Yervand Yerkanyan
Internet Edition compiled by Onno van Rijen
Updated 6 December 1997
Born
5 November 1951 in Leninakan (now Gyumri), Armenia.
Biography
In 1975 final exams at the Yerevan Conservatory (composition with Grigory Yeghiazaryan, and violin).Since 1975 Yerkanyan is a teacher of counterpoint.
In 1978 co-publisher of the critical complete edition of Komitas' works. From 1982 until 1984 assistent to the chief of programming Electronic Music of Gostelradio Yerevan. Since 1985 chairman of the Department for Opera, symphonic and chamber music at the Composers' Union of Armenia.
Style
In his works Yerkanyan found a means of developing his style through the work of Pierre Boulez and the Polish avantgarde. In his numerous works for orchestra and chamber ensembles he experiments in connecting contemporary structures with mediaeval Armenian music, the result of which is an extremely original mixture.
Works
- Sonata for violin and piano (1971)
- Four Pieces for piano (1972)
- Sonata for violin solo (1973)
- Three Recitatives for flute and piano (1973)
- "The Life of Tovma Metsopetsi" for two trumpets, two trombones and percussion instruments (1973-1975)
- "Orestes", ballet (1974)
- "The Life of Stepanos Syunetsi" for organ, piano and percussion instruments (1975)
- Piano Sonata No. 1 (1975)
- "Oedipus Rex", ballet (1976)
- Sinfonietta No. 1 for stringorchestra (1976)
- Sonata for organ (1976)
- Sonata for bass clarinet and piano (1976)
- Wind Quintet (1976)
- Symphony No.1 "Introspection" (1977)
- Sonata for flute and piano (1977)
- "Mokaz Mirza", ballet-opera (1977)
- Symphony No. 2 "Ayk and Bel" for narrator, chorus and orchestra (1978)
- Quartet for wind instruments to the memory of Aram Khachaturian (1978)
- Clarinet Concerto (1978-1980)
- Piano Sonata No. 2 (1980)
- Sonata for violoncello and piano (1981)
- "Shushanik", opera (1981)
- Sinfonietta No. 2 for stringorchestra (1983)
- Concerto for violin and stringorchestra (1983)
- Symphony No. 3 "The Voice of the Fallen" to the memory of the victims of the 1915 Armenian Genocide for chorus and orchestra (1984)
- Concerto for guitar and chamber orchestra (1984)
- "Reflexes of Sunset" for flute, clarinet, violin, violoncello and piano (1984)
- "Intention" for flute, clarinet, violin, violoncello and piano (1984)
- Quintet for flute, clarinet, violin, violoncello and piano (in memoriam Anton Webern) (1985)
- Symphony No. 4 "Nemesis" (1985)
- "Pantomusica" for piano (1985)
- String Quartet (1985)
- "Entelechie" for 15 instruments (1985)
- "Sirius" for female chorus (1985)
- Numerous song cycles and cantatas
- Arrangements of ca. 200 Armenian spiritual songs (1987-1988)
