Şahan Arzruni
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Şahan Arzruni (; born 8 June 1943) is a New York–based
Armenian Armenian may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to Armenia, a country in the South Caucasus region of Eurasia * Armenians, the national people of Armenia, or people of Armenian descent ** Armenian diaspora, Armenian communities around the ...
-American classical pianist, ethnomusicologist, lecturer, composer, writer and producer.


Early life and education

Arzruni (also transliterated as
Artsruni The House of Artsruni (; also Ardzruni or Artsrunid) was an ancient princely and, later, royal dynasty of Armenia. Name The name ''Artsruni'' contains the ending , which is widespread in old Armenian family names. The early Armenian historian ...
), whose family name belongs to an ancient
Armenian nobility Armenian may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to Armenia, a country in the South Caucasus region of Eurasia * Armenians, the national people of Armenia, or people of Armenian descent ** Armenian diaspora, Armenian communities around the ...
, was born in
Istanbul Istanbul is the List of largest cities and towns in Turkey, largest city in Turkey, constituting the country's economic, cultural, and historical heart. With Demographics of Istanbul, a population over , it is home to 18% of the Demographics ...
, Turkey. His father is Stepan Jirayr Arzruni, and mother Maryam Kalpak. Composer Sirvart Kalpakyan Karamanuk is his maternal aunt who encouraged Arzruni to play the piano at the age of four; he appeared publicly at the age of five. He received his general education at Esayan and Getronagan Armenian Lyceums, and graduated from the Istanbul Municipal Conservatory (now
Istanbul University State Conservatory The Istanbul University State Conservatory (Turkish language, Turkish: ''İstanbul Üniversitesi Devlet Konservatuarı'') is a Public university, public Music school, conservatory affiliated with Istanbul University, specializing in music, theatre, ...
), where he studied piano with Ferdi Statzer and harmony with Raşit Abed. He moved to
New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...
in 1964 to study further at the
Juilliard School The Juilliard School ( ) is a Private university, private performing arts music school, conservatory in New York City. Founded by Frank Damrosch as the Institute of Musical Art in 1905, the school later added dance and drama programs and became ...
of Music on a scholarship from the
Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation The Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation (), commonly referred to simply as the Gulbenkian Foundation, is a Portuguese institution dedicated to the promotion of the arts, philanthropy, science, and education. One of the wealthiest charitable founda ...
. There his principal teachers were Sascha Gorodnitzki in piano,
Felix Galimir Felix Galimir (May 20, 1910, Vienna – November 10, 1999, New York) was an Austrian-born American violinist and music teacher. Born in a Sephardic Jewish family Vienna; his first language was Ladino. Allan Kozinn,"Felix Galimir, 89, a Violin ...
in chamber music, Joseph Bloch in piano literature, and Hall Overton in composition. Arzruni graduated from Juilliard, earning his
Bachelor of Science A Bachelor of Science (BS, BSc, B.S., B.Sc., SB, or ScB; from the Latin ') is a bachelor's degree that is awarded for programs that generally last three to five years. The first university to admit a student to the degree of Bachelor of Scienc ...
degree in 1967 and a
Master of Science A Master of Science (; abbreviated MS, M.S., MSc, M.Sc., SM, S.M., ScM or Sc.M.) is a master's degree. In contrast to the Master of Arts degree, the Master of Science degree is typically granted for studies in sciences, engineering and medici ...
degree in 1968. Arzruni has also pursued doctoral studies at
New York University New York University (NYU) is a private university, private research university in New York City, New York, United States. Chartered in 1831 by the New York State Legislature, NYU was founded in 1832 by Albert Gallatin as a Nondenominational ...
.


