gurgen Mahari) for soprano, string quartet and double bass, 1980;
- “Hayastan” Five Songs (text by Hovhannes Shiraz – Armenian poet) for mezzo-soprano and piano, 1985;
- Lyric Songs (texts by Hovhannes Hovhannesyan), 1993;
- Eternity (song-cycle, vocalise), soprano, violin, cello, piano, 1996;
- “The Nights of Artamet” cycle (texts by Gurgen Mahari), 1996;
- Tag Garnan yev Siro – A Song for Spring and Love (text by Grigoris Akhtamarsi), soprano, 22 strings, 2002
Piano
- Three Pieces, 1973;
- Sonata No. 1, 1974;
- Five Pieces, 1975;
- Sonata No. 2, 1975;
- The Bells (Goganjner) poem–, 1996;
- Sonata No. 3, 1999;
- Rubato poem 2000;
- Frescoes (Vormnankarner) poem, 2001;
- 9 Views (pieces), 2007
Opera
- The Death of Kikos (2 act comic opera), 1978 (performed in Russian translation by Tamara Demuryan)