Makar Yekmalyan
Makar Yekmalyan (born 1856) is an Armenian composer, conductor and teacher. With his work and pedagogical activity, he greatly contributed to the formation of the national musical school: he developed the principles of polyphony of Armenian monody (unison singing), founded the genres of oratorio-cantata and romance. In 1896, he published the score of “Singing of the Holy Liturgy”. He played a major role in the performance and development of folk songs. He developed several dozen national and folk songs. While still a student, he performed choral arrangements of folk and spiritual melodies. Among his works, the extensive lyrical “Liturgy” stands out, which is written for choir without accompaniment. Yekmalyan’s students were Komitas, Armenak Shahmuradyan, Shara Talyan, Armen Tigranyan and others.
