Vardan Adjemyan

Vardan Adjemian (Վարդան Աճեմյան in Armenian, Вартан Аджемян in Russian; born 1956, a.k.a. Vardan Atshemyan) is an Armenian composer of orchestral, operatic and chamber works whose works have been performed worldwide.

Career

Adjemian studied composition with prominent Armenian composer Ghazaros Saryan (son of Martiros Saryan) at the Yerevan Komitas State Conservatory from 1973–81.

In 1987 Adjemian was awarded the National Prize of the Armenian SSR (for this Symphony No. 1). His music has been performed in Armenia, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Finland, Georgia, Iceland, Poland, Russia, the UK, Switzerland and the USA. In 2007 six of his major works have been commissioned by BIM Edition (Switzerland). He has been a member of SUISA since 2008.

Adjemian has taught composition at the Yerevan Komitas State Conservatory since 1987, and was appointed a professor in 2001. He has been Head of the Composition Department since 2002.

Family

His grandfather, Vardan Ajemian (1905–1977) was the General Stage Director of the National Theatre of Armenia and his grandmother was Arus Asryan (1904–1987), one of the leading actress of the same theatre. His father, Alexander Adjemian (1925–1987), was a composer, author of seven symphonies, chamber works and popular songs. His daughter is a prominent Armenian pianist.

Management

• Arman Padaryan

Major works

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 for cello and 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

• Vartan Adjemian at Editions Bim