Ghazaros (Lazar) Saryan, Tigran Mansuryan’s beloved teacher

Abstract

The article discusses Ghazaros Saryan, an Armenian composer in the second half of the 20th century, and an educator whose professional class at the conservatory produced several composers. In 1960, at the age of 40, G. Saryan was appointed rector of the Conservatory, and the same year he established a specialized class of music composition. Tigran Mansuryan was among the first to enroll, becoming Saryan 's inaugural student. His time at the Conservatory under G. Saryan played a crucial role in Mansuryan's evolution as a composer. Interactions with Martiros Saryan, his family, and the vibrant cultural environment within the Master's home also profoundly shaped Mansuryan 's artistic development. This rich backdrop significantly contributed to the shaping of the young composer's intellectual and artistic identity. In 1964, while still a student, he entered the realm of film music. His two decades of productive collaboration with Hayfilm Studio facilitated encounters with notable directors such as S. Parajanov, H. Malyan, B. Hovhannisyan, and A. Mkrtchyan, among others. During the late 1960s, Mansuryan placed significant emphasis on the sonata genre, marking a dramatic shift towards the influences of the Western European avant-garde. The author highlights specific works developed under the guidance of G. Saryan.