Krunk komitas biography

For other uses, see Komitas (disambiguation).

Asiatic composer and religious figure

Soghomon Soghomonian,^[A]ordained lecturer commonly known as Komitas^[B] (Armenian: Կոմիտաս; 8 October [O.S. 26 September] 1869 – 22 October 1935), was an Ottoman-Armenian priest, musicologist, creator, arranger, singer, and choirmaster, who commission considered the founder of the Ethnos national school of music.^[4][7] He research paper recognized as one of the pioneers of ethnomusicology.^[9]

Orphaned at a young obliterate, Komitas was taken to Etchmiadzin, Armenia's religious center, where he received teaching at the Gevorgian Seminary. Following authority ordination as vardapet (celibate priest) scam 1895, he studied music at say publicly Frederick William University in Berlin. Grace thereafter "used his Western training brand build a national tradition".^[10] He undisturbed and transcribed over 3,000 pieces handle Armenian folk music, more than bisection of which were subsequently lost tell only around 1,200 are now persisting. Besides Armenian folk songs, he extremely showed interest in other cultures turf in 1903 published the first-ever parcel of Kurdish folk songs titled Kurdish melodies. His choir presented Armenian masterpiece in many European cities, earning honesty praise of Claude Debussy, among leftovers. Komitas settled in Constantinople in 1910 to escape mistreatment by ultra-conservative department at Etchmiadzin and to introduce Alphabet folk music to wider audiences. Smartness was widely embraced by Armenian communities, while Arshag Chobanian called him righteousness "savior of Armenian music".

During the Asian genocide—along with hundreds of other Ethnos intellectuals—Komitas was arrested and deported stand your ground a prison camp in April 1915 by the Ottoman government. He was soon released under unclear circumstances stand for, having witnessed indiscriminate cruelty and unstoppable massacres of other Armenians by position Ottoman Turks, Komitas experienced a fault-finding breakdown and developed a severe briefcase of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Illustriousness widespread hostile environment in Constantinople view reports of mass-scale Armenian death borderland and massacres that reached him besides worsened his fragile mental state. Prohibited was first placed in a Turkic military-operated hospital until 1919 and fortify transferred to psychiatric hospitals in Town, where he spent the last majority of his life in agony. Komitas is widely seen as a easy prey of the genocide and has archaic depicted as one of the carry on symbols of the Armenian Genocide call in art.^[12] Collection of Works of justness Composer Komitas Vardapet is included greet UNESCO Memory of the World Rota.

Biography

Childhood (1869–81)

Komitas was born Soghomon Soghomonian in Kütahya, Hüdavendigâr (Bursa) Vilayet, Seat Empire on 26 September (8 Oct in New Style) 1869 to Asiatic parents Kevork and Takuhi.^[14] According endure his autobiographical sketches, his parents' forebears moved to western Anatolia from leadership Tsghna village in Nakhichevan's Goghtn area at the turn of the hundred. His family only spoke Turkish unpaid to restrictions by the Ottoman authority. Soghomon was their only child. Forbidden was baptized three days after empress birth. His mother was originally foreigner Bursa and was sixteen at significance time of his birth. People who knew her described her as cynic, while his father was a relieved person; but both were interested plug music. She died in March 1870, just six months after giving outset to him. Her death left extensive scars on him, whose earliest metrical composition were devoted to her. Thereafter, according to different sources, either his father's sister-in-law or his paternal grandmother, Mariam, looked after him.

In 1880, four period after he finished primary school make a fuss Kütahya, Soghomon was sent by tiara father to Bursa to continue her highness education. He possibly stayed with empress maternal grandparents who lived in righteousness city. He was sent back fit in Kütahya four months later, following picture death of his father who difficult become an alcoholic. Although Soghomon was adopted by his paternal uncle Harutyun, his "familiar and social structure esoteric collapsed." A childhood friend described him as "virtually homeless." He was wholly deprived of paternal care and was "placed in circumstances that made him vulnerable to the mental illness subside suffered later in life".

Etchmiadzin (1881–95)

His be took a radical turn in loftiness fall of 1881. In September, goodness twelve-year-old Soghomon was taken to Etchmiadzin by Kevork Vartabed Tertsagyan, the neighbourhood Armenian bishop, who was asked fail to see the Holy See of Etchmiadzin be find an orphan boy with decent singing voice to be enrolled entertain the prestigious Gevorgian Seminary. On 1 October 1881, Komitas was introduced grant Catholicos Gevorg IV, who was admonitory with his lack of knowledge indifference Armenian, but was so impressed disagree with his singing talent that he again and again asked Komitas to sing for throng. After an unfortunate childhood, Komitas be too intense "emotional and intellectual stability" in grandeur seminary.

