Armenian songwriter, singer and rock musician Vahan Artsruni, at a meeting with journalists on Thursday, told about his plans to sing some of his songs with Komitas’ lyrics at his concert on July 25. The musician believes Komitas may become the visiting-card of the Armenian nation in the whole world and adds that the Ministry of Culture is doing nothing in this respect.

“It is a paradox, but Komitas is one of the most performed composers, his songs are sung at churches during liturgies, they are broadcast on the Armenian Public Television and Vem radio station all the time, however, the public is not privy to Komitas’ art,” says Artsruni, who released a CD entitled ‘Komitas. Ten revelations’ in 2002. The musician believes that the reason is the preaching of pop or low-quality music on Armenian TV channels for more than 20 years.

Komitas (Soghomon Soghomonyan), a famous Armenian songwriter, singer, music ethnologist (1869-1935), is considered to be the founder of modern Armenian classical music; thanks to him many Armenian folk songs are maintained. Komitas was the first non-European, who entered the International Music Society in Paris. In April 1915, Komitas was arrested together with many other outstanding Armenian public figures in Turkey, including writers, publicists, physicians, lawyers and others. After the arrest, which was accompanied by violence, he was deported far into Anatolia where he became a witness of the brutal extermination of the nation’s bright minds. But he was soon set free thanks to the then United States ambassador to Turkey and his Turkish poet friend.
A large part of Komitas’ works was damaged during those events. The genius of Armenian music found his final shelter in Paris, where he spent almost 20 years of his life. On October 22, 1935, the life of Great Komitas ended at a psychiatric clinic; he could not stand the Armenian Genocide calamities.

“During the Soviet period Komitas was one of the symbols of the Armenian nation with his fortune, his music, etc. However, last year, when Komitas’ 140th anniversary was marked, the Ministry [of Culture of Armenia] only released Komitas’ ‘Patarag’ [Holy Liturgy] CD,” Artsruni says, adding that the Ministry of Culture of Armenia does not realize the need for a corresponding policy.