ԱՐՓԻ ՎԱՐԴՈՒՄԵԱՆ / ARPI VARDUMYAN
(arm)
Հայր Իգնատիոս Կիւրեղեանի երաժշտական գործունէութիւնը
The musicologial heritage of father Ignatios Kyureghian
Bazmavep
2010 / 1 - 2,
pp.
264-278
The contribution of the Venice Mekhitarist Congregation to Armenian musicology is remarkable and worthy of special research. It is mainly reflected in the pages of the journal “Bazmavep”.
The foundation for musical and musicological tradition was laid more than three hundred years ago, by the founder Abbot Mekhitar of Sebaste.
Subsequently, other members of the Congregation were distinguished by their musical talent, and among them F. Ignatios Kyureghian was one of the most outstanding. He studied the Armenian khaz-written manuscripts with great diligence. In 1898, F. Ignatios re-published the Armenian “Book of Hours” on the basis of the selected manuscripts of the Mekhitarist Congregation in Venice.
His most important musicological work was published in “Bazmavep”, in 1900, 1903 and 1904, in a large series of articles, titled “Investigation of Sharakan Khazes” and consists of author’s writings and translated sections.
This represents a comparative investigation, the first article of which is introductory, and the next is a passage translated from the French researcher Ch. Villoteau’s book “Description de L’Egipte”, published in 1809. The passage is devoted to the Armenian medieval khaz-signs. Then F. Ignatios puts in writing his thoughts about the khazes, comparing them with neumes – the signs of Gregorian singing. The author tries to find explanation for the connection between khazes and their designs.
This work is remarkable for being one of the first attempts to decipher the Armenian medieval khazes. This is the first in-depth theoretical research which then stimulated many further studies, and it has preserved its scientific value up to now.