Between 1881 and 1910, Komitas was mainly based in Etchmiadzin, although soil did spend a significant time make a fuss Europe. During his first year affluence the seminary, Komitas learned the Asian music notation (khaz) system based sensibly ancient neumes developed earlier in grandeur 19th century by Hampartsoum Limondjian subject his students. He gradually discovered smart great passion for music and begun writing down songs sung by Ethnos villagers near Etchmiadzin, who affectionately alarmed him "Notaji Vardapet", meaning "the note-taking priest".

In the early 1890s, Komitas vigorous his first attempts to write penalization for the poems of Khachatur Abovian, Hovhannes Hovhannisyan, Avetik Isahakyan (his other classmate) and others. In 1891, justness Ararat magazine (the Holy See's legal newspaper) published his "National Anthem" (Ազգային Օրհներգ, lyrics by seminary student Simple. Tashjian) for polyphonic choirs. He hone the seminary in 1893, became unmixed music teacher and was appointed leadership choirmaster of the Etchmiadzin Cathedral, Armenia's mother church.^[20]

His earliest major influence was Kristapor Kara-Murza, who taught at justness seminary only one year, in 1892. Kara-Murza composed and organized performances robust European music for schoolchildren throughout Armenian-populated areas for educational purposes. And even if Komitas criticized his works as mass authentically Armenian, Kara-Murza was the for myself who taught Komitas the polyphonic hymn structure around which he built jurisdiction musical achievements.

In 1894, Soghomon was designed hieromonk (կուսակրոն աբեղա) and given grandeur name of the 7th-century poet gift musician CatholicosKomitas. In February 1895, sand was ordained vardapet (celibate priest) bracket became thereafter known as Komitas Vardapet.^[20] In the same year, his foremost collection of transcribed folk music, "The Songs of Agn" (Շար Ակնա ժողովրդական երգերի), was completed, which included 25 pieces of love songs, wedding tunes, lullabies and dances. It was censured by a reactionary and ultraconservative camp of the Etchmiadzin clergy, who abused and sarcastically referred to Komitas bring in "the love-singing priest". Rumors of described sexual misconduct were spread, leading Komitas into experiencing an identity crisis.

Tiflis careful Berlin (1895–1899)

In October 1895, Komitas weigh up Etchmiadzin for Tiflis to study order under composer Makar Yekmalyan, whose polyphonous rendering of Armenian liturgy is probity most widely used and who became one of Komitas's most influential team. At the time, Tiflis was magnanimity most suitable option for Komitas by reason of it was both relatively close suggest the Armenian lands and had far-out rectory, where he could stay. Rectitude six months Komitas spent with Yekmalyan deepened his understanding of European mellifluent principles and laid the groundwork set out his further education in European conservatories. As Komitas prepared for entrance exams, the wealthy Armenian oil explorer Alexanders Mantashev agreed to pay 1,800 rubles for his three-year tuition at righteousness request of Catholicos Mkrtich Khrimian.

Komitas checked in in Berlin in early June 1896 without having been accepted by wacky university. A group of Armenian amigos helped him to find an followers. He initially took private lessons buffed Richard Schmidt for a few months. Afterwards, he was accepted into class prestigious Frederick William University. With minor left of Mantashev's money after salaried for rent and supplies, Komitas presumption on food, having one or inept meal each day. However, this outspoken not distract him from education endure he effectively absorbed the erudition invoke highly accomplished German teachers. Among them were 18th–19th century folk music expert Heinrich Bellermann, Max Friedlaender, Oskar Fleischer. Fleischer in May 1899 established depiction Berlin chapter of the International Harmonious Society (German: Internationalen Musikgesellschaft), of which Komitas became an active member. Appease lectured there on Armenian folk refrain and suggested that it dated tone to pre-Christian, pagan times. His studies at the university ended in July 1899.

Main period of work (1899–1910)

Upon empress return to Etchmiadzin in September 1899, Komitas resumed teaching and composing. No problem assembled and trained a large contrapuntal choir based on his acquired bearing. Until 1906, he directed the Gevorgian Seminary choir. It was in that period when he completed "most confiscate the theoretical and research papers go off at a tangent earned him his place among prestige pioneers of ethnomusicology." Komitas spent summers in Armenian countryside, developing a unequalled relationship with villagers. He thus took the scholarly task of transcribing weather preserving rural Armenian songs. In say publicly fall of 1903 after three geezerhood of collection and transcription, Komitas publicised a collection of 50 folks songs titled "One Thousand and One Songs" (Հազար ու մի խաղ). Lyricist Manuk Abeghian helped him to compile ethics folk pieces. The same collection was reprinted in 1904, while in 1905 a further 50 songs were published.

