Alexander Spendiarian
Composer (1871-1928) (Arm: Ալեքսանդր Սպենդիարյան), also known as Alexander Spendiarov.
From Soviet Sources:
ALEXANDER SPENDIARIAN MEMORIAL-HOUSE
"I am profoundly convinced that Spendiarov and Komitas are the patriarchs of Armenian classical music; they have charted the principal trends in the evolution of Armenian musical art for many decades to come". A. I. Khachaturian
The illustrious composer lived and worked in the apartment on the second floor of a three-store) house at the crossroad of the streets Toumanian and Nalbandian in Yerevan.
It was in this apartment that the Spendiarian memorial-house opened on November 25, 1967. Under the magic strains of the composer's "Yerevan Etudes", the museum played host to its first visitors.
Inscribed at the entrance are A. Issahakian's words about Al. Spendiarian: "What he gave us is immortal". There is also Spendiarian's famous portrait painted by Martiros Sarian, a large-format photograph of the academic theatre of opera and ballet named for the great composer, together with the bills and editions of Al.Spendiarian's works.
The exhibits relate to the composer's connections with Armenian men of arts and letters. The display cases show the handwriting of his romance "Ay, vard!" (Oh, Rose!"), documents in profusion illustrating Spendiarian's friendship with the eminent Russian writer M. Gorky and with the outstanding composers Rimsky-KorsakMj Glazunov, Lyadov, Arensky, the artist H. Ayvazovsky and the poet Al. Tsatourian.
On display is the symphonic poem which Spendiarian composed to M. Yu. Lermontov's poem "Three Palms", data telling of the composer's rendez-vous with H. Toumanian and the opera "Almast" written under the latter's influence. In addition, photographs and documents refer to the organization of the symphony orchestra of Armenia by the composer.
The museum takes good care of his violin, conductor's baton and his personal effects. His workroom has been restored; now it exhibits his piano, bed, sofa, and desk. There is an inkstand on the desk and an unfinished score...
The museum develops large-scale cultural activities with the urban and rural public at large. Regular traveling exhibitions, musical readings and get-togethers with the working people are laid on.
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Statues to two prominent representatives of Armenian culture stand in the spacious square in front of the theatre: to the left is the writer and public figure Hovhannes Tumanyan (1869-1923), sculpted by Ara Sarkisyan, and to the right, composer Alexander Spendiarov (1871-1928), the sculptors of which were Ara Sarkisyan and Gukas Chubaryan. Nearby, overhung by shady trees, lies Spendiarov’s grave.