Parev dez - Hello!
I am grateful to have met Komitas on Youtube, a moment that would change my life in a positive way forever!
Imagine, if there is one of me who feels this way, there are millions of me in the world waiting to receive the message. We must bring the music to them!
- Joel A. Martin
BRIEF HISTORY OF KOMITAS
Soghomon Soghomonian, ordained and commonly known as Komitas (1869-1935), was an Armenian priest, composer, arranger, singer, choirmaster and ethnomusicologist who is considered the founder of Armenian classical music: His life's work and love for his country created the basis for a distinctive national musical style in Armenia.
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Life
Born Soghomon Soghomonian, he took the name Komitas after a 7th century Armenian hymn writer. He studied composition in Berlin and returned to Armenia to collect folk songs and compose his own music. He settled in Constantinople (now Istanbul) in 1910.
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Work
He collected thousands of Armenian folk songs, published papers on the subject, and sang Armenian songs in concerts. He also composed his own music, including choral works, arrangements of the Armenian Mass, and dances for piano. His major work is Badarak (Divine Liturgy), which is still used today in the Armenian Church liturgy.
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Impact
He is considered a pioneer of ethnomusicology and his work helped establish Armenian musicology on a scientific basis. He is also credited with creating the Armenian National School of Music.
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The Armenian Genocide of 1915 affected Komitas deeply and led to a nervous breakdown. He was arrested and exiled, but was released after intervention by the US Ambassador. However, he was never able to regain his mental health and spent the last 16 years of his life in psychiatric hospitals in Constantinople and Paris. He died in Paris in 1935 and was buried in the Pantheon in Yerevan, which is now named after him.