Komitas: Armenian Songs & Dances

Komitas, born Soghomon Soghomonian, was a multifaceted figure in Armenian music and culture, renowned as a composer, musicologist, and choirmaster. Ordained as a priest in 1894, he adopted the name Komitas and dedicated his life to preserving and promoting Armenian musical heritage. Komitas is celebrated as the founder of the Armenian national school of music and a pioneer in the field of ethnomusicology. His work spans compositions, arrangements, and scholarly treatises, all of which reflect his deep commitment to Armenian folk music and his innovative approach to ethnomusicology. Despite the tragedies he endured, including his arrest during the Armenian Genocide, Komitas' legacy endures through his extensive body of work, which continues to inspire and educate. His contributions to Armenian music are vast, encompassing solo piano pieces, choral works, and ethnomusicological studies that have left an indelible mark on the cultural landscape.