Career

Motivated by ethnic awareness in the United States, Arzruni continuously investigates the musical roots of his Armenian heritage. He researches traditional Armenian music and has recorded a three-disc anthology of Armenian piano music, as well as co-produced an eight-disc set of instrumental and vocal Armenian music. He also delivered papers and organized symposia for such institutions as
Harvard University Harvard University is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States. Founded in 1636 and named for its first benefactor, the History of the Puritans in North America, Puritan clergyma ...
,
Columbia University Columbia University in the City of New York, commonly referred to as Columbia University, is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in New York City. Established in 1754 as King's College on the grounds of Trinity Churc ...
and
University of Michigan at Ann Arbor The University of Michigan (U-M, U of M, or Michigan) is a public university, public research university in Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States. Founded in 1817, it is the oldest institution of higher education in the state. The University of Mi ...
. Şahan Arzruni is the author of books and a contributor of articles for academic journals; he has also written for various editions of The New Grove Dictionary and the
Dictionary of the Middle Ages The ''Dictionary of the Middle Ages'' is a 13-volume encyclopedia of the Middle Ages published by the American Council of Learned Societies between 1982 and 1989. It was first conceived and started in 1975 with American medieval historian Jos ...
. A
Steinway Steinway & Sons, also known as Steinway (), is a German-American piano company, founded in 1853 in New York City by German piano builder Henry E. Steinway, Heinrich Engelhard Steinweg (later known as Henry E. Steinway). The company's growth le ...
artist, he was invited to perform on an 1869 Steinway piano at the
Metropolitan Museum of Art The Metropolitan Museum of Art, colloquially referred to as the Met, is an Encyclopedic museum, encyclopedic art museum in New York City. By floor area, it is the List of largest museums, third-largest museum in the world and the List of larg ...
for the inaugural of the centennial celebrations of the Museum’s collection of historic instruments. In 2001, Mr. Arzruni delivered a lecture on Armenian liturgical chants at the invitation of the U.S.
Library of Congress The Library of Congress (LOC) is a research library in Washington, D.C., serving as the library and research service for the United States Congress and the ''de facto'' national library of the United States. It also administers Copyright law o ...
, in Washington, D.C. Şahan Arzruni has performed with
Victor Borge Børge Rosenbaum (; 3 January 1909 – 23 December 2000), known professionally as Victor Borge ( ), was a Danish and American actor, comedian, and pianist who achieved great popularity in radio and television in both North America and Europe. Hi ...
, playing the role of
straight man The straight man (or straight woman in the case of female characters), also known as a "comedic foil", is a stock character in a comedy performance, especially a double act, sketch comedy, or farce. When a comedy partner behaves eccentrically ...
in Borge's concerts starting with the late 1960s, and appeared with Borge at the 1980
Royal Variety Show The ''Royal Variety Performance'' is a televised variety show held annually in the United Kingdom to raise money for the Royal Variety Charity (of which King Charles III is life-patron). It is attended by senior members of the British royal ...
Command Performance where the pair performed Borge's classic comedic arrangement for duet piano of
Liszt Franz Liszt (22 October 1811 – 31 July 1886) was a Hungarian composer, virtuoso pianist, conductor and teacher of the Romantic period. With a diverse body of work spanning more than six decades, he is considered to be one of the most pro ...
's Second Hungarian Rhapsody. Arzruni appeared in television and radio broadcasts, including ''
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson ''The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson'' is an American television talk show broadcast by NBC. The show was the third installment of ''The Tonight Show''. Hosted by Johnny Carson, it aired from October 1, 1962 to May 22, 1992, replacing ''T ...
'', ''
The Mike Douglas Show ''The Mike Douglas Show'' is an American daytime television talk show that was hosted by Mike Douglas. It began as a local program in Cleveland in 1961 before being carried on other stations owned by Westinghouse Broadcasting. The show went i ...
'' and a number of
PBS The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) is an American public broadcaster and non-commercial, free-to-air television network based in Arlington, Virginia. PBS is a publicly funded nonprofit organization and the most prominent provider of educat ...
specials and has recorded for European radio networks, including the
BBC The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is a British public service broadcaster headquartered at Broadcasting House in London, England. Originally established in 1922 as the British Broadcasting Company, it evolved into its current sta ...
. Arzruni has given command performances at the
White House The White House is the official residence and workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest (Washington, D.C.), NW in Washington, D.C., it has served as the residence of every U.S. president ...
, as well as the British, Danish, Swedish, and Icelandic courts. In 2008, he was awarded "Honorary Professorship" from
Yerevan Komitas State Conservatory Komitas State Conservatory of Yerevan (), also known as Yerevan Komitas State Conservatory (YKSC) or Yerevan State Conservatory (YSC), is a state-owned college of music located in Yerevan, Armenia. The institute was founded in 1921 as a music st ...
in Armenia. In 2015, Şahan Arzruni was awarded the Presidential Movses Khorenatsi medal, the Republic of Armenia's highest cultural award. In 2017, 2019, and again in 2022 and 2024, Arzruni visited various provinces of Armenia, as well as the
Republic of Artsakh Artsakh ( ), officially the Republic of Artsakh or the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh ( ), was a breakaway state in the South Caucasus whose territory was internationally recognised as part of Azerbaijan. Between 1991 and 2023, Artsakh cont ...
, coaching young musicians and performing in recitals. While on the road, he stopped over in ancient, remote monasteries, exploring and photographing the sites. This documentation has served as the basis of a series of articles in Paros monthly, published in Istanbul. During the Covid-19 pandemic, Şahan Arzruni curated a series of mini-concerts online, "Together for Armenia," to help Armenia financially. Arzruni records for
New World Records New World Records is a record label that was established in 1975 through a Rockefeller Foundation grant to celebrate America's bicentennial (1976) by producing a 100-LP anthology, with American music from many genres.Composers Recordings, Musical Heritage Society,
Hearts of Space ''Hearts of Space'' is an American weekly syndicated public radio show featuring music of a contemplative nature"When you listen to space and ambient music you are connecting with a tradition of contemplative sound experience whose roots are an ...
,
Philips Koninklijke Philips N.V. (), simply branded Philips, is a Dutch multinational health technology company that was founded in Eindhoven in 1891. Since 1997, its world headquarters have been situated in Amsterdam, though the Benelux headquarter ...
,
Varèse Sarabande Varèse Sarabande is an American record label, owned by Concord Music Group and distributed by Universal Music Group, which specializes in film scores and cast recording, original cast recordings. It aims to reissue rare or unavailable albums, as ...
, Good Music, Positively Armenian,
Kalan Müzik Kalan Müzik or Kalan Music for the West is a Turkish independent record label company based in Istanbul. It was founded in 1991 by Hasan Saltık. It specializes in releasing Saltık's recordings of classical and traditional ethnic and folk music ...
, and AGBU.


