TURKISH STATE CHOIR TO PERFORM ARMENIAN WORK FOR FIRST TIME

Hurriyet
Feb 25 2010
Turkey

In a historic event, the Ankara Radio Polyphonic Choir, which is
affiliated with the state-owned Turkish Radio and Television, or TRT,
has performed a work in Armenian under the direction of Istanbul-based
Armenian conductor Hagop Mamigonyan. The choir will perform the work
again at an Armenian church in Istanbul

For the first time in Turkey’s history, the Ankara Radio Polyphonic
Choir, which is affiliated with the state-owned Turkish Radio and
Television Corporation, or TRT, has performed a work by a leading
Armenian composer.

Led by Istanbul-based conductor Hagop Mamigonyan, the choir performed
"Gali Yerk" (Harvest Wind), a work by Armenian polyphonic music expert
and ethnomusicologist Gomidas Vartabed.

Founded in 1970, the TRT decided last year to celebrate its 40th
anniversary with 40 different conductors, both Turkish and foreign.

One of those it invited was the young Hagop Mamigonyan of the Surp
Lusavoric Armenian Choir, which has been performing in Istanbul for
80 years. Each conductor was free to select the music that would be
performed. Mamigonyan told the TRT that he wanted to lead the choir
in an Armenian piece.

"When I told them on the phone that I wanted to perform an Armenian
work, there was silence for a few seconds on the other end of the line,
but my request was accepted," Mamigonyan told the Hurriyet Daily News &
Economic Review.

Still, Mamigonyan said, he had doubts until he started working with
the choir and was worried that the TRT administration would retreat at
the last minute, but this did not happen. Recordings of the concert
will be available in the coming months. In another historic first,
the Ankara Radio Polyphonic Choir will also perform "Gali Yerk"
in the Surp Yerortutyun Armenian Church in Istanbul’s Beyoglu district.

Full speed ahead for dialogue

In previous years, performing Armenian songs was banned on TRT
television channels and radio stations. By making his proposal,
Mamigonyan achieved a first in Turkey, a historic responsibility for
someone of his young age.

"I express my gratitude to the TRT administration that supported
my idea," he said. "Turkish and Armenian composers created common
works during the Ottoman era. Why don’t we do it today? Yes, it may
be difficult, but it is time to say ‘full speed ahead’ for dialogue
and a peaceful future."

The TRT project gave each conductor five days to work with the choir.

Mamigonyan, the 13th youngest out of 40 conductors, said he was very
stressed before going to Ankara: "The reason for my stress was musical
concerns, because I was among many conductors who were older than me."

Mamigonyan was given the first five days in February. The young
conductor met with the 28-person choir on the first day and explained
why he had chosen an Armenian song from ethnomusicologist Vartabed.

Time was very limited for both conductor and choir. Mamigonyan
translated the Armenian lyrics into Latin script and gave them to
the members of the choir.

"They were very excited to perform the work. Although they did not
understand the language, it was very easy for them to become adapted
to the work," he said. "The result was magnificent. We really enjoyed
it. We had deep sorrow upon leaving each other at the end of the
five days."

During that period, Mamigonyan said, the group exchanged ideas over
dinner. "We were generally talking about Turkish-Armenian relations,"
he said, describing a humorous event during the rehearsals. "There was
a retired colonel among the choir members. When he asked me something,
I unwittingly told him, ‘Yes, sir!’" he said. "All the choir members
began laughing at me. Later on we became friends with this colonel."

Mamigonyan is the chief conductor of the 40-person polyphonic Surp
Lusavoric Armenian Choir in Istanbul. The choir will give a concert
April 10 at Hagia Irene Museum. Kalan Music also recently released
an album by the choir.

About Gomidas Vartabed

Born in the Aegean city of Kutahya during the Ottoman era, Gomidas
Vartabed received theology education at Ecmiyazin, which is the
Armenian Apostolic Church’s papacy center in Armenia. After he
graduated, he went to Berlin to study music. He later compiled Armenian
and Ottoman folk songs from Anatolia to Armenia. An ethnomusicologist,
Vartabed became a leading figure in Armenian polyphonic music.