<< Back Loris Tjeknavorian: Landmark of Armenian Symphonic Music By Edward Manukyan Published: Monday, August 17, 2009 Loris Tjeknavorian W hile young composers develop their crafts, they like to look for heroes to help find direction, technique and inspiration. They turn to the master composers of bygone generations and pick their heroes, inspired by both the geniuses and fame surrounding the big names in music. This is a very important vestige and it certainly benefits composers more than decades of intense study at conservatories and music schools, where the academic discipline often kills the true musical talent and the impulse and striving for success, innate in so many young people. But unfortunately, there is a strange tendency to look for heroes almost exclusively among the dead. While it is true that when the legacy of deceased artists is soon put into perspective, the public has a better chance to appreciate their works, the disconnect between the young composers and the living masters is surely to keep new music out of resonance with contemporary voices. In Armenian musical culture, there are a few living masters that aspiring composers should look up to. Edward Mirzoyan, Alexander Arutunian, Tigran Mansuryan, Loris Tjeknavorian and a few others have elevated Armenian classical tradition to new heights, leaving a fertile ground for the seeds of new works of genius. I would like to take this opportunity and specifically talk about Maestro Tjeknavorian, my new friend, who currently continues composing prolifically, having already created a prodigious repertory of symphonic works. His rewarding career as a conductor, too, cannot be overstated. He is simply the most famous and prolific Armenian conductor in history, who has recorded an impressive catalog of music with some of the world’s greatest orchestras. The record of Tjeknavorian’s eleven long years served as the principal conductor of the Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra is not simply a decade of an individual's career; it is a chronicle of Armenian classical music in the nation’s most formative years when a special dedication was necessary to foster the stark traditions strengthening Armenian arts during the Soviet times. Tjeknavorian’s music is unique in a way that it has developed into two distinct styles. On the one hand, we have his beautiful operas, the Armenian Rhapsody for cello and orchestra, the violin and guitar concerti, thirteen beautiful love songs with orchestral accompaniment, and many such works that are easily accessible for large audiences. And on the other hand, we can marvel at his highly inventive, modernistic works, such as his three symphonies - particularly the second symphony - as well as works bordering the modernistic trends while still remaining admirable for larger audiences. His ballet ‘Othello’ easily comes to mind as a work in this category. Tjeknavorian’s unique compositional style, which comes across through his cutting-edge harmonic language, as well as the skillful contrapuntal writing and colorful orchestrations, is a tower of strength for the present-day Armenian music. His works continue the outstanding tradition of Armenian symphonic music, in an ascending line from where Aram Khachaturian - who called Tjeknavorian a "great talent," a "first-class musician and director" - left off. Most remarkable is his development of a unique musical language, present particularly in his second symphony, in which the traditions championed by Khachaturian and others are turned into a completely modern phenomenon by the generous application of a wealth of contemporary techniques. This sort of compositions indicate the clear-path directions our musical inheritance may lead, if young composers manage to appreciate and build further upon such honorable work. Recently, Maestro Tjeknavorian received the Austrian Presidential Gold Medal for Artistic Merit, adding to his many prestigious awards, earned through long years of tireless work and contribution to great arts. Fortunately, the man beyond these accomplishments remains a decent and honorable gentleman, always ready to help others who are in need and despair. We know that in times of social meltdown and political anarchy, artists and musicians are best suited for social activism, due to the popular respect their names command. And so, when an Armenian city was devastated by an earthquake, Tjeknavorian’s was one of the most prominent voices for activism. People haven’t forgotten the pilgrimage he took to raise money to help Gyumry recover from near fatal catastrophe. And the music-loving audiences, too, haven’t forgotten the free weekly concerts he gave with the Armenian Philharmonic in order to keep the public interested in high arts, which is so crucial in difficult times. I would like to join the thousands of others who have congratulated Maestro Tjeknavorian for his recent Gold Medal and wish him great health and renewed inspiration for new artistic achievements that bring beauty, kindness and meaningful hope for a better life. I call for everyone to listen to the works of our great master more frequently. It is always a refreshing experience, guaranteed to make your day. << Back