SECRETS OF ARMENIA. CHRISTOPHOR KARA-MURZA (1853–1902): POT-POURRI SUR DES AIRS ARMÉNIENS, OP. 11 (1885); MARCHE FUNÈBRE (1890). GENARY KORGANOV (1858–1890): BAYATI (1887); RHAPSODIE ARMÉNIENNE, OP. 15 (1892). ROMANOS MELIKIAN (1883–1935): ZMRUKHTI (‘EMERALDS’) (1918) (arr. Villy Sargsyan [b. 1930], 2019)*; VARD (‘THE HEATHROSE’) (1912) (arr. V. Sargsyan, 2020)*; ASHUN (‘AUTUMN SONG’) (1912) (arr. V. Sargsyan, 2020)*; SARE GYALIN (‘RED-HAIRED BRIDE’) (1913) (arr. V. Sargsyan, 2020)*. YULIA AYRAPETYAN, piano

Description: Christophor (Khachatur) Makarovich Kara-Murza (Arm. Քրիստափոր Կարա-Մուրզա; born 2 March 1853 in Karasubazar (now Bilohirsk), Crimea; died 9 April 1902 in Tiflis (now Tbilisi), Georgia, studied piano, flute and music theory as a child. In 1882 he moved to Transcaucasia, where he visited a large number of Armenian villages and towns, collecting the music of several hundred folk songs and dances. In 1885 he began extensive and active concert activity. Russian composer and pianist Genary Osipovich Korganov [Karganov] (born 30 April [12 May] 1858 in Kvareli, Georgia; died on 23 February [7 March] 1890 in Rostov-on-Don, Russia) was the son of Major General Osip Ivanovich Korganov (1811–1870). Korganov wrote a number of works for piano, such as the fantasia Bayati, Arabesques, Miniatures and Watercolours, and also wrote for voice, including the romances Serenade of Don Juan, Sharp Axe, with words by A.K. Tolstoy, and What in the silence of the nights, which sets a text by A.N. Maikov. Some of these enjoyed a certain popularity during the author’s lifetime, in particular Arthur Hartman’s violin arrangements of his works, which were published in the United States. His style incorporates both the influence of Rimsky-Korsakov and the use of local Transcaucasian melodies: according to the Armenian musicologist Sh. Apoyan, ‘Korganov’s works related to Armenian themes are of great value for the formation of Armenian piano music.’ Romanos Ovakimovich (Roman Akimovich) Melikian (Arm. Ռոմանոս Մելիքյան; born 1 October 1883; Kizlyar, died 30 March 1935, Yerevan) was an Armenian composer, musical and public figure, choirmaster and music teacher. Although we know some biographical details, his life is shrouded in mystery, as he never gave a single interview. Born into the family of Akim (Hovakim) Melikian, he had showed an interest in music since childhood, but began his studies relatively late, graduating from the Rostov Music College in 1905. He then continued his musical education in Moscow until 1907 with Boleslav Yavorsky and Mikhail Ippolitov-Ivanov, who had taught in Tiflis and used Russian, Georgian and Armenian folklore in his compositions.