Today marks the 155th anniversary of Komitas

Komitas’ role in the history of the Armenian people is vital and unparalleled. He saved Armenian folk songs from oblivion and breathed new life into Armenian music.

“Every time I listen to the folk songs recorded and arranged by Komitas, he comes to life before my eyes with his enthusiasm. I feel and know that his work will not fade away and will, for a very long time, become beloved by many generations with its native musical tones,” – said Manuk Abeghyan.

We would have continued to live as if our values were forgotten, or perhaps we wouldn’t have noticed them, if one day Komitas had not been born. He was the one who had to hold the key, and he was the one who would find the right way to use it. And he found it. He had the belief that if a people has its own language, it cannot be without a national song. This idea drove him to collect songs, through which he managed to find nearly 3000 songs. Unfortunately, only about half of them have reached us—around 1200.
Komitas described the songs as “Armenian peasant songs”. He would travel to the remote villages and communities of the Armenian highlands, where he was greeted with true gems.