Vartan Adjemian

Born Vardan Atshemyan (Վարդան Աճեմյան in Armenian, Вартан Аджемян in Russian), also known as Vardan Ajemyan. Armenian composer of orchestral, operatic and chamber works that have been performed throughout the world.

Vartan Adjemian is the son of the composer Alexander Adjemian (author of 7 symphonies) and the grandson of the artist Vartan Adjemian and the actress Arus Asryan. He studied composition with a prominent Armenian composer Lazarus Saryan (son of Martiros Saryan) at the Yerevan Komitas State Conservatory from 1973–81.

Among his honors is the National Prize of Armenian SSR (1987, for Symphony No. 1). His music has been performed in Armenia, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Finland, Georgia, Iceland, Poland, Russia, the UK, Switzerlandand the USA. In 2007 six of his major works have been commissioned by [http://www.editions-bim.com BIM Edition] (Switzerland). Maestro Adjemian is a member of SUISA since 2008.

He teaches composition at the Yerevan Komitas State Conservatory since 1987, where he was a professor since 2001. He is a Head of the Composition Department since 2002.

His daughter is one of the most stupendous [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Armenian_classical_pianists Armenian pianists] [http://arus-piano.com Arus Adjemian] .

THE LIST OF MAJOR WORKS

(Performed)

ORCHESTRAL

Symphonic Poem, 1976;

Concerto (vocalise), soprano, mezzo-soprano, big orchestra, 1981;

Concerto for Orchestra, 1981;

Symphony No. 1, 1986;

Symphony No. 2 (in memoriam of Alexander Adjemian), big orchestra, 1989;

Piano Concerto No. 1 (vocalise), 33 mixed voices, piano, big orchestra, 1991;

Concerto, cello, big orchestra, 1993;

Festive Overture, 1995;

Concerto, flute, big orchestra, 1996;

Overture in C Major, 22 strings, 2000;

“Faith” (song) for big symphonic orchestra and choir, 2001;

Symphony No. 3 (dedicated to Edward Mirzoyan), 22 strings, 2002;

Chants of Spring and Love, soprano and orchestra, 2003;

Piano Concerto No. 2, piano, big orchestra, 2005

Adventure for alto saxophone solo, piano and string orchestra, 2008

CHAMBER MUSIC

Sonata No. 1, flute, piano, 1975;

Sonata for alto flute and cello, 1983;

Sonata No. 2, flute, piano, 1984;

Trio No. 1, violin, cello, piano, 1987;

Sonata Fantasy for cello and piano, 1993;

Sonata for violin and piano, 1995;

Fantasy for tuba, piano, 1998;

Eternity poem for voice, violin, cello, piano, 1996;

Quintet, piccolo, tuba, double bass, piano, vibraphone, 1998;

String Quartet (in memoriam of Lazarus Saryan), 1998;

Overture C Dur, 2000;

Trio No. 2, violin, cello, piano, 2004;

Sonata Novella for alto and piano, 2007

VOCAL

Five Songs (texts by Gurgen Mahari, Vahan Teryan – Armenian poets) for mezzo-soprano and piano, 1979;

Ballade (text by Gurgen Mahari) for soprano, string quartet and double bass, 1980;

“Hayastan” Five Songs (text by Hovhannes Shiraz – Armenian poet) for mezzo-soprano and piano, 1985;

Lyric Songs (texts by Hovhannes Hovhannesyan), 1993;

Eternity (song-cycle, vocalise), soprano, violin, cello, piano, 1996;

“The Nights of Artamet” cycle (texts by Gurgen Mahari), 1996;

Tag Garnan yev Siro – A Song for Spring and Love (text by Grigoris Akhtamarsi), soprano, 22 strings, 2002

PIANO

Three Pieces, 1973;

Sonata No. 1, 1974;

Five Pieces, 1975;

Sonata No. 2, 1975;

The Bells (Goganjner) poem–, 1996;

Sonata No. 3, 1999;

Rubato poem 2000;

Frescoes (Vormnankarner) poem, 2001;

9 Views (pieces), 2007

OPERA

The Death of Kikos (2 act comic opera), 1978 (performed in Russian translation by Tamara Demuryan)

References