JIVAN GASPARYAN’S CONCERTS WARMLY RECEIVED IN TURKEY

HULIQ

Mon, 2007-09-17 08:48.
NC

The Turkish society warmly received the performances of world-known
Armenian duduk player Jivan Gasparyan in Ankara and Istanbul. People’s
Artist and laureate of a number of international competitions Jivan
Gasparyan told a new conference today that he had two concerts in
Turkey on the occasion of Peace Day, where he presented compositions
by Sayat-Nova, Komitas and M. Ekmalyan, as well as several old
Armenian songs.

The famous duduk player noted that at the request of the Turkish
society he played one song with famous Turkish saz player Yavuz
Bingl.

This was Jivan Gasparyan’s fifth concert tour to Turkey. During
the concerts in Turkey he performed a song in memory Hrant Dink,
the slain editor-in-chief of the Agos weekly.

On those days Jivan Gasparyan’s concerts were widely covered by many
Turkish media. The duduk player gave interviews to two Turkish TV
Channels, during one of which the musician noted that he is not engaged
in politics and only presents the Armenian music and art abroad. ‘The
Armenian Diaspora does not and cannot impede the friendship between
Armenian and Turkish peoples: the massacres at the turn of the century
are the reason of aggravation of Armenian-Turkish relations,’ Jivan
Gasparyan said in response to the question of a Turkish journalist
about the disturbing role of the Armenian Diaspora. During the
interviews he presented some details of creation and preparation
of Armenian duduk, noting that although Turks have an instrument
resembling duduk, it does not mean Turkey is the birthplace of duduk.

Preceding the concerts Jivan Gasparyan recorded one song with a famous
Turkish singer and played for a Turkish film about earthquake.

Speaking about his plans in Armenia, the musician said he intends to
establish a school of duduk, where he will bring together about 100
orphan children and will teach playing duduk for free.

It’s worth mentioning that Jivan Gasparyan played in Turkey on
the occasion of the Peace Day at the invitation of the Turkish
Government.