One of the most significant works in the history of Armenian sacred music is once again available to readers. In collaboration with the Renaissance Foundation, Newmag has republished “Songs of the Divine Liturgy” by Makar Yekmalyan, one of the founders of the Armenian national school of composition. The work was first published in Leipzig in 1896.
Yekmalyan’s “Divine Liturgy” marks a turning point in Armenian sacred music. It is the first polyphonic setting of the liturgical hymns of the Armenian Apostolic Church, opening a new chapter in the country’s musical tradition. While polyphonic church music had long flourished in Europe, Yekmalyan introduced this approach into Armenian liturgical music, creating a work that would become an enduring part of the nation’s spiritual and cultural heritage.
The composition was officially adopted for liturgical use by the Armenian Apostolic Church during the Catholicosate of Mkrtich I Khrimian (Khrimian Hayrik). Over the decades, it became the standard musical setting of the Divine Liturgy and continues to be performed in Armenian churches around the world, preserving both its artistic excellence and spiritual significance.
This new edition is a faithful reprint of the historic 1896 second edition, originally published by Breitkopf & Härtel in Leipzig in collaboration with the Mekhitarist Congregation in Vienna. By reproducing the original edition, the publication helps preserve one of the finest achievements of Armenian musical heritage in its authentic form.
The volume is intended not only for liturgical use but also as an important resource for musicologists, choir directors, church musicians, researchers, students, and anyone interested in the history of Armenian sacred music. Prepared with great editorial and scholarly care, it also serves as a valuable academic reference.
Yekmalyan’s “Divine Liturgy” received high praise from many of the leading musicians of its time. It was warmly welcomed by Kristapor Kara-Murza, while Komitas, setting aside artistic debates, deeply admired the work of his teacher. Their appreciation reflects the exceptional place this composition occupies in the history of Armenian music.
The Renaissance Foundation initiated the republication in memory of the great composer Makar Yekmalyan and in service of the liturgical life of the Armenian Apostolic Church, contributing to the preservation and transmission of one of the country’s most important spiritual and cultural treasures.
Makar Yekmalyan was an Armenian composer, conductor, and educator whose work played a defining role in the development of the Armenian national school of composition. By introducing polyphony into the Armenian liturgical tradition, arranging numerous folk songs, and educating a generation of outstanding musicians, he left an enduring legacy. Among his students were Komitas, Armen Tigranian, Armenak Shahmuradyan, Shara Talyan, and many other distinguished figures of Armenian musical culture.
The republication of “Songs of the Divine Liturgy” is more than a tribute to one of Armenia’s greatest composers. It is a return to the roots of Armenian sacred music and an opportunity for new generations to rediscover one of the most treasured works of the nation’s spiritual and cultural heritage.