Ghazaros (Lazar) Saryan
Ghazaros (Lazar) Saryan Ղազարոս (Լազար) Սարյան Лазарь Мартиросович Сарьян | |
---|---|
Born |
Rostov-on-Don, Russia | September 30, 1920
Died |
May 27, 1998 77) Yerevan, Armenia | (aged
Occupation |
Composer Educator |
Ghazaros (Lazar) Saryan (Armenian: Ղազարոս Սարյան, Russian: Лазарь Мартиросович Сарьян, September 30, 1920 in Rostov-on-Don – May 27, 1998 in Yerevan) was an Armenian composer and educator.[1]
Life and career
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.[2]
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.
Member of Armenian Mighty Handful.
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) 53.39.36.
Compositions
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 Captives 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
References
Further reading
Արաքսի Սարյան, Ղազարոս Սարյանը եվ նրա ժամանակը, Аракси Сарьян, Лазарь Сарьян и Его Время. «Արճեշ» հրատարակչություն, Yerevan 2001.
See also
Recordings
- http://cdbaby.com/cd/lazarsaryan (Chamber Music)
- http://cdbaby.com/cd/lazarsaryan2 (Symphonic Music)