Lazar Sarian
Encyclopedia
Ghazaros Saryan ' onMouseout='HidePop("50687")' href="/topics/Rostov-on-Don">Rostov-on-Don
, Sept. 30, 1920 – Yerevan
, May 27, 1998) was an Armenian
composer and educator.
Ghazaros Saryan was born into a family of distinguished Armenian artists. He is the son of renowned painter Martiros Saryan
and the grandson of the prominent writer Ghazaros Aghayan
. Musically gifted, Ghazaros attended the Yerevan State Conservatory from 1934 to 1938, where he studied composition with Sargis Barkhudaryan
and Vardges Talyan. Afterwards, he travelled to Moscow and enrolled in the composition class of Vissarion Shebalin
at the Gnessin State Musical College
.
With the outbreak of World War II
in 1941, Ghazaros was drafted into the Soviet army and served actively until 1945. Subsequently, he entered the Moscow Conservatory
. Among his composition teachers were Dmitri Kabalevsky
, Dmitri Shostakovich
and Anatoly Nikolayevich Alexandrov
. Saryan graduated in 1950.
Upon his return to Armenia, Saryan joined the faculty of the Yerevan Komitas State Conservatory where he taught orchestration. During 1955-56, he was chairman of the Armenian Composers' Union. In 1960, he was appointed rector
of the Conservatory, a position he retained until 1986. Saryan taught composition as well, training such distinguished Armenian composers as Tigran Mansurian
, Rober Altunyan, Vardan Adjemyan and Ruben Sargsyan.
Ghazaros Saryan was essentially a composer of symphonic oeuvre, in which beautiful surface textures are juxtaposed with adventurous rhythmic and harmonic experimentation. His music displays a keen and sophisticated musical intellect, characterized by authenticity and integrity. Mr. Saryan has also written a number of notable works for chamber music, as well as several film scores.
Saryan has received many awards, including the People's Artist of the Armenian SSR (1983) and the People's Artist of the USSR
(1991). For his military service he was decorated with the Red Star Medal.
Performed widely within the former Soviet Union, Saryan’s music is gradually obtaining greater recognition in European music capitals. His Armenia: Symphonic Panels was performed in 1991 at the Pierre Boulez Contemporary Music Center in Metz
, France, and his Passacaglia was presented in 1995 during the Athens Music Festival.
Ghazaros Saryan's manuscripts are deposited at the Saryan Museum, 3 Saryan St, Yerevan 0002, Armenia. Tel: (374-10) 58.05.68.
Rostov-on-Don
-History:The mouth of the Don River has been of great commercial and cultural importance since the ancient times. It was the site of the Greek colony Tanais, of the Genoese fort Tana, and of the Turkish fortress Azak...
, Sept. 30, 1920 – 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...
, May 27, 1998) was an Armenian
Armenians
Armenian people or Armenians are a nation and ethnic group native to the Armenian Highland.The largest concentration is in Armenia having a nearly-homogeneous population with 97.9% or 3,145,354 being ethnic Armenian....
composer and educator.
Ghazaros Saryan was born into a family of distinguished Armenian artists. He is the son of renowned painter Martiros Saryan
Martiros 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...
and the grandson of the prominent writer Ghazaros Aghayan
Ghazaros Aghayan
Ghazaros Aghayan was an Armenian writer, educator, folklorist, historian, linguist and public figure....
. Musically gifted, Ghazaros attended the Yerevan State Conservatory from 1934 to 1938, where he studied composition with Sargis Barkhudaryan
Sargis Barkhudaryan
Sargis Barkhudaryan was an Armenian composer, pianist and educator.Born in Tiflis, [now Tbilisi] Georgia, Sargis was one of the eight children of a successful businessman, who died when his son was only a teenager. The young man grew up in a musical household...
and Vardges Talyan. Afterwards, he travelled to Moscow and enrolled in the composition class of Vissarion Shebalin
Vissarion Shebalin
Vissarion Yakovlevich Shebalin was a Soviet composer.-Biography:Shebalin was born in Omsk, where his parents were school teachers. He studied in the musical college in Omsk. He was 20 years old when, following the advice of his professor, he went to Moscow to show his first compositions to...
at the Gnessin State Musical College
Gnessin State Musical College
The Gnessin State Musical College and Gnessin Russian Academy of Music is a prominent music school in Moscow, Russia...
.
With the outbreak of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
in 1941, Ghazaros was drafted into the Soviet army and served actively until 1945. Subsequently, he entered the Moscow Conservatory
Moscow Conservatory
The Moscow Conservatory is a higher musical education institution in Moscow, and the second oldest conservatory in Russia after St. Petersburg Conservatory. Along with the St...
. Among his composition teachers were Dmitri Kabalevsky
Dmitri Kabalevsky
Dmitry Borisovich Kabalevsky was a Russian composer.He helped to set up the Union of Soviet Composers in Moscow and remained one of its leading figures. He was a prolific composer of piano music and chamber music; many of his piano works have been performed by Vladimir Horowitz. He is probably...
