Ashugh Jivani

Ashugh Jivani was born in Kartsakhi, (near Akhalkalaki, Georgia) in a farmer's family. At the age of 8 he became an orphan and was brought up in his uncle's family. From early childhood, Ashugh Jivani learned music composition and performance on the kemanche (a string instrument of Arab & Persian art music) and the violin, with the support of the prominent master Ghara-Ghazar. As his skills expanded, he began to compose Turkish and Armenian songs. From 1868 to 1895, Jivani lived in Alexandrapol. Here, he led a circle of fellow Ashughs Jamali, Zahri, Malul, Gheyrati, Fizayi, eventually gaining the title of "ustabashi" (leading master). Until the 1880s, his songs were published in different periodicals and in the volumes of "Sokhak Armenia" songbook. He was an author of more than 800 songs (of which about 550 have been published), and is seen as the "greatest Armenian ashugh of the 19th century". Ashugh Jivani died in Tbilisi and was buried in the pantheon of Khojivank.