As it is important for “Renaissance” cultural and intellectual foundation to preserve the greatest intellectual heritage of our country and share it not only within Armenia, but also in other regions, the foundation has implemented publications and re-publications of a number of books, such as “One Thousand and One Songs” by Komitas, “Holy Liturgy” by Makar Yekmalyan, “Breviary” books.
In 2014, a working group set up by the “Renaissance” cultural and intellectual foundation launched the study of manuscripts and previously published notes of Armenian folk, ashug and spiritual music. As a result, the most valuable musical works were selected and the process of their digitization and reissue started. The processes of preparation of lyrics’s Latin transliteration and translation into English also launched.
At the end of June, 2015, a hundred years later, the dream of Komitas was fulfilled: for the first time his book was published under the title “A Thousand and One Game”. This edition was then sent to libraries, educational and spiritual organizations of Armenian communities all over the world.
In July, 2015, the book’s presentation was held with participation of famous cultural and government figures. To this date, numerous presentations and PR campaigns are held, including the report of the UNESCO conference on “Preserving National Identity”, presentations at the University of Southern California (USA), the international school “Ayb”, the Komitas Museum and elsewhere.
“Renaissance” cultural and intellectual foundation has reissued and published the most important books of Armenian sacred music in an accessible form for worldwide public. The first one is the book “Holy Liturgy” by Makar Yekmalyan, written for a three-voice male, four-voice male and four-voice mixed choir, which was first published in Leipzig in 1896. “Renaissance” cultural and intellectual foundation has reissued and published the most important books of Armenian sacred music in an accessible form for worldwide public. The first one is the book “Holy Liturgy” by Makar Yekmalyan, written for a three-voice male, four-voice male and four-voice mixed choir, which was first published in Leipzig in 1896. This project had an aim of making this important ritual model of Armenian church accessible to the international community and the diaspora.
With the blessing of His Holiness Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II, the book “Breviary“, one of the oldest musical books of the Christian Church, was re-published. “Breviary” is the main collection of prayers, spiritual songs, sermons suited to Armenian church rites and holidays.
“Breviary” has never been published with the European system of notation. It was written by the musicologist and composer Nikogayos Tashchyan in 1877 according to the Armenian system of Hambardzum Limonjyan’s notation. Over the past few decades, with the joint efforts of lecturers and students of the department of folklore of the Yerevan State Conservatory named after Komitas, “Breviary” was transformed into European notation. This 960-page academic publication is currently digitized, enriched with musicological preface, a dictionary of terms found in the book and a full list of musical samples. All of this is available in Armenian and English.