Awards, Grants and Honors

*
Armenian General Benevolent Union The Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU, Eastern Armenian: Հայկական Բարեգործական Ընդհանուր Միություն, ՀԲԸՄ, ''Haykakan Baregortsakan Endhanur Miutyun'', or ,''Hay Parekordzagan Enthanour Miyutyun'' or ...
Recording Grant, 2020 *
Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation The Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation (), commonly referred to simply as the Gulbenkian Foundation, is a Portuguese institution dedicated to the promotion of the arts, philanthropy, science, and education. One of the wealthiest charitable founda ...
Recording Grant, 2019 *
Knights of Vartan The Knights of Vartan Inc. (Վարդանանց Ասպետներ) is a non-political, non-sectarian, non-denominational fraternal organization established in 1916 in the USA that encourages its members to take leadership roles in cultural, educati ...
Award, 2018 * Movses Khorenatsi medal, 2015 * Bedros and Leda Şirinoğlu Recording Grant, 2013 * Dikran and Nadya Gülmezgil Recording Grant, 2010 * Honorary Professorship,
Yerevan Komitas State Conservatory Komitas State Conservatory of Yerevan (), also known as Yerevan Komitas State Conservatory (YKSC) or Yerevan State Conservatory (YSC), is a state-owned college of music located in Yerevan, Armenia. The institute was founded in 1921 as a music st ...
, 2008 * Harutyun Amira Bezdjian medal, Surp Pırgiç Armenian Hospital, 2008 * Knight of Armenian Art, 2005 * Boyan Award, 2004 * Composers Fund:
The New York Community Trust The New York Community Trust (The Trust) is a community foundation that serves New York City's five boroughs, Long Island, and Westchester County. The Trust administers more than 2,200 charitable funds. Established in 1924, The Trust is one of the ...
, 2001 *
Asian Cultural Council The Asian Cultural Council (ACC) is a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing international cultural exchange between Asia and the U.S. and between the countries of Asia through the arts. Founded by John D. Rockefeller III in 1963, A ...
Residency Program Grant, 1999 * Louise M. Simone Travel Grant, 1998, 1997, 1995, 1994 * Order of St. Sahak and St. Mesrop, 1996 * Dolores Zohrab Liebmann Fund Publication Grant, 1996 *
Steinway Steinway & Sons, also known as Steinway (), is a German-American piano company, founded in 1853 in New York City by German piano builder Henry E. Steinway, Heinrich Engelhard Steinweg (later known as Henry E. Steinway). The company's growth le ...
Artist, 1994 * Renaissance Medal, 1993 * Alex Manoogian Travel Grant, 1990, 1986, 1981, 1979. *
Juilliard The Juilliard School ( ) is a private performing arts conservatory in New York City. Founded by Frank Damrosch as the Institute of Musical Art in 1905, the school later added dance and drama programs and became the Juilliard School, named aft ...
Scholarship, 1968, 1967, 1966, 1965, 1964. *
Armenian General Benevolent Union The Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU, Eastern Armenian: Հայկական Բարեգործական Ընդհանուր Միություն, ՀԲԸՄ, ''Haykakan Baregortsakan Endhanur Miutyun'', or ,''Hay Parekordzagan Enthanour Miyutyun'' or ...
Outright Grant, 1966, 1965. *
Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation The Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation (), commonly referred to simply as the Gulbenkian Foundation, is a Portuguese institution dedicated to the promotion of the arts, philanthropy, science, and education. One of the wealthiest charitable founda ...
Scholarship, 1965, 1964


