Komitas: a Biographical Mixtape // Chris Gratien

The biography and intellectual legacy of Komitas Vardapet, an orphan from Kütahya who became one of the foremost Armenian intellectuals of his day, is firmly embedded within Armenian national lore. Yet, seldom has it been told as an Ottoman story. Drawing on sources in Turkish, Armenian, and English, this mixtape presents the life and works of Komitas through some of the earliest recordings of Armenian music, including his own performances. 

Section 1: From Bursa to Berlin: the Rise of an Armenian Ethnomusicologist

Section 2: Komitas Between Armenian and Turkish Nationalism

Chris Gratien is a PhD candidate studying the history of the modern Middle East at Georgetown University. (see academia.edu)

SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY

Komitas. Komitas: Essays and Articles : the Musicological Treatises of Komitas Vardapet. Pasadena, Calif: Drazark Press, 2001.

Kuyumjian, Rita Soulahian. Archeology of Madness: Komitas, Portrait of an Armenian Icon. Princeton, N.J.: Gomidas Institute, 2001.

Gasparean, Gurgen. Komitas Vardapet: 1869-1935. Yerevan: Sargis Xačenc̕, 2009.

Azatean, Toros. Komitas Vardapet̕: Ir keank̕n ow gorçownēowt̕iwnë. Istanbul: Kiwt̕emperk, 1931.

Adıvar, Halide Edib. Memoirs of Halidé Edib. New York: Century Co, 1926. (click for PDF)

Komitas Virtual Museum (komitas.am)

TRACK LIST

To read about the history of the recordings of Komitas, see Will Prentice's commentary.

"Antouni" performed by Armenak Shahmuradian and Komitas Vardapet [audio]
"Qristos i mej mer haycanav" performed by Male Chamber Choir of the Yerevan Opera Theatre [audio]
"Mokats Mirza" performed by Komitas Vardapet [lyrics] [audio]
"Hol Ara Yezo" performed by Komitas Vardapet and Vahan Ter Arakelian [audio]
"Andzrevn Ekav" performed by State Academic Choir of Armenia, artistic director and conductor Hovhannes Tchekidjian [audio]
"Tsirani Tsar" performed by Lusine Zakarian [audio]
"Lorva Gutanerg" performed by Komitas Vardapet [audio]
"Garun a" performed by Armenak Shahmuradian and Komitas Vardapet [lyrics] [audio]
"Krunk" performed by Armenak Shahmuradian and Komitas Vardapet [lyrics] [audio]

Additional Background Music

Zemphira Barseghian piano performances the works of Komitas
Komitas String quartet, 1st violin - Edward Tadevosyan, 2nd violin - Souren Hakhnazaryan, viola - Alexander Kosemyan, chello - Felix Simonyan
"Urakh Ler" performed by Mari Pozapalian [audio]

IMAGES

Komitas in Cairo, 1911 Source: komitas.am

Komitas in Berlin Source: komitas.am

Komitas in his Pangaltı Apartment in Istanbul, 1913-4 Source: Gurgen Gasparian, Komitas Vardapet (2009)

Komitas with pupils and teacher of Gevorgian Seminary in Etchmiadzin, 1904 Source: Gurgen Gasparian, Komitas Vardapet (2009)

Komitas's Choir in Istanbul, 1911 Source: Azatean, Toros. Komitas Vardapet̕: Ir keank̕n ow gorçownēowt̕iwnë (1931)

Komitas with his students in Istanbul, 1914 From left to right: Hayk Semerjian, Mihran Tumajian,Vardan Sargsian, Artashes Abajian, Vagharshak Srvandztian, Barsegh Kanachian Source: Gurgen Gasparian, Komitas Vardapet (2009)

Komitas with Astuatsatur Harents on Büyük Ada near Istanbul, 1916 Source: Gurgen Gasparian, Komitas Vardapet (2009)