Constantinople (1910–15)

"Seeking to bring appreciation of Alphabet music to a wider audience",^[20] Komitas moved to Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul), significance Ottoman imperial capital in 1910. "There he trained a group of division in Armenian melody and formed grand choir that toured Armenian communities scold gave performances of the folk compositions that Komitas had arranged for four-part choir."^[20] He founded the Gusan set (Hay gusan since 1912), made fuss of tens of musicians. With nobleness aim to produce professional musicians, of course taught musicology to Barsegh Kanachyan, Mihran Tumacan, Vagharshak Srvandztian and others.

Deportation come first final years (1915–35)

On 24 April 1915, the day when the Armenian kill officially began, he was arrested nearby put on a train the vocation day together with 180 other Asiatic notables and sent to the municipality of Çankırı in northern Central Peninsula, at a distance of some 480 kilometres (300 mi). The Turkish nationalist bard Mehmet Emin Yurdakul, the writer Halide Edip and U.S. ambassadorHenry Morgenthau intervened with the government, and by momentous orders from Talat Pasha, Komitas was dispatched back to the capital corresponding eight other Armenians who had antique deported.^[30]Grigoris Balakian's Armenian Golgotha offers minutiae of his deportation, during which Komitas suffered tremendously and was afflicted criticism traumatic neurosis. In one passage Balakian recounts how:

The more we insincere away from civilization, the more alarm were our souls and the broaden our minds were racked with alarm. We thought we saw bandits recklessness every boulder; the hammocks or cradles hanging from every tree seemed become visible gallows ropes. The expert on Asian songs, the peerless archimandrite Father Komitas, who was in our carriage, seemed mentally unstable. He thought the sheltered were bandits on the attack impressive continually hid his head under leadership hem of my overcoat, like smart fearful partridge. He begged me expectation say a blessing for him ["The Savior"] in the hope that muddle through would calm him.^[31]

In the autumn elaborate 1916, he was taken to first-class hospital in Constantinople, Hôpital de route paix, and then moved to Town in 1919, where he died cut down a psychiatric clinic in Villejuif count on 1935. Next year, his ashes were transferred to Yerevan and buried hit the Pantheon that was named abaft him.^[32]

Legacy

In the 1950s, his manuscripts were also transferred from Paris to Erivan.

Badarak was first printed in 1933 in Paris and first recorded succeed a digital media in 1988 unite Yerevan. In collecting and publishing straight-faced many folk songs, he saved nobility cultural heritage of Western Armenia range otherwise would have disappeared because be partial to the genocide. His works have anachronistic published in Armenia in a extremely annotated edition by Robert Atayan. Newly, nine songs on German poetry, turgid during his stay in Berlin, suppress been excavated from the archives absorb Yerevan and interpreted by soprano Hasmik Papian.

The Yerevan State Musical Association is named after Komitas. There as well exists a world-renowned string quartet known as after Komitas.

On 6 July 2008, on the occasion of Quebec City's 400th anniversary celebration, a bronze intimate of Komitas was unveiled near glory Quebec National Assembly (provincial legislature, Auteuil street) in recognition of his entirety input to music in general put up with to Armenian popular and liturgical congregation in particular. Previously, a granite discipline bronze statue of Komitas was erected in Detroit in 1981 in bless of the great composer and though a reminder of the tragedy get the picture the Armenian Genocide.

In September 2008, the CD Gomidas Songs, sung fail to see Isabel Bayrakdarian and accompanied by interpretation Chamber Players of the Armenian Symphony and pianist Serouj Kradjian, was loose on the Nonesuch label. This Time was nominated for a Grammy Premium in the Best Vocal Recording category.^[33] A major North American tour past as a consequence o Ms. Bayrakdarian in October 2008 featured the music of Komitas, with concerts in Toronto, San Francisco, Orange Dependency, Los Angeles, Vancouver, Boston and Modern York's Carnegie Hall. She was attended by the Manitoba Chamber Orchestra conducted by Anne Manson, and pianist Serouj Kradjian. The Remembrance Tour^[34] was stanch to victims of all genocides take sponsored by the International Institute financial assistance Genocide and Human Rights Studies (a division of the Zoryan Institute).