, Dmitri Shostakovich
Dmitri Shostakovich
Dmitri Dmitriyevich Shostakovich was a Soviet Russian composer and one of the most celebrated composers of the 20th century....
and Anatoly Nikolayevich Alexandrov
Anatoly Nikolayevich Alexandrov
Anatoly Nikolayevich Alexandrov was a Russian composer of works for piano and for other instruments, and pianist. His initial works had a mystical element, but he downplayed this to better fit Socialist realism. He led a somewhat retiring life, but received several honors.Alexandrov was the son...
. Saryan graduated in 1950.
Upon his return to Armenia, Saryan joined the faculty of the Yerevan Komitas State Conservatory where he taught orchestration. During 1955-56, he was chairman of the Armenian Composers' Union. In 1960, he was appointed rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
of the Conservatory, a position he retained until 1986. Saryan taught composition as well, training such distinguished Armenian composers as Tigran Mansurian
Tigran Mansurian
Tigran Mansurian is an Armenian composer of classical music and film scores. He was born in Beirut and educated in Yerevan, Armenia, where his family had moved in 1947...
, Rober Altunyan, Vardan Adjemyan and Ruben Sargsyan.
Ghazaros Saryan was essentially a composer of symphonic oeuvre, in which beautiful surface textures are juxtaposed with adventurous rhythmic and harmonic experimentation. His music displays a keen and sophisticated musical intellect, characterized by authenticity and integrity. Mr. Saryan has also written a number of notable works for chamber music, as well as several film scores.
Saryan has received many awards, including the People's Artist of the Armenian SSR (1983) and the People's Artist of the USSR
People's Artist of the USSR
People's Artist of the USSR, also sometimes translated as National Artist of the USSR, was an honorary title granted to citizens of the Soviet Union.- Nomenclature and significance :...
(1991). For his military service he was decorated with the Red Star Medal.
Performed widely within the former Soviet Union, Saryan’s music is gradually obtaining greater recognition in European music capitals. His Armenia: Symphonic Panels was performed in 1991 at the Pierre Boulez Contemporary Music Center in Metz
Metz
Metz is a city in the northeast of France located at the confluence of the Moselle and the Seille rivers.Metz is the capital of the Lorraine region and prefecture of the Moselle department. Located near the tripoint along the junction of France, Germany, and Luxembourg, Metz forms a central place...
, France, and his Passacaglia was presented in 1995 during the Athens Music Festival.
Ghazaros Saryan's manuscripts are deposited at the Saryan Museum, 3 Saryan St, Yerevan 0002, Armenia. Tel: (374-10) 58.05.68.
Orchestra
- Symphonic Poem, 1950
- Symphonic Images, 1956
- Հանդիսավոր նախերգանք [Festive Overture], 1957
- Adagio and Dance, string orch, 1957
- Serenade, 1959
- Armenia: Symphonic Panels on motifs by Martiros Saryan, 1966
- Vn Concerto, 1972
- Symphony, 1980
- Choreographic Composition, 1987
- Passacaglia, 1994
- Fanfares, 1996
- Andante and Presto, vn, chm orch, 1997
Vocal
- Սովետական Հայաստան [Soviet Armenia], vocal soloists and chorus, 1950
- Երգ խաղաղության [Peace Song], voice, pf, 1951
- Խաղաղության օրը [Day of Peace] (vocal-symphonic suite), chorus and orch, 1953
- Քեզ եմ երգում, Հայրենիք [Fatherland, I Am Singing of You], voice, pf, 1955
Instrumental
- Theme with Variations, pf, 1947
- Sonata no. 1, vc, pf, 1948
- String Quartet no. 1, 1949
- Dance, pf, 1955
- Concert Piece, trp, pf, 1962
- Aria and Toccata, vn, pf, 1966
- Պապիկի ժամացույցը [Grandfather's Clock], pf, 1970
- String Quartet no. 2, 1986
- Sonata no. 2, vc, pf, 1989
- 3 Postludes, pf, 1990
Romances
- Ինչու՞ ուշացար [Why Are You Late?], 1956
- Հինգ քնարական երգեր [Five Lyrical Songs], 1960
Film Scores
- Փեսատես [Visiting the Groom], 1953
- Մանրունք [Small Change], 1954
- Հովազաձորի գերիները [The Slaves of Hovazadzor], 1956
- Առաջին սիրո երգը [The Song of First Love] (composed with Arno Babadjanian), 1958
- 01-99, 1959
- Նրա երազանքը [Her Fantasy], 1959
- Մեր թաղի ձայները [The Voices of Our Neighborhood], 1960
- Մարտիրոս Սարյան [Martiros Saryan], 1965
- Արևային գույների մեղեդին [Melodies of Sunshine], 1979
Further reading
Արաքսի Սարյան, Ղազարոս Սարյանը եվ նրա ժամանակը, Аракси Сарьян, Дазарь Сарьян и Его Время. «Արճեշ» հրատարակչություն, Yerevan 2001.Recordings
- http://cdbaby.com/cd/lazarsaryan (Chamber Music)
- http://cdbaby.com/cd/lazarsaryan2 (Symphonic Music)