Mansurian, Tigran
Mansurian, Tigran
Mansurian, Tigran, prominent Armenian composer and teacher; b. Beirut, Lebanon, Jan. 27,1939. His family moved to Soviet Armenia in 1947, where he studied with Baghdasaryan at the Yerevan Music School (1956–60) and with Sarian at the Yerevan Cons. (1960–65). After completing his postgraduate studies at the Cons. (1965–67), he taught modern theory there until being made a teacher of composition in 1986. Mansurian’s music owes much to his Armenian heritage. While his early works reflect the influence of the serialists, he pursued an independent road in which Armenian and contemporary elements were effectively synthesized. In his later works, Armenian elements flourished as he infused his creative efforts with modal harmonies and folk-like melodies.
Works
dramatic: The Ice Queen, ballet (1988); incidental music; film scores. orch.:Concerto for Organ and Chamber Orch. (1964); Partita (1965); Preludes (1975); 3 cello concertos: No. 1 (1976), No. 2 (1978), and No. 3 for Cello and 13 Winds (1983); Canonical Ode for 2 String Orchs., 4 Harps, and Organ (1977); Double Concerto for Violin, Cello, and Strings (1977); Nachtmusik (1980); Concerto for Violin and Strings (1981); Postludio, concerto for Clarinet, Cello, and Strings (1993). chamber:2 unnumbered string quartets (1960, 1964); 3 numbered string quartets (1983–84; 1984; 1992); Viola Sonata (1962); Flute Sonata (1963); 2 violin sonatas (1964,1965); Allegro barbaro for Cello (1964); Piano Trio (1965); Psalm for 2 Flutes and Violin (1966); Music for 12 Strings (1966); Arabesques I for 6 Winds and Harp (1969) and II for 10 Instruments (1970); Elegy for Cello and Piano (1971); Interior for String Quartet (1972); Bird’s Silhouette, suite for Harpsichord and Percussion (1973); 2 cello sonatas (1973, 1974); Quintet for Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, and Horn (1974); The Rhetorician for Harpsichord, Flute, Violin, and Double Bass (1978); Tovem for 15 Instrumentalists (1979); Commemorating Stravinsky for 15 Instruments (1981); 4 Duets for Violin Ensemble (1983); Capriccio for Cello (1984); 5 Bagatelles for Violin, Cello, and Piano (1985); Le Tombeau for Cello and Percussion (1989); Postlude for Clarinet and Cello (1991–92). piano: Sonatina (1963); Sonata (1967); 3 Pieces (1971); Nostalgia (1976). vocal: 3 Nairain Songs for Baritone and Orch. (1975); 3 Madrigals for Voice, Flute, Cello, and Piano (1981); Miserere for Voice and String Orch. (1989); choruses; other songs.
—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire