Makar Jekmaljan

Makar Jekmaljan

Makar Jekmaljan ( Armenian Մակար Եկմալյան , scientific. Transliteration Makar Ekmalyan ; born January 21 ^{. Jul} / 2. February  1856 ^greg. In Vagharshapat , Armenia , † March 6 ^{. Jul} / 19th March  1905 ^{. Greg} in Tbilisi ) was an Armenian Sacred music composer and music teacher .

Makar was Jekmaljan 1856 in Vagharshapat in the Armenian province of Armavir born into a peasant family. After finishing school and training, he began teaching singing and music theory at the Geworkjan Academy in 1874 . From 1877 to 1891 he lived in Saint Petersburg , where he was also director of the music school of the Armenian Church. In 1891 he settled in Tbilisi and taught at the Nersesjan Spiritual Seminary, where he founded the men's choir in 1902. His students included u. a. Asat Manukjan , Armen Tigranjan and Tigran Nalbandjan.

Pyotr Tchaikovsky , Anton Rubinstein and Mili Balakirew played an important role in his musical career. His training in the class of Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov had a significant influence on his work. In the history of Armenian music, Jekmaljan was the founder of the genres oratorio and cantata , and he also played an important role in the establishment of the regional music school. In 1895 he taught Komitas Wardapet , the founder of modern classical music in Armenia, in music theory.

Jekmaljan's most important work as a composer is his Requiem for a cappella choir. In addition, he created a number of liturgical compositions and made a name for himself as a composer of folk songs.

In 1905, at the height of his career, Jekmaljan died of a mental illness.