Lecture: “Komitas Vardapet as a Specialist in Musical Folklore”

On April 17, the Department of Folklore Studies of the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography (IAE), within the framework of the IAE’s “Folkloristic Discussions” series, organized a meeting with Tatevik Shakhkulyan—a professor of arts, Komitas expert, and lecturer at the Yerevan Komitas State Conservatory.

Shakhkulyan delivered a lecture entitled “Komitas Vardapet as a Specialist in Musical Folklore.” The event was attended by the Director of the IAE, Arsen Bobokhyan, researchers from various departments, and individuals interested in the topic. Deputy Director of the IAE, Tork Dalalyan, introduced the speaker and emphasized the importance of such meetings, noting that this was another collaborative lecture.

In her presentation, T. Shakhkulyan discussed Komitas as a musicologist and highlighted his significant role in both Armenian and international musical art. “There is no aspect of folklore that Komitas did not touch upon in one way or another—from the collection work that forms the foundation of folklore, which he pursued throughout his entire conscious life, writing down three to four thousand samples,” she noted.

The lecture concluded with a performance of Komitas’ song “The Shepherd’s Dog is Black” («Սև ա չոբանի շունը»).