Born: September 26, 1869 – Died: October 22, 1935
Soghomon Soghomonian, later ordained as Gomidas, was born in Kütahya, Ottoman Empire on September 26, 1869. Gomidas, as world-renowned musician and scholar, published numerous secular and sacred works. A prolific scholar and educator, Gomidas travelled the villages of mountain-side communities, metropolitan centers of Europe, and seminaries across Armenia in his quest to document and preserve the melodies of the Armenian people and her treasures. Gomidas’ publication of the Divine Liturgy was never completely finished but his works for three-part male chorus and later arrangements by his student, Wardan Sarxian, have been adopted into the mainstream choral works of the Armenian Apostolic Church.
Sarxian – NY – 1950
Wardan Sarxian’s Arrangement – Mixed Choir
As noted, Gomidas’ publication of his works were never fully completed. However, his student, and prolific musician in his own right, Sarxian published countless melodies of Armenian sacred music as well as choral arrangements for mixed-voice choirs. Below you will find the 1950 publication as sponsored by the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America.