LOS ANGELES — The Armenian Music Program at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) honored Hayrik Mouradian’s 120th anniversary on Friday, October 17, at the Herb Alpert School of Music, with special guests Narine Dellalian and Levon Mouradian.
Melissa Bilal, assistant professor of ethnomusicology and the Promise Chair in Armenian Music, Arts, and Culture, and the director of the Armenian Music Program, introduced Narine Dellalian, who talked about Hayrik Mouradian and his significance in preserving the traditional songs.
The special guests had come from Lisbon, Portugal. Narine Dellalian is married to Levon Mouradian, who is the grandson of Hayrik Mouradian. Dellalian, the president of Hayrik Mouradian NGO, is the daughter of composer Harutiun Dellalian (1937-1990). In 1986, the elder Dellalian composed a piece called Topophono, commissioned by Aram Gharabegian for Simfonova’s concert at the Los Angeles Music Center. Harutiun Dellalian’s two daughters are accomplished musicians who live in Lisbon, Portugal.
During her presentation, Narine Dellalian talked about Hayrik Mouradian’s legacy and the importance of his contribution to record and save the Armenian folk songs from Western Armenia. Dellalian said, “Hayrik was a bridge between our past and present, guiding us toward a deeper recognition of our roots. Thanks to him, we are connected with the folk songs of the Vaspurakan region.” She added, “Hayrik also elevated the performance of the Armenian folk songs to a scholarly level.”
Later, Armen Adamian gave an in-depth presentation on the history of the revival movement in Soviet Armenia which brought Western Armenian musical heritage back to public recognition. Adamian is a PhD candidate in ethnomusicology at UCLA. His dissertation research focuses on the political implications of folk music in Soviet and post-Soviet Armenia.
Hayrik Mouradian was born in 1905 near Lake Van, growing up listening to traditional Armenian songs. His family was forced to flee due to the Armenian Genocide, moving to Iraq and later to Armenia in 1922. He was a historian and author who dedicated his life to documenting, preserving, and spreading Armenian folk songs. He founded many Armenian folk ensembles. His students followed his path. One student, Hasmik Harutyunyan, founded the Hayrik Mouradian Traditional Song and Dance Children’s Ensemble to continue Mouradian’s legacy.
