Aram Kocharyan

Born in Vagharshapat. In 1929 A. Kocharyan graduated from the composition department of the A. Glazunov Music Technical School in Moscow, where he taught (1928-31). In 1929-31 he studied at the Moscow Conservatory. In 1945 he graduated as an external student from the Yerevan Komitas State Conservatory, where Kocharyan taught in 1934-49 (1965: Candidate of Arts), and in 1934 he founded the R. Melikyan musicological research room and the department of the history of Armenian music. In 1934-42 he was a senior researcher in the history and musicology section of the Academy of Sciences of Armenia, in 1943-48 its scientific secretary, and from 1960 a senior researcher in art history. He wrote a number of works on Armenian music and made translations. He recorded ashugh romances (siravep), folk and gusan songs (about 2,000 samples). Kocharyan initiated the creation of the Museum of Musical Instruments (1936), the Museum of the Musical Heritage of Armenia (1938) and the Music Sound Archive (1940). In 1960 Aram Kocharyan was awarded the title of Honored Art Worker of the Armenian SSR. He died in Yerevan.