SONG CONTEST
Aram Abrahamian

Aravot.am
31 Aug 06

The ministry of culture was right publishing the texts of five drafts
of anthem, which have passed the contest. Unfortunately, the public
doesn’t have an opportunity to judge the music of those drafts: 5
drafts of anthem must be often sounded on radio and TV, which isn’t
done yet. I’m sure the anthem is 60% music and 40% words, because it
is often produced without the text. Besides, music is more powerful
emotionally, than the word is.

Speaking about the published texts I want to stress the following
fact: Ararat B/ I guess whose pseudonym it is/, Vahagn Davtian and
Liudvig Durian are skilful poets who are worth to become the authors
of the national anthem of Armenia. But those respectful poets will
admit that they aren’t like Charents.

So if the public discusses the texts, it will be meaningless to
compete with Charent’s "Es im anush Hayasatani". This masterpiece is
also profitable that there will be no need to read it by heart. The
text written by the official of the ministry for Aram Khachatrian’s
music is non professional and skilful.

The ministry suggests introducing to other texts written for Aram
Khachatrian’s music on _www.mrcuyt.am_ () site. But
they are worse than the produces examples. It is impossible to compose
any high quality verse for the already composed music.

Aram Khachatrian’s music is impressive. The composer has used the
tunes of medieval "sharakan" /church songs/, which doesn’t only show
the composer’s talent but patriotism, too.

The selection of anthem isn’t a song festival. This is a political
action, however Khachatrian’s music is talented it symbolizes the past
epoch, refused ideology. So it shouldn’t display only musical approach
here. As for me "Mer Hayrenik" or anthems composed by T. Mansurian’s,
E. Erznkian’s, E. Hovhannisian or R. Amirkhanian are equally
adoptable. Let Khachatrian’s music remain as the history.