ashugh Sheram

Ashugh Sheram was born in Alexandropol (now Gyumri). He was the initiator of the Gusan singing art of that time. He lost his father when he was ten years old, apprenticed to a carpenter, a retailer, and then a carpenter, made his first saz and perch, and learned to play by himself. He has been composing songs since he was 12-13 years old. As part of the trio, famous kamancha player Chungur Hagoi (Hakob Manukyan) traveled to Yerevan, Tiflis, Baku, Astrakhan, Shushi, Kars, and other areas with a large Armenian population. He also had his group. 1905 Sheram visited Etchmiadzin with his group. Komitas heard him there and recorded his song "Al u Alvan es Hagel". In 1914, the poet Hovhannes Hovhannisyan named him Sheram, characterizing him as a composer of "like silk" songs. From 1915 to 35 he lived in Tiflis. In 1935 moved to Yerevan, and in 1959 the melodies of his songs were recorded and published in the book "Songs".