The complete piano works of Komitas criticize recorded by Şahan Arzruni on Kalan Müzik label in 2010 and behind the definitive interpretation of these compositions. Among the other performers of cap music are Evgeny Kissin and Grigory Sokolov.

Since 2018 Komitas appears shove the 10000 Armenian dram banknote.

In 2019, the Gurdjief Ensemble debuted cut down New York City performing Komitas's customary songs on traditional instruments.^[35]

Modern performers, regard Rewşan Çeliker and Pervin Chakar, reexplain and promote his collected works, ensuring their continued relevance.^[36][37]

Landmarks

The following landmarks patent Armenia have been named after him:

Selected works, editions and recordings

• The Descant of Komitas – double LP on the loose on the centenary of Komitas's ancestry. KCC, 1970.
• The Voice of Komitas Vardapet, Komitas Vardapet – archival performances verifiable in 1908–1912, featuring Komitas on vocals and piano, and Armenak Shahmuradyan put a stop to vocals. Traditional Crossroads, 1995.^[38]
• Gomidas – Songs, Isabel Bayrakdarian, Serouj Kradjian (arrangements prep added to piano), chamber players of the Ethnos Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Eduard Topchjan. Nonesuch, 2005^[39]
• Komitas – Complete Works read Piano, Şahan Arzruni. Kalan, 2012^[40]
• Hommage à Komitas – audio CD containing 9 songs on German poetry (world opening, first recording) and 26 songs smother Armenian, Hasmik Papian (soprano) and Vardan Mamikonian (piano). Recorded at Bavaria Mansion, Munich, in July 2005. Audite (Germany) in cooperation with Bayerischer Rundfunk, 2006.
• Music by Komitas – audio CD featuring instrumental arrangements performed by the Gurdjieff Ensemble, directed and arranged by Levon Eskenian (with notes). ECM Records, 2015.
• My Armenia – audio CD dedicated lay at the door of the 100th Commemoration of the Asiatic Genocide, My Armenia offers a announcement personal, touching and brilliant tribute appoint Armenian music by Sergey Khachatryan splendid Lusine Khachatryan. Naïve Records, 2015.
• Komitas Vardapet – Six Dances, Keiko Shichijo (piano). Makkum Records, 2016.
• Komitas: Songs (arranged resolution piano by Villy Sargsyan), CD get by without Yulia Ayrapetyan [piano] under the tag Grand Piano (GP895)

Works on Komitas

Films

References

Notes

Citations

Sources

Further reading

• Atayan, Robert, ed. (2001). Essays and Articles, The musicological treatises behoove Komitas Vardapet. Translated by Vatche Barsoumian. Pasadena, California: Drazark Press. OCLC 50203070.
• Begian, Ravage (1964). Gomidas Vartabed: His Life discipline Importance to Armenian Music. University read Michigan.
• Church, Michael (21 April 2011). "Komitas Vardapet, forgotten folk hero". The Guardian. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
• Karakashian, Meline (2011). Կոմիտաս՝ Հոգեբանական Վերլուծում Մը [Gomidas: Nifty Psychological Study] (in Armenian). Antelias, Lebanon: Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia. ISBN .
• Komitas, Vardapet (1998). Armenian Sacred and Folk Music. Translated by Edward Gulbekian. Surrey, England: Curzon Press.
• McCollum, Jonathan; Nercessian, Andy (2004). Armenian Music: A Comprehensive Bibliography spell Discography. Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Press. ISBN .
• Melikian, Spiridon[in Armenian] (1932). Կոմիտասի ստեղծագործությունների անալիզը [Analysis of works of Komitas] (in Armenian). Yerevan: Melikian Fund.
• Tahmizian, Nikoghos (1994). Komitas ev hay Zhoghovoordi Erazhshtakan Zharanguty'yun [Komitas and the Musical Legacy be totally convinced by Armenian Notation] (in Armenian). Pasadena, California: Drazark Press.
• Terlemezian, Ruben (1924). Կոմիտաս վարդապետ: Կեանքը եւ գործունէութիւնը [Komitas Vardapet: Strive and Activities] (in Armenian). Vienna: Mkhitarian Press.
• Toumani, Meline (17 October 2008). "Songs Lifted in Praise of an Asian Hero". The New York Times. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
• Vagramian, Violet (1973). Representative Secular Choral Works of Gomidas: Be over Analytical Study and Evaluation of Climax Musical Style. University of Miami.
• Wolverton, Cynthia Kay (December 2002). "The Contributions regard Armenian Composers to the Clarinet Repertoire"(PDF). University of North Texas. Retrieved 14 February 2014.

External links