HOVHANNES CHEKIJIAN: MODERN COMPOSERS CREATE INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC, IGNORING CHORAL ONE
Noyan Tapan
Feb 06 2007
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 6, NOYAN TAPAN. The origins of the Armenian national
classical music are deep but instead of it, distorted Oriental
music can be heard today. Hovhannes Chekijian, Artistic Director and
Conductor of the State Academic Chorus of Armenia, said this during
the February 3 meeting at the Urbat Club.
In his words, one of the reasons is that one can seldom listen to
classical music on TV, while the present generation is being educated
on the so-called "rabis" music. Correct education requires state
assistance and care which existed in the Soviet time. "Composing
school was previously in an excellent state, with composers being
paid for writing good music but in recent years these traditions have
been forgotten and our composers started creating instrumental music,
ignoring choral one," H. Chekijian noted.
According to him, Oriental music is now being propagandized and for
some unknown reason it is considered as ours, whereas "we forget that
we have such a great composer as Komitas, and it is just inadmissile
to neglect this fact."
At the same time, the maestro said that today there are some devotees
too who dedicate their lives to classic art.
In response to the question whether he is going to engage in politics
and join a party, H. Chekijian replied: "I with my art stand above
any party. It is against my principles to join any party – I’ve never
felt this need."
Nevertheless, according to H. Chekijian, he has been made such offers
many times.
This year the 70th anniversary of creation of the State Academic Chorus
of Armenia will be celebrated, and festive events will be held in
Yerevan and marzes. H. Chekijian informed those present that within
the framework of these events, a conference will be held at the RA
National Academy of Sciences and concerts will be given in the Aram
Khachatrian Concert Hall and Grigor Lusavorich Church.