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Grikor Mirzaian Suni was an ethnomusicologist
who traveled from village to village, starting in the 1890's,
listening and writing down what the people were singing. Many
of these Armenian folk songs he arranged for four-part chorus,
which he would then teach to the choruses he created all over
the far-flung Armenian world. He started with his hometown
in 1895 in Shushi, continuing for over 40 years until his
death in 1939 in Philadelphia. Grikor
Mirzaian Suni created lively polyphony form original one-voiced
folk songs, giving independence to the parts. His music was
a contrapuntal revelation to the Armenian music world. This
counterpoint and the harmonies created by simultaneous vocal
lines give special life and beauty to his music. His son Gourgen
(George) Suny said "My father's music is harmony".
Suni also created orchestral works of lyric beauty, and also
many marches, "songs for a new life". Part of his
life's endeavor was to enliven and organize Armenians. Especially
after the 1915 Ottoman Turkish genocide of its Armenian citizens,
Suni told his people to stop crying and to instead get up
and sing. Many of his songs are in the typical minor-sounding
Armenian tradition, but he also wrote bright marches in major
keys to help the people get up from grief and build a new
life. He uses the typical Armenian rhythms, often in 6/8 time
with eighth-note groupings of both 2 and 3, sometimes at the
same time. As Armenian music was one-voiced traditionally,
his harmonies and contrapuntal melodies are new, and uniquely
"Suni", yet they still are appropriate and sound
Armenian. Suni's choruses were community choruses. He believed
that every person could learn and sing, and be moved and inspired
by singing in his choruses, yet at the same time he demonstrated
the highest artistic presentation.
You can listen to some of the many different styles of music
of Grikor Mirzaian Suni when you visit
the listen and download page.
Some Suni music scores are available
to view and download. Many of his works are unpublished, still
in handwritten form as you'll see here. We love to share the
music so more people will enjoy performing and listening to
his very special contributions to world culture.
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