Biography
Romanos Melikyan was born on October 1, 1883, in Gyzlar, Dagestan, Russian Empire. He received his primary education at the local parish school. In 1900 he assumed the position of the choir director of St. Gevorg Church in New Nakhichevan. After graduating from school, he entered the Rostov Music College. During his studies, he arranged Armenian folk songs and hymns for the choir. In 1902 he graduated from the Diocesan School of New Nakhichevan, where his first music teacher was Gevorg Chorekchyan (from 1945 to 1954 he was the Catholicos of All Armenians). In 1905 he left for Moscow, after receiving private lessons for a year, he entered the People's Conservatory, class of B. Jaworska. In Moscow he led the choir of the Lazarian Lyceum, for which he composed a number of songs, such as "Vard koshiks", "Araz has become easier", "Spring is gone", etc. Poor health on the one hand, and poor financial situation on the other, forced him to drop out of school and return to New Nakhichevan and then to Tbilisi (Georgia). He worked at Hovnanyan school as a music teacher. In 1908 he united the young musicians connected with schools and created the "Music League" company. In 1912, with his support, Azat Manukyan he published a collection of children's songs "Pnjik" and published the first part of the "Musical Primer". For the students he wrote the songs-romances "Autumn", "Rose", the duet "Willow" etc.
From 1910 to 1914 he studied at the St. Petersburg Conservatory. He wrote romances, including the series "Autumn Lines", the "Ballad", the song "Murik's Sorrow", and arranged six Armenian folk songs. In 1920 his first concert took place in Tbilisi (Georgia). In 1921, the Armenian government invited him to Yerevan to establish a music studio, which became a conservatory in 1923. In 1924 he established Stepanakert music college, then he moved to Tbilisi (Georgia), where he headed the music studio and music section of the "Hayartun" for two years, and then back to Yerevan where he met composer Alexander Spendiaryan. Romanos Melikyan participated in the staging of Spendiaryan's "Almast" opera and the establishment of the Yerevan Opera House. He put forward the idea of concentrating Komitas' musical heritage in Armenia. In 1928 he published the "Emerald" song series, completed the "Zar-var" song series, published two collections: "Children's Songs", "Pioneer Songs", etc. One of the music schools is named after Romanos Melikyan. He died on March 30 1935 in Tbilisi and rests in the Komitas Pantheon in Yerevan.
From 1910 to 1914 he studied at the St. Petersburg Conservatory. He wrote romances, including the series "Autumn Lines", the "Ballad", the song "Murik's Sorrow", and arranged six Armenian folk songs. In 1920 his first concert took place in Tbilisi (Georgia). In 1921, the Armenian government invited him to Yerevan to establish a music studio, which became a conservatory in 1923. In 1924 he established Stepanakert music college, then he moved to Tbilisi (Georgia), where he headed the music studio and music section of the "Hayartun" for two years, and then back to Yerevan where he met composer Alexander Spendiaryan. Romanos Melikyan participated in the staging of Spendiaryan's "Almast" opera and the establishment of the Yerevan Opera House. He put forward the idea of concentrating Komitas' musical heritage in Armenia. In 1928 he published the "Emerald" song series, completed the "Zar-var" song series, published two collections: "Children's Songs", "Pioneer Songs", etc. One of the music schools is named after Romanos Melikyan. He died on March 30 1935 in Tbilisi and rests in the Komitas Pantheon in Yerevan.
Scores by Romanos Melikyan
