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ARMENIAN SINGER'S DEATH COMMEMORATED
AZG DAILY
03-09-2011
The second anniversary of Armenian singer Aram Tigran's death on
Aug. 8 was commemorated with two events in the capital Ankara and
the southeastern province of Diyarbak覺r after several days. Tigran,
who was best known for his songs in Kurdish, had requested in his will
that his body be buried in Diyarbak覺r but was denied permission on
the grounds that he was not a Turkish citizen, Hurriyet Daily News
reported on August 7.
The first event was staged at the Ankara Yap覺 Art Center on
Mithatpa癬_a Avenue at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, while the second event
will be held in Diyarbak覺r on Oct. 15.
"Aram is the voice of the freedom of peoples. With his voice and
his instrument, he is the breath of the oppressed and bitter peoples
of the Middle East," Sait Cetinoglu, one of the events' organizers,
told the Hurriyet Daily News.
"Many people who are not Turkish citizens can be buried on this land
through a Cabinet decision. [Tigran's] will should have been respected
and followed through, but his burial on this land was prevented because
of Aram's Armenian identity," Cetinoglu said. "We intend to bring
Aram's will back into the public agenda through these commemoration
ceremonies," Cetinoglu said, adding that they were expecting support.
"Even if we cannot yet bring his body [back] to this land, we are
bringing his voice and breath [here.] We expect [to see] everyone who
believes in the brotherhood of peoples at this event, regardless of
whatever their religion, language or race might be," he added.
Tigran's family appealed to the Turkish Foreign Ministry, as well as
the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, to fulfill his will. Failing to
obtain the necessary permit, however, Tigran's body was then burried
in Brussels.
Tigran passed away on Aug. 8, 2009 following a brain hemorrhage he
suffered in Greece.
Back in those years when no one sang in Kurdish
"He had given voice to the freedom of peoples in all languages spoken
in the Middle East and conveyed their emotions," Cetinoglu said,
adding that Tigran's music was extremely diverse, as he had composed
and sung songs in nearly every language.
Tigran's committment to Kurdish music despite his Armenian roots was
not surprising at all, according to Cetinoglu.
"Gomidas, the milestone of Armenian music, had also issued his
doctorate thesis on Kurdish music," he said.
According to the news agency, Gomidas Vartabed (Priest) was sent into
exile along with some 230 Armenian intellectuals on the night of April
24, 1915, after which time he lost his mental balance. Gomidas Vartabed
is known for his in-depth research over and compilation of Turkish,
Kurdish, Azeri and Iranian music, just as much as he is known for
his work on Armenian music.
"Aram was born in the city of Kam覺癬_l覺 in Syria. [Kam覺癬_l覺] is
a city densely populated by Kurds. As such nothing could have been
more natural [for him] than to lend a voice to the emotions of the
people he lived amongst in their own tongue," Cetinoglu said. "Back
in those years, people singing in Kurdish were almost non-existent. It
is for this reason that the Kurds cannot forget Aram who lent a voice
to their emotions," he added.
AZG DAILY
03-09-2011
The second anniversary of Armenian singer Aram Tigran's death on
Aug. 8 was commemorated with two events in the capital Ankara and
the southeastern province of Diyarbak覺r after several days. Tigran,
who was best known for his songs in Kurdish, had requested in his will
that his body be buried in Diyarbak覺r but was denied permission on
the grounds that he was not a Turkish citizen, Hurriyet Daily News
reported on August 7.
The first event was staged at the Ankara Yap覺 Art Center on
Mithatpa癬_a Avenue at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, while the second event
will be held in Diyarbak覺r on Oct. 15.
"Aram is the voice of the freedom of peoples. With his voice and
his instrument, he is the breath of the oppressed and bitter peoples
of the Middle East," Sait Cetinoglu, one of the events' organizers,
told the Hurriyet Daily News.
"Many people who are not Turkish citizens can be buried on this land
through a Cabinet decision. [Tigran's] will should have been respected
and followed through, but his burial on this land was prevented because
of Aram's Armenian identity," Cetinoglu said. "We intend to bring
Aram's will back into the public agenda through these commemoration
ceremonies," Cetinoglu said, adding that they were expecting support.
"Even if we cannot yet bring his body [back] to this land, we are
bringing his voice and breath [here.] We expect [to see] everyone who
believes in the brotherhood of peoples at this event, regardless of
whatever their religion, language or race might be," he added.
Tigran's family appealed to the Turkish Foreign Ministry, as well as
the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, to fulfill his will. Failing to
obtain the necessary permit, however, Tigran's body was then burried
in Brussels.
Tigran passed away on Aug. 8, 2009 following a brain hemorrhage he
suffered in Greece.
Back in those years when no one sang in Kurdish
"He had given voice to the freedom of peoples in all languages spoken
in the Middle East and conveyed their emotions," Cetinoglu said,
adding that Tigran's music was extremely diverse, as he had composed
and sung songs in nearly every language.
Tigran's committment to Kurdish music despite his Armenian roots was
not surprising at all, according to Cetinoglu.
"Gomidas, the milestone of Armenian music, had also issued his
doctorate thesis on Kurdish music," he said.
According to the news agency, Gomidas Vartabed (Priest) was sent into
exile along with some 230 Armenian intellectuals on the night of April
24, 1915, after which time he lost his mental balance. Gomidas Vartabed
is known for his in-depth research over and compilation of Turkish,
Kurdish, Azeri and Iranian music, just as much as he is known for
his work on Armenian music.
"Aram was born in the city of Kam覺癬_l覺 in Syria. [Kam覺癬_l覺] is
a city densely populated by Kurds. As such nothing could have been
more natural [for him] than to lend a voice to the emotions of the
people he lived amongst in their own tongue," Cetinoglu said. "Back
in those years, people singing in Kurdish were almost non-existent. It
is for this reason that the Kurds cannot forget Aram who lent a voice
to their emotions," he added.