Discography


Performer

* By Women: Piano Works by Armenian Women Composers (2024, AGBU) *
Alan Hovhaness Alan Hovhaness (; born Alan Vaness Chakmakjian; March 8, 1911 – June 21, 2000) was an American composer. He was one of the most prolific 20th-century composers, with his official catalog comprising 67 numbered symphonies (surviving manuscripts ...
: Selected Piano Compositions (2019,
Kalan Kalan may refer to: * The sea otter, also called kalan, a large otter native to the North Pacific * Kalan Müzik, Kalan Music, Istanbul, Turkish independent record label of ethnic and folk music People * Elliott Kalan (born 1981), U.S. comedy w ...
) *Hommage: Piano Works by Early Armenian Composers (2014,
Kalan Kalan may refer to: * The sea otter, also called kalan, a large otter native to the North Pacific * Kalan Müzik, Kalan Music, Istanbul, Turkish independent record label of ethnic and folk music People * Elliott Kalan (born 1981), U.S. comedy w ...
) *
Komitas Soghomon Soghomonian, ordained and commonly known as Komitas (; 22 October 1935), was an Ottoman-Armenian priest, musicologist, composer, arranger, singer, and choirmaster, who is considered the founder of the Armenian national school of musi ...
: Complete Works for Piano (2011,
Kalan Kalan may refer to: * The sea otter, also called kalan, a large otter native to the North Pacific * Kalan Müzik, Kalan Music, Istanbul, Turkish independent record label of ethnic and folk music People * Elliott Kalan (born 1981), U.S. comedy w ...
) *
Edvard Mirzoyan Edvard Mik'aeli Mirzoyan (; May 12, 1921 – October 5, 2012) was an Armenians, Armenian composer. Edvard Mirzoyan was born in Gori, Georgia, Gori, Georgia (country), Georgia. He called himself an atheist, but added, "There is only one planet on ...
: Poem, Album For My Granddaughter (2004,
Charents Museum of Literature and Arts The Charents Museum of Literature and Arts () is the largest repository of Armenian manuscripts and books encompassing the last three hundred years, located in Yerevan, Armenia. History Originally conceived in 1954 as the ''Museum of Literatur ...
, Yerevan, Armenia) *Childhood Memories (2001,
New World Records New World Records is a record label that was established in 1975 through a Rockefeller Foundation grant to celebrate America's bicentennial (1976) by producing a 100-LP anthology, with American music from many genres.Chopin (1995, Good Music) *
Alan Hovhaness Alan Hovhaness (; born Alan Vaness Chakmakjian; March 8, 1911 – June 21, 2000) was an American composer. He was one of the most prolific 20th-century composers, with his official catalog comprising 67 numbered symphonies (surviving manuscripts ...
: Visionary Landscapes (1991,
Hearts of Space ''Hearts of Space'' is an American weekly syndicated public radio show featuring music of a contemplative nature"When you listen to space and ambient music you are connecting with a tradition of contemplative sound experience whose roots are an ...
) * Louise Talma: Three Bagatelles, Kaleidoscopic Variations (1987, CRI) *An Anthology of Armenian Piano Music / 3 LPs (1979, Musical Heritage Society) * Jerome Moross: Sonata for Piano Duet and Strings (1979, Varèse Sarabande Records) *
Joseph Haydn Franz Joseph Haydn ( ; ; 31 March 173231 May 1809) was an Austrian composer of the Classical period (music), Classical period. He was instrumental in the development of chamber music such as the string quartet and piano trio. His contributions ...
: Complete Sonatas for piano with violin (1977, Musical Heritage Society) *Toccatas (1974, Musical Heritage Society) *
Béla Bartók Béla Viktor János Bartók (; ; 25 March 1881 – 26 September 1945) was a Hungarian composer, pianist and ethnomusicologist. He is considered one of the most important composers of the 20th century; he and Franz Liszt are regarded as Hunga ...
: For Children (1974, Musical Heritage Society) *
Dmitri Kabalevsky Dmitry Borisovich Kabalevsky ( ; – 14 February 1987) was a Soviet composer, conductor, pianist and pedagogue of Russian gentry descent. He helped set up the Union of Soviet Composers in Moscow and remained one of its leading figures during ...
: Children’s Pieces (1973, Musical Heritage Society) *
Aram Khachaturian Aram Ilyich Khachaturian (; 1 May 1978) was a Soviet Armenians, Armenian composer and conductor. He is considered one of the leading Music of the Soviet Union#Classical music of the Soviet Union, Soviet composers. Khachaturian was born and rai ...
: Children’s Album I & II (1972, Musical Heritage Society)


