Barsegh Kanachyan

Born in Rodosto (now Tekirdağ, Turkey). He received his primary education in Constantinople. In 1896 the family emigrated to Varna. He took music lessons from Natan-Bek Amirkhanyan (violin, music theory, choral conducting). From 1903 he studied in Bucharest (piano and harmony). In 1908 he returned to Turkey, to Constantinople. Here Kanachyan formed the "Knar" ("Lyre") brass band, taught, and made his first attempts at composition. His meeting with Komitas in December 1910 proved decisive for him. Kanachyan sang in the "Gusan" choir, was among Komitas's "five pupils", took lessons in harmony and studied the art of choral conducting. In 1919, at a concert dedicated to Komitas, he appeared as conductor of a combined choir of 400 singers. From 1920 he continued his musical education in Paris. From 1922 he worked as a choral conductor in Armenian diaspora communities. From 1928 he taught at the Melkonian Educational Institute in Cyprus. In 1936 he founded the "Gusan" mixed choir in Beirut. In 1950 he ceased his activity because of problems with his eyesight. He is the composer of the music of the national anthem of Armenia. He died in Beirut.