Jivan Gasparyan is a popular musician and composer. A connoisseur of national music, he spent most of his life on stage. He brilliantly played the duduk and became famous as a brilliant improviser.
Reference: Duduk is a wind reed musical instrument. The main difference of the musical instrument is its soft, smooth, melodious sound.
During his career, the maestro has recorded dozens of long-plays of traditional Armenian music. He participated in the creation of musical accompaniment for the films The Last Temptation of Christ, Gladiator, The Da Vinci Code, The Chronicles of Narnia and others.
Jivan Gasparyan: childhood and youth of the composer
The date of birth of the great composer is October 12, 1928. He was born in the modest Armenian settlement of Solak. There were no creative personalities in his family, but Jivan is the first who decided to break the established tradition. At the age of six, he first picked up the Armenian folk instrument - the duduk.
By the way, he independently mastered playing a musical instrument. Parents could not afford to hire a music teacher, so Jeevan, purely on an intuitive level, picked up tunes. Most likely, even then the boy revealed his inclinations and natural talent.
His childhood cannot be called happy. The only thing that warmed the boy was music lessons. Since the onset of World War II, the head of the family was sent to the front. The mother soon fell ill and died. The boy went to an orphanage. Jivan matured early. He became independent, never understanding the beauty of childhood.
The creative path of Jivan Gasparyan
In the post-war period, he began to perform on the sly and increasingly appeared on stage. Jivan's debut professional performance took place in the Russian capital in 1947. Then the musician performed as part of the Armenian delegation at the review of the masters of arts of the republics of the Soviet Union.
At this concert, one significant event took place, which for a long time crashed into the memory of the artist. Joseph Stalin himself watched the performance of the musician. The leader was so impressed by what the talented artist does on the duduk that after the performance he personally approached him to present a modest gift - a watch.
His career developed rapidly. In the mid-50s, he received the first prestigious award. The first place was brought to him by a music competition, in which he performed several works on an Armenian folk instrument.
A few years later, the musician was awarded the UNESCO gold medal. But, nothing warmed him as much as conferring the title of People's Artist of the Armenian SSR. This event took place in the 73rd year of the last century.
The peak of popularity of the composer Jivan Gasparyan
The heyday of the maestro's career came at the beginning of the 80s. He was at the height of his popularity. At the end of the 80s, the composer presented his fans with a full-length LP, which consisted of ancient ballads from his native country.
In the same period of time, the melody of Jeevan's favorite musical instrument sounds in the film "Gladiator". For his contribution to the presented tape, the maestro was awarded the Golden Globe.
He collaborated with many Soviet and Russian stars. At that time, cooperation with Gasparyan meant only one thing - "to catch luck by the tail." The works that Gasparyan worked on turned out to be XNUMX% hits. To confirm this idea, it is enough to listen to the compositions “Duduk and Violin”, “Crying of the Heart”, “It Breathed Cool”, “Lezginka”.
Development and self-improvement remained the main credo of the maestro. He realized himself as a musician and composer, and meanwhile he also had an economic education.
When the time came, Gasparyan realized that he was ready to share his experience with the younger generation. He became a professor at the Yerevan Conservatory. Jivan considered it his duty to develop the national culture of his native country.
Gasparyan has trained more than seven dozen professional duduk performers. He caught the frantic pleasure of teaching.
Three years before his death, in the capital of Russia - Moscow, in the Zaryadye Hall, a festive concert was held in honor of Jivan Gasparyan. At that time he was 90 years old. Journalists, spectators and invited guests, as one, insisted that the composer was in a pure mind. Despite his age, he impressed the audience with his vital energy and unsurpassed playing on the instrument.
Jivan Gasparyan: details of his personal life
He never hid that he considers himself monogamous. The man devoted himself entirely to his charming wife Astghik Zargaryan. They met at a young age. A woman also realized herself in a creative profession.
In this marriage, the couple had two daughters. One - realized herself in a creative profession, the other - an English teacher. Astghik and Jivan remained faithful to each other throughout their lives. It was one of the strongest star families. Gasparyan's wife passed away in 2017.
Interesting facts about Jivan Gasparyan
- The composer was known all over the world as "Uncle Jeevan".
- He loved to gather guests at home.
- Gasparyan asked to be called simply Jivan. It helped him feel younger.
- He is the recipient of four UNESCO gold medals.
- One of the most popular thoughts of the musician sounds like this: “Politics harms people. She kills people. It is forbidden. Artists should not be associated with this."
Death of the composer
In the last years of his life, he led a reclusive lifestyle. For some time he lived in the USA and Armenia. Gasparyan graduated from teaching. He no longer gave concerts.
He passed away on July 6, 2021. Relatives did not disclose, which led to the death of the Armenian composer.
