Cultural Life
Culture of the First Armenian Republic Era
Reference by P. Vartan Sookiassian
The flourishing of Armenian culture in the 18th and 19th centuries laid the foundation for an independent Armenian nation, culminating in the First Armenian Republic of 1918- 1920. The republic allowed for the first time in centuries an independent Armenian culture, literature, art, and politics. The First Republic also implemented the cultural steps and foundation in Armenia, which were directly continued by the early period of the Soviet republic. A review of some of the major figures of this time reveals many names still famous to us today, and allows us to recall the great gifts and impact they have given to Armenians today.
Notable in the field of classical music is Armen Tigranian( 1879- 1950). Originally from Alexandropol( Gyumri), his career spanned a long period of time from the days of Armenia under Imperial Russia, to the First Republic, all the way to the late days of Stalin ' s rule. A student of Makar Ekmalyan, he was a champion of music based on Armenian folk traditions. His opera Anush, written in 1908 and redesigned in 1932, laid the basis for the new stylistic direction of Armenian musical theater. Anush was based on a story by another major figure in the culture of the First Republic, Hovhannes Tumanyan( 1869-1923).
Tumanyan was mainly an activist during the period of the First Republic, having already established his reputation as a major author and written his famous works in the previous decades. Tumanyan was the head of the Caucasian Union of Armenian Writers during the First Republic, and successfully raised funds to support Armenian writers and literature. He also spent this time taking on the cause of the numerous refugees flooding Eastern Armenia as a result of the genocide, opening many orphanages and saving lives, especially in Etchmiadzin. Besides the story of Anush, Tumanyan is also known for the novel Gikor, fairy tales like Nazar the Brave, and poems such as Akhtamar.
Another literary figure of this period was Vahan Terian( 1885-1920), known for his romantic and sorrowful poetry. Born in Javakhk, he studied in Tiflis and then in Moscow, where he was jailed by the czarist government for his political activities. His first book of poems « Dreams at Dusk » was published in 1908 and brought him instant fame. Tumanyan called him the most original lyric poet of his age. His 1916 collection of poems « The Land of Nairi » popularized the connection between Armenians and the ancient people of Nairi. In the years after Terian ' s early death at the age of 34, Yeghishe Charents also used the same title for his novella. The idea of Nairi now plays a large role in Armenian culture.
Armenian culture was also expanded during this period by the historical work of Arakel Babakhanian( known as Leo, 1860-1932). Leo was born in Shushi and wrote the History of Armenia, exploring difficult questions in Armenian history and literature. Leo also played a political role, serving as an adviser to the parliament of the 1918 Transcaususian Republic and as a
Yeghishe Tadevosyan,“ Aragats from Yerevan”, 1918-1921
diplomat in negotiations with the Ottomans. During the First Republic, Leo served as president of the Karabakh Armenian Patriotic Association. Leo welcomed Sovietization and helped to build the new Armenian Socialist Soviet Republic. In later years he served as professor of Armenian studies at Yerevan State University.
Yerevan State University itself was established in 1919 on the initiative of the First Republic. Its first rector was H. Manandyan( 1873-1952), an Armenian historian and philologist. It ' s first two faculties were of social and physical sciences, and soon after agricultural, oriental studies, and technical ones were founded. Yerevan State University added to Armenia ' s culture not just as a home to its intellectual life and instruction, but as educator to many later greats of Armenian culture such as Silva Kaputikyan and Paruyr Sevak. Another institution with roots in the First Republic era, which has nurtured Armenian culture is Komitas State Conservatory. It began in 1921 as a music studio and was re-organized two years later as an institution of higher musical education. Prior to the Conservatory, the culture of Armenian performance culture had been shaped by Armenian students in Russian and European conservatories. The Conservatory in Yerevan allowed for this training to be done in Armenia itself and formed a musical heart for the nation. It was founded by Romanos Melikyan( 1883-1935), a composer and choral conductor. He was able to gather many highly professional musicians to serve as professors at the Conservatory and his legacy of excellent education has continued to guide it.
National Gallery of Armenia
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