ACUSA CELEBRATES THE 140TH ANNIVERSARY OF KOMITAS
PanARMENIAN.Net
27.03.2009 01:39 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ In the Gulbenkian hall of the Cilicia Museum, ACUSA
honoured the memory of the great composer, ethnographer, musicologist
and monk, Komitas VartabedCommunication and Information Department
Catholicosate of Cilicia reports.
In her opening speech, the President of ACUSA introduced the artist,
who inspired many musicians and began a renaissance in Armenian
musicology. She noted that Komitas Vartabed contributed greatly to
the creation and codification of ancient Armenian spiritual music and
peasants’ melodies. Among his many compositions, the chorals and the
Batarak (liturgy) remain outstanding. Following this introduction,
the students of the Ganatchayan Music School presented the works of
the musician in concert. Archbishop Komitas Ohanian concluded the
evening by paying homage to the great Vartabed of the Armenian Church,
who purified Armenian music by eliminating foreign influences.