Producer

*Armenian Composers in Asia Minor (2008,
Kalan Kalan may refer to: * The sea otter, also called kalan, a large otter native to the North Pacific * Kalan Müzik, Kalan Music, Istanbul, Turkish independent record label of ethnic and folk music People * Elliott Kalan (born 1981), U.S. comedy w ...
) * Sirvart Kalpakyan Karamanuk: Memories of Love / 2 CDs (2005,
Charents Museum of Literature and Arts The Charents Museum of Literature and Arts () is the largest repository of Armenian manuscripts and books encompassing the last three hundred years, located in Yerevan, Armenia. History Originally conceived in 1954 as the ''Museum of Literatur ...
) * Sirvart Kalpakyan Karamanuk: Children’s Songs (2003,
Charents Museum of Literature and Arts The Charents Museum of Literature and Arts () is the largest repository of Armenian manuscripts and books encompassing the last three hundred years, located in Yerevan, Armenia. History Originally conceived in 1954 as the ''Museum of Literatur ...
) * Sirvart Kalpakyan Karamanuk: Choral Music (2001,
Albany Records Albany Records is a record label that concentrates on unconventional contemporary classical music by American composers and musicians. It was established by Peter Kermani in 1987 and is based in Albany, New York. In May 2024, Albany Records wa ...
) * Makar Yekmalian: Divine Liturgy (2002, Diocese of Armenian Church of America astern *Nikol Galanderian: Children’s Songs (2001, Fund for Armenian Relief) * Koharik Gazarossian: A Memorial Album (1997, private) *A Survey of Armenian Music / 8 LPs – Co-producer (1987, Positively Armenian) *
Komitas Soghomon Soghomonian, ordained and commonly known as Komitas (; 22 October 1935), was an Ottoman-Armenian priest, musicologist, composer, arranger, singer, and choirmaster, who is considered the founder of the Armenian national school of musi ...
: A Centenary Album / 2 LPs – Artistic Director (1970, Komitas Centennial Committee)


Writings

* Քրիստափոր Կարա-Մուրզայի կեանքը կը վերածուի լաւ պատմուած զրոյցի he life of Kristapor Kara-Murza evolves into an effective story">Kristapor_Kara-Murza.html" ;"title="he life of Kristapor Kara-Murza">he life of Kristapor Kara-Murza evolves into an effective story Istanbul: Jamanak, 2014-06-14, p 3 (Armenian). *


References


External links


Sahan Arzruni
- Armeniapedia entry
Sahan Arzruni
at the
BBC The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is a British public service broadcaster headquartered at Broadcasting House in London, England. Originally established in 1922 as the British Broadcasting Company, it evolved into its current sta ...
comedy guide
Şahan Arzruni website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Arzruni, Sahan 1943 births Living people Armenian classical pianists American people of Armenian descent New York University alumni Juilliard School alumni Musicians from Istanbul Turkish people of Armenian descent Turkish emigrants to the United States 21st-century American classical pianists 21st-century Armenian classical pianists