Sayat-Nova

Sayat-Nova ("Սայաթ-Նովա" in Armenian) (1712-1795), or 'King of Songs' is the name given to Harutyun Sahakyan . He was probably born in Sanahin, where his mother was also born, and he grew up in a village near Tbilisi, Georgia, and was skilled in writing poetry, singing and playing the Kamancheh. He performed in the court of Heracle II of Georgia, where he also worked as a diplomat, and apparently helped forge an alliance between Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan against the Persian Empire. He lost his place at court when he fell in love with the king's daughter, and spent the rest of his life as an itinerant bard. In 1795 he was killed in Haghpat by the army of Agha Mohammed Khan.

About 220 songs can be attributed to Sayat-Nova, although he may have written thousands altogether. These songs are still sung today. His songs are written mainly in Armenian, also Persian, and Georgian. He also knew Arabic.

Sayat Nova was officially recognized as the greatest gusan (folk singer-songwriter) that ever lived in the Caucasus (the area between the Black and the Caspian sea, shared among Armenia, Russia, Georgia and Azerbaijan). The world-famous Armenian composer Alexander Arutiunian wrote an opera called "Sayat Nova". After his name are a music school in Yerevan, Armenia, a long-established Armenian dance ensemble in United States, and an annual music competition program, to name a few.

In 1970, a biopic motion picture was made, titled Цвет граната, or Tsvet granata. Directed by Sergei Parajanov, it was released in the United States under the title The Color of Pomegranates.

External links:

• Armenianmusicarch.com
• Classical Composers Database
• Encyclopaedia Britannica