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Daily Sabah, Turkey
Jan 24 2015
Music world mourns passing of Armenian oud player
ZEYNEL YAMAN
ISTANBUL
John Bilezikjian who made ouds, which are one of the most iconic
instruments of the region, was popular in the U.S., passed away on
Jan. 19 at the age of 67 due to health problems. Born in Armenia, he
began playing oud when he was 10 years old and later helped Middle
Eastern melodies gain a place in Western orchestras. Known as
"America's Oud Virtuoso," Bilezikjian worked with the legendary
Leonard Cohen for many years. The musician, who helped people fall in
love with the oud thanks to the recitals he gave, composed soundtracks
and background music for many television series and Hollywood films.
Playing violin, darbuka and many other instruments besides the oud,
Bilezikjian played oud as a solo artist at one of the concerts for the
Boston Pop Orchestra, which has been performing light orchestral music
and pop since 1885. The musician, who released dance song albums in
Armenian and Greek, founded the Dantz music labelin the U.S. In 1979,
Leonard Cohen accompanied Bilezikjian covering the world-renowned song
"Partizan" with his oud. The artist, who claimed to know 11 foreign
languages, performed Turkish music on his album "The Magic of
Bilezikjian" in 1995. Bilezikjian embodied all the colors of Anatolia
with his music and cultural knowledge.
http://www.dailysabah.com/music/2015/01/24/music-world-mourns-passing-of-armenian-oud-player
Jan 24 2015
Music world mourns passing of Armenian oud player
ZEYNEL YAMAN
ISTANBUL
John Bilezikjian who made ouds, which are one of the most iconic
instruments of the region, was popular in the U.S., passed away on
Jan. 19 at the age of 67 due to health problems. Born in Armenia, he
began playing oud when he was 10 years old and later helped Middle
Eastern melodies gain a place in Western orchestras. Known as
"America's Oud Virtuoso," Bilezikjian worked with the legendary
Leonard Cohen for many years. The musician, who helped people fall in
love with the oud thanks to the recitals he gave, composed soundtracks
and background music for many television series and Hollywood films.
Playing violin, darbuka and many other instruments besides the oud,
Bilezikjian played oud as a solo artist at one of the concerts for the
Boston Pop Orchestra, which has been performing light orchestral music
and pop since 1885. The musician, who released dance song albums in
Armenian and Greek, founded the Dantz music labelin the U.S. In 1979,
Leonard Cohen accompanied Bilezikjian covering the world-renowned song
"Partizan" with his oud. The artist, who claimed to know 11 foreign
languages, performed Turkish music on his album "The Magic of
Bilezikjian" in 1995. Bilezikjian embodied all the colors of Anatolia
with his music and cultural knowledge.
http://www.dailysabah.com/music/2015/01/24/music-world-mourns-passing-of-armenian-oud-player